Suggested Grade/Age Range: Grades 4-6 (ages 9-11)

Activity Objective: The goal of this activity is to emphasize to children that all kinds of touch can be talked about and that we are the only ones who can decide how to be touched and how a touch makes us feel.

Learning Goals
Big Messages to Kids

Link to Ontario Curriculum

Materials Required:

• Picture cards found here . There are 8 in total.
• Chart paper and markers
• Blank sheets of paper for note taking during discussion

Prep Time: 10 minutes

• Print out a few copies each of the 11 picture cards so that each pair can look through 2-3 of them
• Have chart paper and markers available (or the board can be used instead)

Task Time: 50-60 minutes

• Introduce activity
• Engage in discussion for each scenario card

Activity Description:

Activity:

1.       Tell the class that they will be looking at some picture cards whereby the characters are engaging in different kinds of touch.

2.       Have the children pair up and explain that they will be discussing about how they think the individuals in the pictures feel about the touch and about how they themselves feel about the touch

3.       Hand each pair a picture and give about 5 minutes to discuss. Hand out pieces of blank paper to each small group so that they can write down their thoughts about that picture. Once they have finished writing for one picture, give them a new one. Have each pair do 2-3 pictures each

Wrap-up Discussion:

4.       Have everyone reconvene for a whole class discussion.

5.       Take up the scenario cards one by one and have the pairs who had discussed those cards provide their feedback from the discussions. Write down these responses on the board and/or chart paper under each corresponding scenario card

• For the pictures depicting touches that may make one feel pain, uncomfortable, afraid, and/or anxious, talk about what the individual in the picture being touched can do to get help
• Get the whole class to volunteer responses on how the individual in the scenario card can get help. Write down these solutions under each corresponding scenario card

6.       Emphasize that all touch can be talked about and only the individual themselves can decide how a touch makes them feel. Reiterate the importance of getting help from a trusted adult in the event that a touch makes one feel uncomfortable or causes, fear, pain, etc.

Activity Extensions:

Show children the Youtube video clip on consent for kids and have a discussion around its content, especially about how only the individual him/herself can decide how to be touched and how s/he feels about the touch. The clip can be found here. This wonderful video was made by illustrator Rachel Brian and focuses on personal boundaries

Additional Comments:

Because there are 11 picture cards to show and discuss in total, the activity can be divided into mini sessions over a few days if that works better for the class schedule

Additional Resources:

You may also choose to review the Touch Literature Review before implementing this activity. It can be found here.