Part 1: Changing body & secondary sex characteristics
Many students do not know the formal terms associated with puberty, but may be more familiar with informal terms. It can be a more productive lesson if students are allowed to use informal terms. This is a great way to introduce and explain the relevant formal words associated with puberty and body parts.
Girls Puberty:
- Changes generally occur earlier than boys
- Breasts get bigger and may not grow at the same rate
- Hair appears under the arms and around the pubic area
- Increased oil production can cause pimples (need to wash face and body daily)
- Increased tiredness
- Hips widen and body becomes more curvy
- Sexual desires develop
- Sweat and body odour becomes more noticeable (need to wash body, clothes and hair, and use anti perspirant deodorant)
- Vaginal discharge becomes more noticeable
- Ovulation begins and menstruation starts
- Height and weight increases
- Hair on arms and legs becomes thicker and darker
- Temporary clumsiness can result from body shape changes
- Emotional changes – uncontrollable emotions and mood swings
Boys Puberty:
- Changes generally occur later than girls
- Penis and scrotum get bigger and the shape changes
- Hair appears under the arms, around pubic area, on the chest and face
- Increased oil production can cause pimples (need to wash face and body daily)
- Increased tiredness
- Voice breaking – could take one year to happen
- Sexual desires develop and wet dreams start to occur
- Sweat and body odour becomes more noticeable(need to wash body, clothes and hair, and use anti perspirant deodorant)
- Erections start to occur
- Sperm grows in testes
- Height and weight increase and muscles become more prominent
- Hair on arms and legs becomes thicker and darker
- Temporary clumsiness can result from body shape changes
- Emotional changes – uncontrollable emotions and mood swings
Activities:
- Worksheet 1 : True or false puberty quiz. Use this quiz to test the class-s knowledge of puberty.
- Worksheet 2 part 1 and Worksheet 2 part 2 : Changes to the body. Have the class detail the changes that occur in boys and girls during puberty.
- Suggested activity: Have the boys create a quiz for the girls about changes in boys, and vice-versa.See which group scores the best in the quiz for the opposite sex. Consider having each quiz include a mixture of short answer, multiple choice and true/false questions.
