All that I am - Key Stage 3

The third session in the programme covers the tranisition from childhood, through adolescence towards adulthood. It discusses the bewildering array of new experiences a young person will encounter.

The session addresses the important connection between an understanding of the development of emotional and physical chnages that happen throughout adolescence and what these mean in terms of the human person and the common good. The aim of this project is to help young people on their personal journey towards wholeness and integrity. We want them to be able to live happy, authentic lives.

Each of the episodes and support materials address specific learning objectives:

Episode 1 - Love needs friendship
Pupils will learn:

• to recognise the features of health relationships
• to recognise what is appropriate and inappropriate behaviour in a relationship
• to understand that 'being in love', 'lust' and 'true love' and quite different
• to understand the value of chastity

Episode 2 - Love needs family
Pupils will learn:

• to understand the family in its social context and examine the roles and responsibility of family members
• to understand the spiritual context of the family as a community where members can grow in faith, hope and love
• to understand that the family provides the best loving and secure support for the balanced development of the child

Episode 3 - Love overcomes loss
Pupils will learn:

• to identify different types and forms of seperation and understand that seperation and loss from those we love is often a natural and necessary part of life
• to acknowledge that love cannot be easily seperated from anxiety and suffering and appreciate that for believers God accompanies them in times of joy and sorrow

Episode 4 - Love needs love's expression
Pupils will learn:

• to identify their own opinions based on their experience of relationships and marriage and explore the media portrayal of relationships and marriage
• to explore the teaching of the Catholic Church on marriage
• to appreciate that sexual intercourse is the deepest and most intimate sign of human love
• to understand that parents are co-creators with God and that each person is unique at conception and therefore worthy of respect

Where I am outlines the choices young people make for personal happiness. Recent research by Robert J. Spitzer and colleagues has provided us with a tool for interpreting the search for happiness in a modern society which can be easily understood and applied to the lives of adolescents. Spitzer indentified four levels of happiness, reflecting not only what moves us in our hearts and souls but also the ideals towards which we aspire

The four levels of happiness, as described in more detail in Where I am are:

• Level 1 - Immediate gratification
• Level 2 - Ego gratification
• Level 3 - Good beyond self
• Level 4 - Ultimate good

life is a journey, full of important choices"