Puberty

Ground Rules

• Respect each other: There are no dumb questions

• No personal questions• May ask questions by raising hand or in question

box• Share the discussion with parents or guardians• Respect the discussion by not talking about it

where it’s not appropriate

6th Grade

Physical Changes

• Adolescence is the time between puberty and full maturation.

• Puberty is the period of human development during which people become able to reproduce.

• Hormones are chemical substances made and released in one part of the body that cause a change in another part of the body.

• The male hormone testosterone and the female hormones estrogen and progesterone are released at the start of puberty.

6th GradePuberty

6th GradePuberty

Mental and Emotional Changes

• A New Way of Thinking As adolescence progresses, teens are able to think in a more complex way. They can foresee consequences, make more logical decisions, and view situations from other points of view.

6th GradePuberty

Mental and Emotional Changes

• A New Way of Feeling New feelings that arise during adolescence may cause teens to feel alone, insecure, and confused.

6th GradePuberty

Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.

Mental and Emotional Changes

A New Desire for Independence • The process of leaving dependence behind and

forming a new identity is complex and sometimes scary. Having conflicting emotions is healthy and normal.

• If prolonged periods of sadness or anxiety become overwhelming, seek help from a parent, school counselor or doctor.

6th GradePuberty

Social Changes

• As teens grow older, their parents and others expect more of them.

• Relationships with friends change and become more important during adolescence.

• You can take more responsibility at home, in friendships, and in other parts of life by:

6th Grade

• showing concern for how people are doing• listening to others• encouraging others• getting a job

Puberty

6th GradeMale Reproductive System

Male InsideMale Inside

Make Fluid for Semen

Pathway for Sperm

Sperm Mature, Travel Through

Produce Sperm & Male Hormones

Holds Urine

Urine & Semen Leave Body

Copyright ©2006-2008 by Janet P. Realini, M.D., M.P.H.

Produces sperm and male hormones

Testicle

EpidydimisSperm mature; travel through

Vas deferens

Pathway for sperm

Prostate gland

Seminal Vesicle

Make fluid for semen

Bladder

Holds urine

Urethra

Urine and semen leave

the body

6th GradeFemale Reproductive System

Female InsideFemale Inside

Allows for Birth,Menstrual Flow &

Sexual Intercourse

Pathway for Egg; Fertilization Occurs Here

Dilates in Labor;Where Pap Smear

is Done

Fetus Grows Inside

Produce Eggs & Female

Hormones

Copyright ©2006, 2007 by Janet P. Realini, M.D., M.P.H.

Vagina

Allows for Birth, and Menstrual

Flow

Uterus

Fetus Grows Inside

Ovary

Produce eggs and female

hormones

Fallopian Tube

Pathway for Egg;

Fertilization Occurs Here

Cervix

Dilates in Labor to allow delivery

6th GradeWhat is menstruation and how does it work?

Menstruation is the shedding of tissue, fluid and blood from the uterine lining (also called menstrual discharge). Each month a soft lining thickens inside the uterus (womb). If the woman becomes pregnant, this lining is needed to look after and nourish the growing baby. If she doesn’t become pregnant, this lining is not needed, and most of it leaves the body through the vagina.

6th GradeWhat is menstruation and how does it work?

Pre-Ovulatory Phase, Days 6-13

Ovulation Phase, around Day 14

Premenstrual Phase, Days 15-28

Menstrual Phase, Days 1-5

6th GradeQuestions