Education Hub
For Parents & Teachers
Resources to help you support the young people in your life.
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Beyond the Stigma provides free in-school lessons on menstrual health and period poverty to schools across Los Angeles. Contact us to book a session for your class or campus.
Resources
Supporting the next generation
Starting the Conversation
Tips for talking to your child about periods before they start — in a way that feels open and reassuring, not scary.
Lesson Plans
Age-appropriate lesson plans to help teachers cover menstrual health in the classroom.
Supporting Students in Need
How to set up a free period product station in your school restroom, and how to request a starter kit from us.
Classroom resources
Lesson plans
These lesson plans are free to use and adapt for your classroom. They’re designed to meet California’s Health Education Framework standards and can be taught as a standalone unit or integrated into existing health curriculum.
Lesson 1: What Is a Period?
Learning Objective
Students will understand what menstruation is, why it happens, and what a typical cycle looks like. They will leave feeling that periods are a normal, healthy part of life — not something to be embarrassed about.
Materials Needed
- Whiteboard or projector
- Anonymous question box (index cards)
- Printed handout: The Menstrual Cycle diagram (free from planned parenthood.org)
Activities
Opening (5 min)
Introduce the anonymous question box. Ask students to write any question they have — no question is too basic or embarrassing. Collect before starting.
Direct instruction (15 min)
Use a simple diagram to walk through the 4 phases of the menstrual cycle (menstruation, follicular, ovulation, luteal). Keep language inclusive — 'people who menstruate' — and normalize the range of cycle lengths (21–35 days) and flow levels.
Small group discussion (10 min)
In groups of 3–4, students discuss: What did you already know? What surprised you? What questions do you still have? Groups share one insight with the class.
Q&A from the question box (10 min)
Read and answer anonymously submitted questions. If a question requires a medical answer beyond your scope, say so honestly and direct students to a trusted healthcare provider or our FAQs page.
Wrap-up (5 min)
Reinforce: periods are normal, they vary from person to person, and there is no such thing as a stupid question about your own body. Remind students where to find period products in the school.
Teacher note: Consider separating this lesson by gender if your school community prefers — but also consider the value of teaching all students together, which reduces stigma and builds empathy. Note: non-menstruators (including boys) benefit from this education too; understanding periods helps them support peers and reduce stigma.
Lesson 2: Period Products & Personal Hygiene
Learning Objective
Students will learn about the different types of period products available, how to use them safely, and basic period hygiene. Students who already menstruate will gain practical skills; others will gain understanding and empathy.
Materials Needed
- Assorted period product samples (pads, tampons in wrappers, an empty cup for show)
- Printed handout: Product Comparison Chart
- A small zip pouch to show as a 'period kit' example
Activities
Product show-and-tell (15 min)
Pass around unopened product samples. Demystify each one: what it's called, how it works, when someone might choose it. Emphasize that all products are just tools — choosing one is personal preference, not a statement about who you are.
Safety basics (10 min)
Cover: how often to change each product, what TSS is and how to avoid it (never leave a tampon in more than 8 hours), and proper disposal (pads/tampons in the trash, never flushed). Normalize that it takes practice to feel comfortable with any product.
Build-a-kit activity (15 min)
Students design their ideal backpack period kit on paper: what would you include, and why? Share and compare. Discuss what to do if you get your period unexpectedly at school — who to ask, where to go, what the school policy is.
Hygiene Q&A (10 min)
Address common hygiene questions: Do you need special soap? (No — mild unscented soap on the outside only.) Can you swim? (Yes, with the right product.) Can you exercise? (Yes — movement can actually help cramps.) Does it smell? (Normal period blood has a mild smell; strong odor may indicate infection, which is worth seeing a doctor for.)
Teacher note: Request a free classroom sample kit from Beyond the Stigma to use during this lesson — reach out via our Contact page.
Lesson 3: Period Poverty & Menstrual Equity
Learning Objective
Students will understand what period poverty is, why it matters, and how it intersects with systemic inequality. They will identify concrete ways to take action in their community.
Materials Needed
- Printed or projected statistics on period poverty (NCBI, PERIOD.org)
- Discussion question cards
- Sticky notes for 'I can...' action wall
Activities
Data hook (10 min)
Present 2–3 statistics: e.g., 1 in 5 teens in the U.S. has struggled to afford period products; in a 2021 study, 64% of low-income women reported being unable to afford period products in the past year. Ask: What do you notice? What questions does this raise?
What is period poverty? (10 min)
Define period poverty: the inability to access menstrual products, menstrual hygiene education, toilets, handwashing facilities, and/or waste management. Discuss how it affects school attendance, self-esteem, and health outcomes — especially for youth experiencing homelessness or housing instability.
Intersectionality discussion (15 min)
Guided discussion: How does period poverty connect to income inequality? To homelessness? To racism? To gender? Use small groups first, then share out. The goal is empathy-building and systems thinking, not blame.
What's being done? (10 min)
Share examples of menstrual equity advocacy: the movement to end the 'tampon tax,' laws requiring free products in school restrooms (CA AB 367, passed 2021 — required free period products in all CA public schools grades 6–12 by 2022), and organizations like Beyond the Stigma doing local work.
Action planning (15 min)
Students write one concrete action they can take on a sticky note and post it on the 'I can...' wall. Examples: donate products, start a school collection drive, advocate to their principal to restock the school bathroom, share facts with family, reduce the stigma in how they talk about periods with friends.
Teacher note: This lesson works well paired with a service project — contact us to arrange a product donation drive or have a co-founder speak to your class.
For parents & caregivers
Starting the conversation at home
You don’t need to be an expert to talk to your child about periods. Being open, calm, and willing to say “I don’t know, let’s look it up” is more than enough.
Start before they start
The first period can be scary if it's a surprise. Aim to have an initial conversation by age 9–10, so they know what to expect before it happens. You don't need to cover everything at once — short, open conversations over time are better than one big talk.
Use accurate language
Use correct anatomical terms: uterus, vagina, vulva, menstruation. Using real words communicates that there's nothing shameful about the body and makes it easier for them to communicate clearly with doctors.
Normalize the full range of experiences
Periods are different for everyone — different timing, different flow, different symptoms. Avoid framing your own experience as the default. Some people have easy periods; others have significant pain. Both are valid.
Invite questions, even when it's awkward
Saying 'I might not know the answer, but we can find out together' is a powerful response. It keeps the door open and models intellectual humility. If they're not asking questions, it doesn't mean they don't have them.
Include non-menstruators in the conversation
Everyone benefits from understanding menstruation — including boys and non-binary kids who don't menstruate themselves. It builds empathy, reduces stigma, and ensures all young people can support peers who menstruate. Framing it as 'something half the population experiences' helps everyone see it as a shared concern, not a secret.
Check in over time
The first conversation is just the beginning. Check in periodically — especially after their first period, if they're experiencing pain, or if something feels off. 'How's your period been lately?' said casually normalizes the ongoing conversation.
Take action at your school
How to set up a free period product station
Every school restroom should have free period products. Under California law (AB 367), it’s required at public schools serving grades 6–12. Here’s how to make it happen at your school.
Get permission
Talk to your principal or school health coordinator. In California, AB 367 (2021) requires all public schools serving grades 6–12 to provide free period products in at least one restroom per school. If your school isn't complying, this law is on your side.
Choose a location
A restroom used primarily by students who menstruate is the most logical spot. The dispenser should be easily visible and accessible — not hidden in a corner.
Get a dispenser (or use a basket)
You don't need a mounted dispenser to start. A clean decorative basket labeled 'Free — take what you need' works well and costs nothing. For mounted dispensers, several brands make school-friendly models.
Request a starter supply
Contact Beyond the Stigma through our Contact page to request a free initial product donation for your school restroom. We'll do our best to help based on available supply.
Set up a refill system
Identify who will check and restock the station regularly — ideally someone like a school nurse, health teacher, or an empowered student group. Monthly checks are a good baseline.
Let students know it exists
Post a small sign in the restroom and consider a brief announcement or mention in health class. Students won't use what they don't know about.