Health and Other Curriculum Materials

California Curriculum Frameworks

California History-Social Science (HSS) Framework
The California HSS Framework contains a number of references to the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) Americans to California and United States (U.S.) history throughout its grade level chapters.

• California HSS Framework Chapter 20, “Access and Equity,”(PDF) includes a section on meeting the needs of LGBT students in the HSS classroom, found on pages 24–25.

• References to LGBT history are found primarily in the eleventh grade U.S. history chapter but can be located in three places:
  • Chapter 14, “Grade Nine—Elective Courses in History Social Science,”
  • Chapter 16, “Grade Eleven—U.S. History and Geography: Continuity and Change in Modern U.S. History”
  • Chapter 17, “Grade Twelve—Principles of American Democracy”

California Health Education Framework
California is working to ensure that every classroom is a safe learning environment and every student has access to the information they need to grow into a healthy adult. The 2019 Health Education Curriculum Framework for California Public Schools, Kindergarten through Grade Twelve (Health Education Framework) is a guidance document that districts may use when developing health education programs for students.

• Chapter 7, “Access and Equity,” includes a section specifically on meeting the needs of LGBTQ+ pupils, found approximately on pages 37– 43.

• Content and pedagogy for meeting LGBTQ+ students’ needs is woven throughout this framework.

Supplemental Curricular Resources

California Healthy Kids Resource Center (CHKRC)
The California Healthy Kids Resources Center provides access to health education resources that can be borrowed at no cost, including those that meet the California Healthy Youth Act. Their mission is to assist schools in promoting health literacy.

Adolescent Sexual Health Work Group (ASHWG)
The ASHWG is an organized collaborative of governmental and non-governmental organizations to promote and protect the sexual and reproductive health of youth in California. ASHWG is committed to working more effectively to address the sexual and reproductive health of California adolescents. Resources include support for LGBTQ+ student resources in the Students’ Rights and Resources List & Instruction Guide

Gender Spectrum (PDF)
Gender Spectrum's publication "Principles for Gender Inclusive Puberty and Health Education" outlines the first-ever comprehensive approach to gender for puberty health educators.

Teaching LGBTQ History : This website provides resources and lesson plans for teaching LGBTQ history and fulfilling the requirements of the FAIR Act.

LGBTQ History Month in October : These are specific resources for the October LGBTQ history month.

One Institute states that its professional development opportunities empower educators to diversify their curricula and create an affirming learning environment. The foundation’s goal is to ensure that LGBTQ history is visible and accessible to kindergarten through grade twelve (K –12) students and educators through free and low-cost resources.

Elementary Educator Resources for LGBTQ+ Students

Elementary Educator Toolkits, Resources, and School Climate Information

Welcoming Schools
Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Welcoming Schools is the most comprehensive bias-based bullying prevention program in the nation to provide LGBTQ and gender inclusive professional development training, lesson plans, booklists and resources specifically designed for elementary educators and youth-serving professionals. Our program uses an intersectional, anti-racist lens dedicated to actionable policies and practices. We uplift school communities with critical tools to embrace family diversity, create LGBTQ and gender inclusive schools, prevent bias-based bullying, and support transgender and non-binary students. HRC’s Welcoming Schools program has free resources for elementary educators, including the following:

• Resources for Creating a Gender and LGBTQ Inclusive Elementary School
• Resources for Welcoming All Families
• Resources for Creating Gender Inclusive Schools and Supporting Transgender and Non-Binary Students
• Responding to Children’s Questions on LGBTQ Topics
• Common-Core Aligned Lesson Plan for Creating Welcoming Schools
• LGBTQ Definitions for Adults and Elementary Students
• Great Diverse Books for Every Elementary School Library
• Short Videos for LGBTQ and Gender Inclusive Schools

GLSEN’s Ready, Set, Respect! Elementary Toolkit
GLSEN developed Ready, Set, Respect! to provide tools to support elementary educators. The kit provides a set of tools that will help educators prepare to teach about respect and includes lesson plans that can help seize teachable moments. The lessons focus on name-calling, bullying and bias, LGBT-inclusive family diversity and gender roles and diversity and are designed to be used as either standalone lessons or as part of a school-wide anti-bias or bullying prevention program.

GLSEN’s LGBTQ Visibility and Integration in Elementary Schools
Additional resources to support LGBTQ inclusion efforts at the elementary level

LGBTQ+ Inclusive Curricula for Elementary Schools

ACLU’s The California Healthy Youth Act for K-6 (PDF)
A resource that explains the requirements for instruction and content under the California Healthy Youth Act for any education provided regarding human development and sexuality in K-6 schools, sometimes called puberty education or family life education in lower grades. For example, if taught, all such instruction must be appropriate for use with students of all races, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic and cultural backgrounds and teach about gender, gender expression, gender identity, and the harm of negative stereotypes.

Planned Parenthood’s What should I teach my elementary school-aged child about identity?
A resource that provides basic information about how to talk with elementary school-aged children about gender, gender roles, gender stereotypes, and diverse families, as well as how to create a safe space for transgender and gender non-conforming children. See also an additional resource for talking with preschooler children: Teaching My Preschooler About Gender Identity .

Trans Student Educational Resources: The Gender Unicorn
Resource for discussing gender with students available in fifteen different languages.

One Institute
One Institute, formerly known as ONE Archives Foundation, is dedicated to telling the history and stories of queer and trans people and culture through public exhibitions, K–12 educational initiatives, and community engagement programs.

The Content, Literacy, Inquiry, and Citizenship Project
The Content, Literacy, and Citizenship Project primer video and resources on how to implement LGBTQ+ Inclusive History and Social Science in K-12 classrooms. Also has information on the FAIR Education Act.

Teaching LGBTQ History
California Elementary school lesson plans for LGBTQ history in grades Kindergarten through grade five.

Mombian: Sustenance for Lesbian Moms Since 2005
Directs you to a list of resources for "Young Children." Many of these resources are from the Human Rights Campaign.

Our Family Coalition
Our Family Coalition conducts trainings and has published resources, focusing on the needs of kids with LGBTQ+ parents.

Inclusive Books for Elementary Classrooms and Additional Reading

California Department of Education Recommended Literature List
Recommended Literature: Prekindergarten Through Grade Twelve (Recommended Literature List) is a searchable database of books for children and teens which helps students, teachers, and families find books that entertain, inform, and explore new ideas and experiences. To search for LGBTQ+ related literature, click on “Recommended Literature List Search”, then select “customized search”. Scroll to the bottom of the search page and select “Topic / Gender/Sexuality”. Then click Search.

Great Diverse Books for Every Elementary School Library
Human Rights Campaign Welcoming Schools also has a simple way to let students and families know that your school welcomes everyone is to integrate books into your curriculum that reflect the diversity of your classroom and the world. Find up-to-date booklists of currently available diverse books.

American Library Association’s Rainbow Book List
An annual list of recommended children’s books with LGBTQ-related content, for readers from birth to age 18 and starting at picture book level.