Male and female changes during puberty
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe the specific changes that happen to males and females during puberty.
Key learning points
- Many changes during puberty are the same, no matter whether a person is male or female.
- Some changes during puberty are specific to males or females.
- Females first experience menstruation during puberty.
- Biological sex is determined by genetics, genitals and hormones.
Keywords
Puberty - 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
Biological sex - refers to the physical body parts and features, like reproductive organs, that a person is born with
Menstruation - when the uterus sheds a small amount of blood each month
Common misconception
The male and female experience of puberty is completely different.
Although there are some significant differences between males and females, many changes during puberty are similar.
Teacher tip
Use the term 'menstrual products' rather than 'sanitary products.'
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of nudity
Depiction or discussion of sexual content
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
5 Questions
Q1.When does puberty usually start?
Q2.What changes do both males and females experience?
Q3.What are the body parts that help with reproduction and other bodily functions called?
Q4.Which body pa
female
male
female
male
Q5.When do periods happen?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What changes happen to both females and males during puberty?
Q2.Which term refers to the physical body parts and features, like reproductive organs, that a person is born with?
Q3.What should males and females use to clean their genitals?
Q4.Match the female body parts to the descriptions.
a place where a baby can grow
a place where eggs are produced
when blood will come out the vagina
Q5.What could a female use during menstruation to help manage blood flow?
Q6.What is it called when the penis becomes bigger and harder?
To help you plan your 6 RSHE (PSHE) lesson on: Male and female changes during puberty, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 6 RSHE (PSHE) lesson on: Male and female changes during puberty, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 RSHE (PSHE) lessons from the Puberty: What happens during adolescence? unit, dive into the full primary RSHE (PSHE) curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.