It’s November 19th today. That means the National Sex Ed Conference is a short thirteen days away. This year, I’m co-chairing the event, which means I’m neck deep in emails with varying levels of frantic tones behind them. Because I’m not quite keeping up with the pace of emails and I’m a few more emails behind every day, I know that by the time the conference gets here I’ll be eyeballs deep in the wretched things.
I am leaning heavily on Annie Mac’s music as a way of preserving my sanity. My other attempts at sanity include playing games, which brings us to today’s game of choice, Two Truths and a Lie. This, along with Never Have I Ever are fun little games that you can play with varying levels of disclosure and sharing in a wide variety of settings. Some people enjoy the inclusion of alcohol. Since I’m not a drinker, I’ve always played them sober, but that can be just as fun with the right people.
And so, today, we’re going to talk about the following lesson plan, from Game On!:
OBJECTIVES:
By the end of the session, participants will be able to:
- List five facts about sexually transmitted infections.
- Identify three myths about sexually transmitted infections.
- List three places to find accurate information about sexually transmitted infections.
RATIONALE:
It can be difficult to discern between fact and fiction in relation to sexual health. Myths about STIs can sound factual and can leave young people confused and/or misinformed. Two Truths and a Lie: STI Style utilizes one of the Principles of Sexuality Education that teens learn as much or more from each other as from adults. In this game, participants will examine and apply medically accurate information about sexually transmitted infections and communicate myths and facts in a game-like style to their peers.
While I have, and I think most people have, played Two Truths and a Lie to learn things about other people, there’s no reason not to use it to learn information generally. In fact, I think it’s rather brilliant. Peer to peer education has so much potential when used effectively, and this approach has a strong framework to support learning.
It’s also kinda fun and helps take your mind off the crushingly large number of emails in your inbox.
So if you’re having trouble focusing, have too much to do, or are otherwise in need of a break, I recommend trying one or both of my favored approaches:
- Annie Mac (at home or at a club)
- Two Truths and A Lie (with five to ten of the most hilarious, absurd people you can round up)
(Here’s some Annie Mac for you in the event that you’re unfamiliar with her…)
