Lesson video

Hello, my name is Miss Row.

Today, we're going to be looking at the lesson, male and female changes during puberty.

This fits into the unit, "Puberty, What Happens During Adolescence?".

Now, for this lesson, it is required for you to have an adult present, so please make sure they are with you before you press play.

In today's lesson, we're going to be talking about body parts, so if at any point you feel worried or uncomfortable, it is important that you stop watching.

Today's lesson outcome is, I can describe the specific changes that happen to males and females during puberty.

Let's begin by taking a look at our ground rules for today's lesson.

Laura says, "We should listen to others." Andeep says, "We should respect privacy," and that means if somebody decides to share their own experience or story, that we don't go and repeat it to other people outside of this lesson.

Jacob says, "No judgement !" And that means if somebody does decide to share their own story or experience that we don't judge them or make comments about them.

And Izzy says, "Choose your level of participation." That means, you can decide if you simply just want to listen or if you would like to share something throughout the lesson.

Here are some of our keywords for today's lesson.

We have puberty and genitals.

Puberty is the time when a child's body starts to change and grow into an adult body.

Genitals, the body parts that help with reproduction and other bodily functions.

They are important for health, are private and are different for different bodies.

Here are the rest of today's keywords.

Biological sex and menstruation.

Biological sex refers to the physical body parts and features, like reproductive organs, that a person is born with.

Menstruation is when the uterus sheds a small amount of blood each month.

These keywords are going to pop up in today's lesson.

Here is today's lesson outline, and we're going to begin with, what changes during puberty happen to everyone? Puberty is the time when a child's body starts to change and grow into an adult body.

During this time, bodies and emotions change.

Andeep says, "Puberty is a normal process that everyone experiences differently." Well done, Andeep.

Puberty usually begins between the ages of eight and 14.

Izzy says, "It's normal for some people to experience changes earlier or later than others." And Jacob says, "Some people go through puberty quickly and some more slowly." Okay, time for a check for understanding.

True or false? Everyone goes through puberty at the same speed.

Hmm, true or false? Everyone goes through puberty at the same speed.

Pause this video so you can have some thinking time.

Well done if you said false.

Some people go through puberty quickly and some more slowly.

This is because we are all different to each other.

We all develop at different times.

Many changes that happen during puberty are similar for males and females.

Izzy asks, "Can you think of any changes that both males and females experience during puberty?" Here are some examples of changes that happen to everyone during puberty.

I wonder if you thought of any of these before.

Stronger body odour.

Genital and body hair grows.

Growing taller and greasy hair and skin.

Genitals are the body parts that help with reproduction and other bodily functions.

They are important for health, are private and are different for different bodies.

During puberty, both females' and males' genitals will change shape and size.

Here are some illustrations of female genitals on the left and male genitals on the right.

Female and male genitals can be different shapes, sizes and colours.

They are all normal.

During puberty, pubic hair will start to grow on everyone's genitals and under the armpits.

Cleaning our genitals with warm water is enough.

Using scented soaps may irritate genitals.

Unscented soaps are more gentle on the skin and can be used on the outside of the genitals with warm water.

Okay, time for a check for understanding.

Which statements happen to everyone during puberty? A, hips will widen, B, body odour will get stronger and C, genitals will change shape and size.

Which statements happen to everyone during puberty? Pause this video so you can have some thinking time.

Well done if you ticked B and C.

Body odour will get stronger and genitals will change shape and size.

Those two changes happen to everyone during puberty.

Okay, time for a task now.

Label the body with physical changes that happen to everyone during puberty.

One has been done for you and they have labelled greasy hair and skin.

Pause this video so you have some time to do the task and then we will go through your answers together.

Okay, well done for having a go.

So your labelled body showing the physical changes that happen to everyone during puberty should include greasy hair and skin, growing taller, stronger body odour, body hair and genitals will change shape and size.

Well done if you manage to get some of those labels on your diagram.

Okay, let's move on to the second part of our lesson.

What changes only happen to females? Biological sex refers to the physical body parts and features, like reproductive organs, that a person is born with.

It refers to the way your body is made up.

Genetics, which is DNA, hormones and genitals.

Andeep says, "Males and females will experience some different changes during puberty." Biological sex affects our bodies in different ways.

For example, your height, how deep your voice will become, size of breasts and how much body hair will grow.

Some people are intersex.

This means they are born with a combination of male and female characteristics.

Andeep says, "People who are intersex may experience puberty differently to others." Intersex people may experience multiple changes in puberty that happen to everyone.

They might develop breasts, grow facial hair as well as under their armpits and on their genitals, experience their voice deepening and menstruate.

Females will start developing breasts during puberty that can produce milk to feed babies after pregnancy, and here are some illustrations of different breasts.

Breasts and nipples will change shape.

They can be different sizes and colours.

Some males may develop breast tissue during puberty.

This is common for males and often goes away with time.

Females' hips grow wider and their body may become curvier.

This is to help prepare the body for pregnancy in the future.

Some females experience weight gain during puberty.

The labia and clitoris will change shape and size during puberty.

Laura says, "Labias and clitorises can be different shapes, lengths and colours." They are all normal.

Okay, time for a check for understanding.

Which statements happen to females during puberty? A, breasts and nipples will change size, B, voice will become significantly deeper and C, hips will widen and may become curvier.

Which statements happen to females during puberty? Pause this video so you can have some thinking time.

Well done if you said A and C.

During puberty, females will experience their breasts and nipples changing size and their hips will widen and may become curvier.

During puberty, females also experience menstruation.

Once a month, blood and tissue will come out of the vagina.

It can last between three to seven days.

This is called a period.

The menstrual cycle is about 28 days long.

It is the time from the start of a female's period until the start of their next period.

Izzy says, "Your menstrual cycle might be longer or shorter than 28 days," and this is normal.

There are five organs that allow the female body to menstruate.

Ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, vagina and cervix.

The menstrual cycle enables females to reproduce and have children if they wish to.

The ovaries produce ova, which means eggs.

The uterus is the place where a baby can grow.

It's also known as the womb.

A period happens because a female did not get pregnant that month.

Because the uterus does not need a lining to grow a baby, it sheds through the vagina.

When it comes out of the vagina, it looks like a small amount of blood.

Okay, time for a check for understanding.

Why do females get a period? Is it A, because they have become pregnant, B, because the ovaries have produced an egg or C, because the uterus has shed the lining? Why do females get a period? Pause this video so you can have some thinking time.

Well done if you said C.

Females get a period because the uterus has shed the lining.

When the period ends, the second phase of the menstrual cycle begins.

During this phase, the body prepares for an ovary to release an egg.

There are lots of eggs in each ovary.

The third phase of the menstrual cycle is when an egg is released from the ovary.

This is called ovulation.

During ovulation, the egg is released from the ovary.

If the egg is fertilised by sperm, the female becomes pregnant.

Without fertilisation, a female will not become pregnant.

The fourth phase of the menstrual cycle starts after ovulation.

The uterus lining gets thicker to prepare for a potential pregnancy.

If the female does not become pregnant, menstruation begins again.

Many females start their periods around 12 years old.

Laura says, "Some people may start slightly earlier or later.

This is very common." Andeep says, "When someone starts their period, it is usual for the period to be irregular and not come every month." Okay, time for a check for understanding.

True or false? Everyone starts their period at 13 years old.

True or false? Pause this video so you can have some thinking time.

Well done if you said false.

Many females start their period around 12 years old, however, it is common to start earlier or later than this.

Females can experience both physical and emotional symptoms when menstruating.

Here are some physical and emotional symptoms. Physical symptoms include headaches, bloating, stomach cramps and tiredness.

And emotional symptoms include anger, anxiety and sadness.

There are various sanitary products that females can use during their periods.

Here are some examples.

Sanitary pads, menstrual cup and tampons.

Sanitary products help manage the blood during a period and keep clothes clean.

Sam says, "I prefer using sanitary pads as they feel more comfortable for me." Sophia says, "I like using tampons and a menstrual cup." Females will experience discharge throughout each month.

This is a clear or white fluid that is made in the vagina and keeps the vagina clean and moist.

Laura says, "If your discharge is a different colour or has a smelly odour, you should speak to a trusted adult." Okay, time for a check for understanding.

Which symptoms may females experience during their period? A, bloating, B, an increase in energy, C, stomach cramps and D, an increase in tiredness.

Which symptoms may females experience during their period? Pause this video so you can have some thinking time.

Well done if you said A, C and D.

Females may experience bloating, stomach cramps and an increase in tiredness during their period.

Okay, time for a task now.

Izzy is worried about starting puberty.

Will my breasts grow to be the same size as my friends? When will I start my period? And I have started to notice discharge in my knickers.

Is this normal? With a partner, take turns to explain what advice you would give to Izzy in order to answer her questions.

Pause this video so you have time to do the task and then we will go through the answers together.

Okay, well done for having a go.

You might have mentioned, everyone's breasts are different sizes, shapes and colours.

Females usually start their period around 12 years old, however, it's very common to start earlier or later than this, and it's normal to experience discharge when you start puberty and throughout your menstrual cycle.

Well done if you and your partner said something similar.

Let's move on to the third and final part of our lesson.

What changes only happen to males? During puberty, males will grow an Adam's apple and their voice will become deeper.

This is because the body starts to produce a hormone called testosterone that helps the voice box grow larger.

Jacob says, "This change will happen over time." At first, the male's voice can change pitch suddenly or unexpectedly.

This is the process of the voice breaking.

Izzy says, "After some time, the voice settles into a deeper tone.

This is part of puberty that all males experience." During puberty, testosterone can change the shape of males' bodies.

Their shoulders and chests will broaden and widen.

This is what males' shoulders and chests will look like before puberty and this is what their shoulders and chests will look like during puberty.

Okay, time for a check for understanding.

True or false? It is usual for males' voices to change pitch suddenly during puberty.

True or false? It is usual for males' voices to change pitch suddenly during puberty.

Pause this video so you can have some thinking time.

Well done if you said true.

During puberty, males' voices break and might go through phases of being high and low pitched.

This is the process of the voice getting deeper, which happens naturally during puberty.

During puberty, two balls called testicles grow bigger.

They produce important hormones.

Testicles drop, meaning that they hang lower from the body.

During puberty, the penis will grow larger and change shape.

Sometimes it can grow bigger and harder for short periods of time.

This is called an erection.

When the penis is hard, it can ejaculate.

This means that a white liquid called semen comes out.

This is completely natural and nothing to worry about.

Semen contains sperm.

Sperm allows males to reproduce and have babies if they want to.

And here is an illustration of the place that sperm comes out.

Males can have wet dreams where sperm can come out of their penis at night when they are sleeping.

Jacob says, "Wet dreams are common and nothing to be embarrassed about." A smelly substance called smegma can build up underneath the foreskin of the penis if it is not cleaned properly.

A male should pull back their foreskin and wash the end of their penis every day when washing.

Males who are circumcised may not experience smegma, but should still wash their penis with warm water.

Izzy says, "If this hurts, talk to a trusted adult about it." Okay, time for a check for understanding.

How should a male keep their penis clean? A, use scented soap, B, pull the foreskin back whilst cleaning and C, use warm water.

How should a male keep their penis clean? Pause this video so you can have some thinking time.

Well done if you said B and C.

Males should keep their penis clean by pulling the foreskin back whilst cleaning and using warm water.

Okay, time for a task now.

Write a short description for each picture to explain the changes that happen to males during puberty.

Pause this video so you have some time to do the task and then we will go through the answers together.

Okay, well done for having a go.

Your answers and descriptions should include, males may experience wet dreams, males' voices will become deeper, males' shoulders and chests may widen and males' testicles will grow larger and hang lower from the body.

Well done if your answers were similar to mine.

Okay, so that brings us to the end of our lesson and I've had a fantastic time with you today.

Here is a summary of everything that we've covered today.

Biological sex is determined by genetics, genitals and hormones.

Most changes are the same during puberty, no matter whether a person is male or female.

However, some changes are specific to males or females.

For example, females' breasts and nipples change shape, their hips widen and they experience menstruation, whereas males' voices become deeper and facial hair grows.

The menstrual cycle lasts around 28 days and a period usually lasts between three to seven days.

Now, here are two places that you can go to to get further support.

There is the NHS website, which talks about health and prevention, including how to access services and Childline, which is a website and phone line which is able to offer confidential advice and support.