Sexting wellbeing lesson plan
A secondary wellbeing lesson for Years 8 to 10 that helps Australian teachers introduce the risks of sharing sexual images through a structured, ready-to-teach lesson. Students learn to recognise pressure around image sharing, understand the consent, safety and social consequences involved, and practise safe, respectful ways to respond and seek help. The lesson keeps the focus calm and age-appropriate, giving teachers a clear way to open a sensitive topic without relying on graphic detail or moralising language.
Sex & Relationships Education
Snapshot
Sexting
The lesson gives teachers a structured, age-appropriate way to introduce sexting, image sharing risks and safe, respectful responses. Feedback: 4.4/5 from 160 teacher ratings
Prep time:
5 to 10 minutes
Lesson length:
45 to 50 minutes
Key Focus
Understanding the risks of sharing sexual images and practising safe, respectful responses
Lesson Format
Teacher-led discussion and structured activities
What students will learn
By the end of the lesson, students will be supported to:
Recognise
recognise the kinds of pressure that can lead to requests for sexual images
recognise when a situation involving images feels unsafe, unwanted or disrespectful
recognise that sharing sexual images can carry personal, social and legal consequences
Understand
understand that consent is required before any sexual image is shared and can be withdrawn at any time
understand that once an image is shared, a person has little control over where it may end up
understand that unsafe or unwanted requests should be shared with a trusted adult
Practise
practise language for saying no to pressure around sharing images
practise identifying trusted adults to speak to if something feels wrong
practise respectful language when discussing digital boundaries and consent
Who this lesson is for?
This lesson is designed for secondary students in Years 8 to 10 who are building on earlier learning about relationships, consent and online safety.
It is suitable for:
secondary wellbeing lessons
Health or PDHPE teaching
pastoral care or advisory sessions
respectful relationships education units
digital citizenship or online safety programs
Suitability should be based on more than age alone. Teachers should consider the lesson focus, student maturity, cohort needs, classroom culture, existing discussion norms and available support pathways.
Best used when
Use this lesson when students need clear, practical language for recognising unkind behaviour and knowing what to do next.
Introducing digital safety and respectful relationships Use when students need language for image sharing risks, consent and safe responses.
Reinforcing consent education Use when extending existing consent learning into digital and online contexts.
Supporting a respectful relationships unit Use when embedding online safety and image sharing risks within a broader relationships education sequence.
Building help-seeking confidence Use when students need to understand who to speak to if they feel pressured or if an image has been shared without consent.
Preparing for increased independent device use Use when students are moving into contexts with greater independent phone or social media use.
Creating a structured, calm classroom discussion Use when you want a considered, teacher-led approach to a sensitive topic.
The lesson can be used proactively with the whole class. It does not need to follow a specific incident.
Why this lesson matters
Students need clear, practical language for understanding the risks of sharing sexual images before they are faced with real pressure to do so. This topic is not only about responding after a difficult situation occurs. It is also about helping students build early skills in recognising pressure, understanding consent and knowing where to go for support if something feels unsafe. The lesson supports a safer school culture by helping students see that respectful relationships include respecting boundaries around images and privacy, and that support is always available if a situation becomes difficult to manage alone.
How this lesson supports wellbeing
This lesson supports student wellbeing by building practical social and emotional skills students can use in everyday school life. It helps students develop:
Capability How the lesson supports it
Consent and boundaries Students understand that agreement is required before an image is shared and can be withdrawn at any time.
Digital literacy Students consider how sharing an image can affect privacy and what happens to it once it is sent.
Decision making Students practise thinking through the consequences of sharing or forwarding images.
Respectful communication Students practise language for setting boundaries around images and requests.
Help-seeking Students learn when and how to speak to a trusted adult about an unsafe or unwanted situation.
Protective behaviours Students recognise that pressure or unsafe requests should be shared with a safe adult.
For teachers and school leaders, the lesson contributes to broader wellbeing, respectful relationships, child safety and pastoral care goals in Australian primary schools.
Teaching notes & Delivery Considerations
This lesson includes content about unkind behaviour, exclusion and asking adults for help. It should be taught with calm, clear discussion norms.
Before teaching
Remind students to keep discussion general and avoid sharing personal stories or naming classmates
Frame discussion around scenarios rather than personal disclosures
Make clear that the lesson is about understanding risks and safe choices, not judging past behaviour
Identify trusted adults students can speak to at school
Be prepared to follow your school's child safety, wellbeing or child protection procedures if a student discloses harm or says they feel unsafe
During delivery
Keep language age-appropriate and avoid graphic or explicit detail
Use general scenarios rather than specific real-world examples or names
Reinforce that consent applies to images and can be withdrawn at any time
Give students time to consider and discuss responses before moving on
Supporting safe discussion
Use privacy language rather than promising confidentiality, since safety concerns must still be reported
Remind students they can pass on questions they do not want to answer aloud
Reinforce that asking for help is a responsible choice, not an overreaction
Adaptation options
Use small group or partner discussion for classes that need more support engaging with the topic
Use whole class discussion for confident groups ready to talk openly
Spend more time identifying trusted adults if students are unsure who to approach
If a student discloses that an image has already been shared or that they feel unsafe, follow your school's child safety or wellbeing procedures rather than managing the situation solely within the lesson.
