Science Year 6 Biology Strand: Human Reproduction & Relationships

Science Year 6 Biology Strand: Human Reproduction & Relationships

Session C1

Puberty

/ Objectives: To understand what happens to bodies during puberty.
Sc2 1a Understand that the life processes common to humans and other animals include nutrition, movement, growth and reproduction. 2f Know about the main stages of the human life cycle.
PSHE 1d Recognise, as they approach puberty, how people’s emotions change at that time & how to deal with their feelings towards themselves, their family & others in a positive way. 3c Learn about how the body changes as they approach puberty.
Breadth of study: Sc 2a Use appropriate scientific language and terms to communicate ideas and explain the behaviour of living things. PSHE 5b Feel positive about themselves.
Scientific enquiry /

Sc1 1a Understand that science is about thinking creatively to try & explain how living & non-living things work, & to establish links between causes & effects.

Resources needed

/ BBC Sex & Relationship Education DVD ISBN 9781406612523 (UKS2) or BBC Growing Up DVD ISBN 9780563516385 (UKS2) or Channel 4 Living & Growing DVD ISBN 1851446680 – aimed at both key stages 1 & 2 (optional) – much of the materials on these DVDs are the same or similar, so you don’t need them all (contents in resources). BBC Rites of Passage DVD ISBN 9781406641523 (contents in resources), information books, access to internet
Whole class teaching:
Today we are going to talk about puberty which is the time when chn begin to change both physically and emotionally as their bodies prepare to be able to reproduce and have babies. Explain that this is when chn move from childhood stage in their life cycle to adolescence. You might want to remind chn of the ground rules set up in Session A1 at this point.
Show chn a video clip from BBC Sex & Relationship Education or Growing up DVD (if available) showing the physical changes that occur or use pictures in a suitable book (list of suggested books for this Strand in Session Aresources). Explain that these are physical changes that we can see (e.g. hair growing in various places) & hear (e.g. young men’s voices become deeper – their voice ‘breaks’). Some of the changes are the same for girls & boys (e.g. growing taller, getting spots) and some are particular to either girls or boys e.g. breasts growing, penis growing). Emphasise that these changes do not happen at the same age for all chn (remind chn about differences talked about in Pre-sessions 1 & 2 again!) – some begin to go through puberty when they are as young as 8 or 9, others don’t begin until they are 12, 13 or even 14. So chn shouldn’t worry if their body doesn’t change as early as some of their friends – the changes will happen when their body is ready.
Discuss two physical changes that can’t be seen so easily: periods and wet dreams. Again you can use clips from BBC DVDs or pictures from suitable books. There is a useful cloze procedure on the first BBC DVD about wet dreams. Go through the menstrual cycle in detail, explaining that the lining of the uterus is not needed if the egg released that month has not been fertilised, so it breaks down and passes out of the uterus and through the vagina. The liquid contains blood, other fluids & tissues and can seem a lot but is actually only a few tablespoons dribbling out each month. Explain that some cultures have special ceremonies to mark the stage when young people are going through puberty or for girls when they experience their first period (called menarche), as it is such an important stage in the human life cycle (see booklist in Session A resources).
Group activities:
Independent:
Look at the drawings of a child and a young adult (see resources). Ring and annotate the differences that you can see – the physical changes.
Independent:
Visit this website to see an interactive description of the changes that occur in puberty:

Independent:
Chn research the special ceremonies that are held in some cultures to mark reaching the age of puberty and create a fact sheet for display (use books and suggested websites – see resources). This will be part of a larger display on the rites of passage through the human life cycle, which will be added to during the course of the Strand.
Independent for girls:
Imagine you have a younger sister; how could you help her prepare for her periods? She might ask you questions if she sees your (sanitary) towels or tampons or hears you complain of tummy pains before or during your period. Work in pairs. What would your top three tips/facts be?
Independent for boys:
Imagine you have a younger brother; how could you help him prepare for wet dreams? Work in pairs. What would your top three tips/facts be?
Plenary:
Discuss how to look after yourself during puberty. Talk about washing regularly, using deodorant, girls changing their towels or tampons regularly when they are having a period, boys cleaning their penis properly, using medicated soap to help with greasy skin & spots, etc.
I can:
1. Explain the physical changes that happen during puberty.
2. Understand that I need to keep myself clean during puberty.
3. Describe the special ceremonies held in some cultures to mark puberty.

© Original plan copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users

Y6 Biology – Human reproduction & Sexual Health – 14 Sessions With thanks to The Oxford Trust for funding support

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