1. Grade 5 Human Growth and Development
Department of Mathematics and Science
Office of Academic Transformation
Adapted from:
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada (SOGC)

3. GIRLS

4. Here we will talk about:
What is puberty?
When changes happen to girls?
What are the sex organs?
What are periods and why do they happen?
For more information you can visit:

5. What’s Happening?

6. What is Puberty?
It is the time when our bodies change toward an adult body.
Start to develop new feelings and interests
Start to make sperm cells or start to make egg cells

7. What is Puberty? The cells necessary to make a new human:
Egg + Sperm = Baby

8. We will talk about the changes that happen that others can see
We will talk about the changes that happen that others can see. And changes that are private.

9. When we talk about these things it is normal to feel
Curious
Disgust
Comfortable
Shy
Embarrassed
Excited

10. When do changes happen? Anywhere between 8 and 17.
Most people begin between the ages of 10 and 14.
When you start makes no difference to how you develop.
No age is better than any other one.

11. This is normal. When do changes happen?
For some, most of the changes happen in a few years.
For some, changes happen slowly over lots of years.
This is normal.

12. What changes happen to girls?
Get taller and heavier
Bones grow bigger and heavier
Hips get wider and more curvy
Face changes shape
Voice gets a little deeper

13. What changes happen to girls?
Hair grows under the armpits, around the genitals (pubic hair)
Hair on arms and legs grows darker
Breasts and nipples get larger
Body sweats more
Internal and external sex organs grow
May have mood swings, sexual thoughts and feelings

14. What causes these changes?
Hormones – chemical messengers that travel in the blood stream from the place where they are made (called glands) to the place where they do their work.
Each hormone has a specific job.
The pituitary gland, deep inside your brain, gets things started. It sends out hormones to our sex organs to get them to start making sex hormones.

15. What causes these changes?
It is the sex hormones that make the changes that cause children’s bodies grow into adult bodies.
Both boys and girls make the same sex hormones. The main ones are testosterone and estrogen.
Boys make lots of testosterone, not so much estrogen.
Girls make lots of estrogen, not so much testosterone.

16. What will I look like when I grow up?
That depends mostly on your heredity, the genes you got when an egg cell and a sperm cell from your birth parents came together to make the cells that developed into you.

17. What will I look like when I grow up?
Genes mostly determine how tall you will grow, the color of your hair, the size and shape of your breasts and your overall body shape.
Other things that affect our body are the foods we eat, how active we are and how much sleep we get.

18. What are the sex organs? (Refer to AIMS foldable)
These parts are also called the reproductive organs and genitals.
The parts on the outside are:
Vulva
The area of soft skin between a female’s legs.
Clitoris
Small organ made of nerves and tissue.
At the top where the lips join.
Only the tip is on the outside, the rest is hidden inside.
Sensitive to touch. Can feel tingly
Labia
Soft folds of skin that cover the inner parts
Grow darker and bigger at puberty.

19. What are the sex organs? (Refer to AIMS foldable)
Urethra
Not a sex organ.
Tiny opening that urine comes out from the bladder.
Vaginal opening
Entrance to the vagina.
Hymen
Thin piece of skin that may cover part of the opening to the vagina.
Often small or missing.
Anus
Between the two cheeks of the buttocks.
It is where bowel movements come out.

20. The parts on the inside are:
Uterus
Sometimes called the womb.
Muscular organ about the size of a pear.
Where developing baby, called a fetus, grows and is fed.
Where the period comes from.
Vagina
Warm, soft, moist passageway joining outside and uterus.

21. The parts on the inside are:
Fallopian tubes
Narrow tubes between the uterus and the ovary.
Ovaries
Glands that make egg cells and female sex hormones.
Cervix
The lower part of the uterus.
Makes mucus to keep sperm alive.
Has opening where sperm enter uterus and where the baby comes out of the uterus.

22. So what are periods and why do they happen?
Girls are born with hundreds of thousands of tiny eggs, called ova – one is called an ovum.
These egg cells are only half formed.
At puberty, hormones tell the ovaries it is time to start releasing ova.
Usually one egg at a time matures (develops) and is released from an ovary.

23. So what are periods and why do they happen?
At the same time, the uterus starts to grow a thick lining on the inside wall.
The lining has lots of tiny blood vessels.
The lining is there to protect and feed an egg that has combined with a sperm to form a fertilized egg.

24. So what are periods and why do they happen?
If an egg does not meet a sperm, the lining is not needed.
It breaks up.
Mixed with some blood it comes out the uterus into the vagina and then out the vaginal opening.
This is called menstruation but lots of females just call it their period.
If a woman is not pregnant then her ovary will release another egg, the lining build up and, if the egg is not fertilized, she has another period.
This is called the menstrual cycle.

25. How do girls feel about having periods?
Nervous
Scared
Excited
Curious
Weird
Mature
All feelings are normal

26. When will I get my period?
No one can tell exactly when it will start.
Many girls get some white or yellow stuff on their underwear.
It is mucus and tells the girl that her period is coming sometime within the next year.
How long will the bleeding last?
Each female is different. It can vary from 3 – 8 days.
During a period we only lose a few tablespoons to about half a cup of blood in that time – not a lot.

27. How often will I get a period?
At first there may not be any pattern to when you will get your next period.
Some women never have a regular pattern.
Most women eventually have a regular cycle – they know approximately when their next period will happen.
The length of a cycle is from the first day of bleeding one month to the first day of bleeding the next time it happens.
Each person is different so some women may have a period every 23 days, some every 28 days and some every 35 days.
Lots of girls keep a calendar to help them keep track of when they have their period and how long it lasts.

28. Will it hurt?
The bleeding is like a nosebleed – we don’t know it is happening until we become aware that we have blood on our underwear.
Some girls get cramps – tight pains around the uterus – before and for a day or two during their period.
Some girls get cramps every period, some once in awhile and some never.
If you get them, talk to your mom or another woman about what to do for them.

29. Will people know when I get my period?
Not unless you tell them.
The blood usually dribbles out a bit at a time, it doesn’t gush out in a puddle.

30. What do I do when I get my period?
Females use pads or tampons to catch the blood that comes from the vagina.
Sanitary pads are made of material that absorbs the blood.
Most have a sticky strip on one side to hold the pad to the underwear.
Pads come in a variety of sizes and shapes.

31. What do I do when I get my period?
A tampon is a small plug of material that fits inside the female’s vagina to absorb the blood.
Some girls like to use tampons, especially if they are doing physical activities.
Some girls only use pads.
It is up to you.

32. People say you get PMS with periods. What is it and will I get it?
PMS stands for premenstrual syndrome.
Some females start to feel weepy, “headachy” and bloated.
Before and when their period comes. It happens because the hormones are changing.
Some females never have PMS.
Everyone is different!
If this happens to you talk to an adult you trust.

33. So what about Breasts?
YES - finally they are growing!
Will they be too big or too small?,
Will they be the right shape?
Lots of girls feel nervous when their breasts start to grow, other girls are thrilled.

34. So what about Breasts?
Your genes determine the size and shape of breasts.
The size does not affect how much milk a mother can make to feed a baby.
The first thing you may notice is a bump behind the nipple.
Then there will be swelling underneath
The nipple are gets darker.
Breasts grow slowly and one side may be bigger for awhile.
They may feel sore at times while they are developing.

35. Do I have to wear a bra?
That is up to you.
Some girls never wear bras.
Some girls feel more comfortable wearing one.

36. I’m worried that I will get fat when I go through puberty
I’m worried that I will get fat when I go through puberty. Can I stop it?
Females’ body shape changes and hips widen to make more space for a fetus to develop.
At puberty, both guys and girls gain weight and develop different strengths.
Guys put on more muscle. Compared to a girl of the same height, weight and build, the guy may be able to lift more weight and run faster.

37. I’m worried that I will get fat when I go through puberty
I’m worried that I will get fat when I go through puberty. Can I stop it?
Girls build up “adipose tissue” – fat, which is energy stored in our body in our upper arms, breasts, thighs and buttocks.
Energy is needed for breast feeding and looking after a newborn child.
Girls can survive things, like hunger and extreme heat and cold, better than a guy of her size.

38. What about feelings?
Both girls and guys can experience lots of feelings as they grow up.

39. What about feelings?
You may have mood swings – happy one day, sad the next.
You may love your friends or family at times and not want to have anything to do with them at other times.
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.

40. BOYS

41. For more information you can visit:
Here we will talk about:
What is puberty?
When changes happen to boys?
What are the sex organs?
What are erections and why do they happen?
For more information you can visit:

42. What’s Happening?

43. What is Puberty?
It is the time when our bodies change toward an adult body.
Start to develop new feelings and interests
Start to make sperm cells
Or start to make egg cells

44. What is Puberty? The cells necessary to make a new human
egg + sperm = baby

45. We will talk about the changes that happen that others can see And changes that are private

46. When we talk about these things IT IS NORMAL to feel
Curious
Disgust
Comfortable
Shy
Embarrassed
Excited

47. When do changes happen? anywhere between 8 and 17
most people begin between the ages of 10 and 14
when you start makes no difference to how you develop
no age is better than any other one

48. When do changes happen? THIS IS NORMAL
For some, most of the changes happen in a few years
For some, changes happen slowly over lots of years
THIS IS NORMAL

49. What changes happen to boys?
Grow taller and heavier
Bones grow bigger and heavier
Nose and jaw get bigger and face gets longer
Get more muscles
Hair and skin can become oily and you may get pimples
Body sweats more
Hair grows on the face, under the armpits, around the genitals (pubic hair).

50. What changes happen to boys?
May get more hair on arms, legs and chest.
Voice gets deeper
Penis and testicles grow
Scrotum changes
May have mood swings, sexual thoughts and feelings
Breasts may grow

51. What causes these changes?
Hormones – chemical messengers that travel in the blood stream from the place where they are made (called glands) to the place where they do their work
Each hormone has a specific job
The pituitary gland, deep inside your brain, gets things started. It sends out hormones to our sex organs to get them to start making sex hormones 

52. What causes these changes?
It is the sex hormones that make the changes that cause children’s bodies grow into adult bodies.
 Both boys and girls make the same sex hormones. The main ones are testosterone and estrogen
Boys make lots of testosterone, not so much estrogen
Girls make lots of estrogen, not so much testosterone

53. What causes these changes?

54. What will I look like when I grow up?
That depends mostly on your HEREDITY, the GENES you got when an egg cell and a sperm cell from your birth parents came together to make the cells that developed into you.

55. What will I look like when I grow up?
Genes mostly determine how tall you will grow, the colour of your hair, the size and shape of your penis or breasts and your overall body shape.
Other things that affect our body are the foods we eat, how active we are and how much sleep we get.

56. What are the sex organs? (Refer to AIMS foldable)
These parts are also called the reproductive organs and genitals.
The parts are:
 Urethra
Penis
Testicles or Testes
Scrotum

57. What are the sex organs? (Refer to AIMS foldable)
 Urethra
the tube through which urine and semen leaves the boy’s body
Penis
tube-like organ that hangs outside the body
come in all sizes and shapes, determined by our genes
Testicles or testes
usually two, one hangs lower
Sometimes called balls or nuts
Where sperm are made
Scrotum
bag of skin that holds testicles
keeps them at right temperature to make sperm, slightly cooler than body’s temperature
gets bigger and baggier and turns a darker color

58. What happens on the inside?
Hormones from the pituitary make the testicles grow and they start making more testosterone and producing sperm 
After puberty you make 200, ,000 sperm cells a day for the rest of your life
Sperm build up in tubes around the testicles
They travel along some tubes and mix with fluids from glands

59. What can cause an erection?
Boys get erections for all kinds of reasons – they might happen if you :
When you wake in the morning and have to pee
When you are relaxed
When you are anxious or frightened
For no reason at all

60. What can cause an erection?
Boys get their first erections before they are born!

61. When does ejaculation happen?
If a boy wakes up and finds a wet, sticky spot on his bedclothes semen came out when he was sleeping. This is called a “wet dream”
Some boys have wet dreams, some don’t
However it happens is okay

62. To learn more about your changing body please visit:
Reference
To learn more about your changing body please visit:

63. Human Growth and Development Additional Resource Links
Family Health &
Sexuality: The Passage into Puberty
Needham Public Schools Grade 5 Puberty Unit:
Puberty and Growing Up:
Growing Up Ok Puberty:
Proctor and Gamble (Co-ed Video)

64. Reproductive System
Review

65. The Endocrine System
Glands and Hormones

66. Hormones- chemical messengers carried by blood-.
May stimulate other glands
Regulate growth, development, metabolism, sex processes

67. Major Glands of the Endocrine System Pituitary Thyroid Parathyroid
Adrenal
Pancreas
Ovaries
Testes

68. Pituitary gland Master gland of body
Located in the depression of sphenoid bone
Produces many hormones that affect other glands
thyroid stimulating hormone
Somatotropin- growth hormone
Lutenizing (LH)- causes ovulation
ICSH- causes testes to secrete testosterone
Melanocyte stimulating- distribution of melanin in skin
ADH- antidiuretic hormone

69. Giantism- oversecretion of somatotropin before puberty
Dwarfism- undersecretion of somatotropin. Cause: tumor, injury, infection, genetics
Diabetes insipidus- decreased ADH

70. Thyroid gland must have any source of iodine
Thyroid- produces hormones that control metabolism and calcium in blood.
Thyroid gland must have any source of iodine
goiter- not enough iodine
hyperthyroidism
hypothyroidism

71. Adrenal Glands Located just above the kidney Secretes many hormones
Epinephrine
Norepinephrine
Many steroid hormones, inc estrogen and androgens.
Steroids have a three ring chemical structure

72. Pancreas pancreatic juices into the intestine
secretes insulin, a hormone that transports glucose into cells.
Also secretes glucagon- increases glucose in bloodstream

73. Cause- decreased secretion of insulin Symptoms
Diabetes Mellitus
Cause- decreased secretion of insulin
Symptoms
Excessive thirst, excessive urination, hyperglycemia, slow healing of skin infections
Affects 21 million in US: 7% of population
Estimated 1/3 of people who have diabetes don’t know it
225,000 die each year
132 billion/year- 10% of our health care spending

74. Insulin was the first hormone identified (late 1920's) which won the doctor and medical student who discovered it the Nobel Prize (Banting and Best)
Human Insulin - First ever approved genetically engineered human therapeutic by Genentech

75. Healthy
Body
Systems

76. Health Tips Don’t skip breakfast. Eat a healthy breakfast every day.
Exercise (physical activity) at least 60 minutes each day.
Limit screen time (ex. tv, video games)
Eat at least 5 servings of fruit and veggies each day. Choose foods from all the different food groups.
Pay attention to portion sizes.
Drink water and low-fat milk instead of juice or soda.
Sleep 8-10 hours each night.

77. Good Nutrition

78. Food Pyramid

79. Exercise