Teaching Tool - Puberty and the Reproductive System (Grade 5)

These resources teach students about changes that happen with the reproductive systems during puberty.

Learning goals

I will identify the parts for the two reproductive systems and their functions
I will describe the changes that happen to my body during puberty
I will understand the process of menstruation and spermatogenesis and explain how they relate to reproduction
I will describe the stresses that a person might experience during puberty
I will develop strategies for coping with the challenges faced during puberty

Core knowledge content

Core knowledge content provides the teacher with the background information needed to prepare and teach this health class.

Ontario curriculum expectations

Grades 1-8: Health and Physical Education (2019)

D1.3 identify the parts of the reproductive system and describe how the body changes during puberty. This specific expectation is also connected to the social emotional learning expectation A1.5 Self.
D1.4 describe the processes of menstruation and spermatogenesis and explain how these processes relate to reproduction and overall development.
D2.5 describe emotional and interpersonal stresses related to puberty, recognize signs that could indicate mental health concerns and identify strategies that they can apply to manage stress, build resilience, keep open communication with family members and caring adults and enhance their mental health and emotional well-being. This specific expectation is also connected to the social emotional learning expectations A1.1 Emotions, 1.2 Coping, 1.4 Relationships and 1.5 Self.

Learning activities

Puberty presentation

This presentation is a review about puberty and the changes that kids might experience with their bodies during puberty.

Puberty PowerPoint presentation

Reproductive systems presentations

These presentations teach students about the different reproductive systems, the anatomy that people are born with and the changes that will happen to certain body parts during puberty.

Pregnancy presentation

This presentation teaches students how some changes during puberty help prepare a person's body for adulthood, such as pregnancy. The presentation focuses on menstruation, spermatogenesis, conception and fertilization.

Pregnancy PowerPoint presentation

What would you do?

During this activity, students will work through a scenario related to changes that happen during puberty. They will try to solve it by coming up with recommendations on what they would do.

Let's see what you remember

This activity wraps up the discussion on puberty. It will test students on their understanding of the changes that their bodies might be going through because of puberty.

Anatomy matching game

In this activity, students will match definitions and images of the reproductive systems for a person with a penis and for a person with a vagina.

Self-care collage

For this activity, students will find images of items used for self-care while going through puberty. They will then create a collage on either a poster, piece of paper, webpage or other type of media.

Self-care collage instructions

Question box / envelope

This activity gives students the opportunity to ask questions anonymously. The questions might be about things that they feel are awkward, embarrassing or uncomfortable to ask in front of their classmates.

Question box / envelope instructions

Niagara Region Public Health videos

Supplementary resources

Always changing and growing up (Ontario Physical and Health Education Association): For teaching pre-teens in grades 5 and 6 about the transition between childhood and adolescence and the beginning stages of puberty.
Development of sperm during puberty (Ontario Physical and Health Education Association): Helps students describe the process of developing spermatozoa and how the production of sperm relates to reproduction and development.
Everything you wanted to know about puberty for teens (Nemours KidsHealth): Information about what puberty is and goes further in-depth to explain the changes that happen during puberty.
Grade 5 lesson plans (Teaching Sexual Health): These lessons will identify the basic components of the human reproductive system and describe the basic functions of them, for example fertilization and conception. Refer to lesson 1: Puberty review, lesson 2: The journey of an egg, lesson 3: The journey of a sperm, and lesson 4: Reproduction.
Grade 6 to 8: Human body series (Nemours KidsHealth): Includes teacher's guides, handouts, quizzes, posters and other activities to teach students about how the body works. Refer to the systems section, specifically the female reproductive system section and male reproductive system section.
Healthy boundaries (Talking about Sexuality in Canadian Communities): Teaches students the importance of healthy boundaries. Key topics include personal space and touch, the concept of public and private and what to do and who to tell when touching is not appropriate.
Managing stress and fostering positive mental health (Ontario Physical and Health Education Association): This lesson helps students describe the emotional and social stresses related to puberty and to apply strategies to cope with these changes. Students will also learn how to explain ways to help someone with their mental health and how to identify trusted people who can help in stressful situations.
Our changing bodies (Ontario Physical and Health Education Association): This lesson helps students identify the body parts of the reproductive systems and explain the physical and emotional changes that occur during puberty. Students will also learn how to apply self-awareness and communication skills to show respect for their body and for others.
Sexual development lesson (Teaching Sexual Health): This lesson examines the human reproductive process and recognizes misunderstandings associated with sexual development.
Teacher's guide: Puberty (Kids Health): This lesson plan includes activities that help students recognize and understand the changes that are happening to their bodies during puberty.
The development of an egg during puberty (Ontario Physical and Health Education Association): This lesson teaches students to describe the process of developing an egg during puberty and how the production of an egg relates to reproduction and our overall development.