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Health and Physical Education

 Level indicator 1 – 5

Relationships with Other People

Relationships

Love and Relationships

 Teachers' notes
Progress indicators
What the work shows Curriculum links The learning context Where to next?

What the work shows

The students identify issues associated with the break-up of romantic relationships and describe options to achieve positive outcomes.

Progress Indicators

Relationships

Identifies issues associated with relationships in context

In their responses to focus questions from the teacher, the students identify a range of issues associated with romantic relationships.

Teacher-student discussions

The teacher scaffolded the students' learning by eliciting responses to a series of focus questions:

Teacher: Why do relationships sometimes break up?
The students' responses included: 'Have nothing in common', 'Jealousy', 'No chemistry or spark', 'Your family – parents and brothers', 'Bored', 'Cheating', 'They're not 'the one'', 'They're bad', 'Going too fast', 'Found new people', 'Your religion'.
Teacher: How do people break up relationships?
The students' responses included: 'The Internet', 'Talk shows', 'Get a friend to do it', 'Just leave', 'Ignore them – don't return calls', 'Tell them in person'.
Teacher: What are some not-so-helpful things people can say to someone whose romantic relationship has broken up?
The students' responses included: 'Get over it', 'Stop feeling sorry for yourself', 'Once a player, always a player', 'Only time can tell', 'What goes around, comes around'.
Teacher: What are some unhelpful ways people break up?
The students' responses included: 'Breaking up on the phone', 'Mother finds a letter and gets violent', 'Friends get involved'.

Emeli's group based their scenario about a relationship break-up on ideas arising from the class discussions. The scenario illustrates a range of emotions and their impact on the girl, including her sense of hurt, betrayal, and worthlessness. It also illustrates the boy's feelings: he is confused, no longer sees the girl as 'special', feels bad, and regrets his actions.

Role-play scenario

How do people break up with each other?

Get a friend to do it.

Situation: The girl is told by her best friend that she's been dumped. A week later, the so-called caring best friend is seen with the girl's number 1 enemy [her ex-boyfriend].

For the girl, it is so hurtful. She trusted the guy and is dumped as a second-hand piece of material. She's so sad and is emotionally hurt. The guy obviously doesn't care. To him, the girl is just another girl, but deep down inside he feels really stink and is regretting his decision. It will take a really long time for both of them to get over the relationship. They try as much as possible to avoid one another.

Relationships

Describes options to achieve positive outcomes when dealing with issues in relationships

The groups developed their scenarios into role-plays that demonstrated the use of unhelpful responses (clichés) and helpful (empathetic) responses. In class discussions after the presentation of their role-plays, they identified further new understandings about romantic relationship issues. The following comments are from individual students reporting back to the class about what they personally consider to be helpful and unhelpful behaviours and responses in a relationship break-up:

  • It's not always easier to have people with you when you break up with someone... they can make it worse.

  • It can be hurtful or confusing for the other person if you don't do it [end the relationship] yourself.

  • It can be easier to do it yourself unless you are scared [referring to an abusive relationship].

  • Getting other people to do it can cause gossip and rumours.

  • It can be a relief to do it in person.

  • Sometimes, when you break up with someone, it can be a relief for them, too!

  • Tell the truth – trying to protect their feelings might make things worse.

  • It takes time to get over someone.

  • Be yourself when you break up with someone.

  • Break-ups aren't always a bad thing. You can see what went wrong and learn for next time.

  • You might not think so at the time, but you might look back and realise you're better off without them.

  • You learn about guys.

  • If they dump you because they say there's something wrong with you – like you're fat – it's their problem, and you shouldn't [necessarily] change.

  • You deserve better – don't give up on love just because you've been hurt once.

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