Adapted from: Puberty: Understanding Your Changing Body. SexualityandU Adapted from: Puberty: Understanding Your Changing Body. SexualityandU.ca, 2010
Puberty Grade 4
The Changing Me. . . What’s Happening?
Class guidelines: Giggling is OK Respect what others say Understand others’ feelings Discuss puberty topics responsibly outside the classroom There are no dumb questions
3 major growth spurts 1. Conception to Birth 2. Birth to one year old 3. Puberty
What is puberty? Time of rapid change from child to adult When the body reaches maturity Emotional changes occur Bodies develop and become fertile Add transition so only title is displayed first
What makes puberty start? The pituitary gland sends a signal to the body to produce the hormones that starts puberty. Image source Source: https://www.google.ca/search?q=free+clipart&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiUu-Sl1NbSAhWk7oMKHQCwB_sQsAQILw&biw=1366&bih=657#tbm=isch&q=free+clipart+pituitary+gland+in+children&*&imgrc=6E17akeiyDUdsM: Male hormone – Testosterone Female hormone – Estrogen
What are the hormones? If you have ovaries, the pituitary gland sends a signal to produce Estrogen. If you have testicles, the pituitary gland sends a signal to produce Testosterone. 8
When does puberty start? Puberty starts anywhere between the ages of 8-15. Everyone is different Everyone will start and finish at a different time This is normal 9
How does the body change during puberty?
What changes happen due to testosterone? Hair growth (pubic area, under the armpits, and on the face) May get more hair on arms, legs, chest and back Voice gets deeper Penis and testicles grow Sperm is produced May have mood swings, sexual thoughts and feelings Ask students what changes they think happen
What other changes happen? Grow taller Bones grow Muscles grow Weight gain is normal Hair and skin become oily and you may get pimples Body sweats more
What changes happen due to estrogen? Hair grows under armpits and in pubic area Hair on arms and legs may grow darker Breast and nipples get larger Body sweats more Menstruation (period) begins May have mood swings, sexual thoughts and feelings Ask students what changes they think happen
What other changes happen? Grow taller Bones grow Hips get wider and more curvy Weight gain is normal Hair and skin become oily and you may get pimples Voice gets a little deeper
What are some of the feelings you might experience? What are some of the feelings you might have as you start to experience changes with puberty? (excitement, happiness, embarrassment, confusion, and fear) It might be sometimes hard to recognize what you are feeling and why things feel different.
Excitement, happiness You may have mood swings You may love your friends or family at times and not want to have anything to do with them at other time. Sometimes you may feel grown-up, other times like a kid. There may be lots of tears and arguments. Changing hormones cause some of these feelings.
What are other changes you might experience? Social changes -relationships with friends can change because people can start being interested in different things at different times -some people start liking others -they want to be more than just friends and are interested in going out -sometimes people treat you as if you are older than you actually are because of how you look -sometimes others might make comments or tease you about the changes -some cultures have traditions associated with puberty – bar mitzvah -aboriginal societies have rights of passage
Where to get more information? Parents or other family members Other trusted adults (teachers) Health professionals Parents can be a really good source of information when it comes to sex and sexual health. They can answer questions and give great advice. But sometimes it can be intimidating to approach parents with hard questions. Puberty class is a great introduction - talk to your parents about what you learned. Movies might also open a door for conversation. Or use a hypothetical example.
Questions?