Grades 3 to 5 Personal Health Series

Puberty
KidsHealth.org/classroom

Teachers Guide

Change can be difficult, and puberty is definitely a time of change! Thanks to the
hormones swirling around in your students bodies, they will experience all kinds of
change at varying rates. The following discussion questions and activities will help
students identify and understand the changes of puberty.

This guide includes:

Standards
Related Links
Discussion Questions
Activities for Students

Related KidsHealth Links

Articles for Kids:
All About Puberty

Reproducible Materials

KidsHealth.org/kid/grow/body_stuff/puberty.html

Boys and Puberty

KidsHealth.org/kid/grow/boy/boys_puberty.html

Standards

All About Menstruation

This guide correlates with

the following National Health
Education Standards:
Students will:
Comprehend concepts related
to health promotion and
disease prevention to enhance
health.
Demonstrate the ability to
access valid information and
products and services to
enhance health.
Demonstrate the ability to use
interpersonal communication
skills to enhance health and
avoid or reduce health risks.
Demonstrate the ability to
practice health-enhancing
behaviors and avoid or reduce
health risks.
Demonstrate the ability to
advocate for personal, family,
and community health.

KidsHealth.org/kid/grow/girlstuff/menstruation.html

Breasts and Bras

KidsHealth.org/kid/grow/body_stuff/breasts_bras.html

Acne
KidsHealth.org/kid/grow/body_stuff/acne.html

Your Changing Voice

KidsHealth.org/kid/grow/boy/changing_voice.html

Discussion Questions
Note: The following questions are written in language appropriate for sharing with
your students.
1.

Puberty is a funny word to say. So what is it exactly? What changes happen

during puberty? Why do we have to go through puberty anyway?

2.

When does puberty usually start? Does everyone experience puberty in the
same way? At the same time? Explain your answer.

3.

Why are the changes that happen during puberty so hard to talk about? Why is
it important to talk about them anyway? Where can you get information about
puberty? Which sources are better than others?

4.

With all of the changes happening during puberty, you need to take good care
of yourself. What are some strategies you can use to handle the changes of
puberty?

Your states school health policies:

nasbe.org/HealthySchools/States/
State_Policy.asp
2006 The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. Reproduction permitted for individual classroom use.

Grades 3 to 5 Personal Health Series

Puberty
Activities for Students

Note: The following activities are written in language appropriate for sharing with your students.

A Memo From The Pituitary Gland!

Objectives:
Students will:
Learn about the role of the pituitary gland and hormones in puberty
Explore the changes of puberty

Materials:

Computer with Internet access

Word processing program, or pen and paper

Class Time:
1 hour

Activity:
Today you are a pituitary gland, and youve got an important job to do! Youre about to release hormones that will
start puberty, and you want to prepare the rest of your body for the changes that are on the way. What better way
to get the message out than to send a memo to your body explaining the process! First, check out the articles on
KidsHealth to find out more about the pituitary gland, hormones, and puberty. Then decide if you are a pituitary
gland in a girls or boys body. Now youre ready to write that memo! Be sure to include the following information:

A description of yourself as a pituitary gland (where you are in the body, and what you do)
An explanation of what will happen to the body when you release your hormones (focus on the parts of the body
that your hormones will target, and what takes place in those parts)

All of this information might be confusing to your body, so dont forget to offer reassurance in your memo!

Extensions:
1.

Boys and girls go through lots of different changes during puberty, but they experience some of the same things
as well. Research the changes that occur during puberty, and create a Venn diagram that records the changes
experienced by boys, by girls, and by both boys and girls. Based on your diagram, do boys and girls have more
similar or different changes? Are you surprised by your results? Why or why not?

2.

With all of the changes going on in your own body, its hard to understand whats going on in someone elses!
Sometimes boys and girls just cant figure out whats happening to each others bodies. If youre a girl, write a
list of the top five things youd like to tell boys about puberty. If youre a boy, write a list of the top five things
youd like girls to know about what boys are going through.

2006 The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. Reproduction permitted for individual classroom use.

Grades 3 to 5 Personal Health Series

Puberty
Puberty Pete
Objectives:
Students will:
Learn about changes resulting from puberty

Materials:

Computer with Internet access

Puberty Pete handout (available at: KidsHealth.org/classroom/3to5/personal/growing/puberty_handout1.pdf)

Class Time:
1 hour

Activity:
Lets face it the changes caused by puberty can be embarrassing, confusing, and downright smelly. But,
adolescents, never fear Puberty Pete is here! A local doctor wants you to design a character called Puberty Pete to
help her young patients learn more about puberty. She wants to put Puberty Pete on a bookmark to give each of her
patients when they come in for their next doctors visit. Before you get started on your design, select one change of
puberty that you want to address on your bookmark. To find out more about this puberty change, take a look at the
articles at KidsHealth. Then, using the Puberty Pete handout, design a bookmark that includes the following:

A drawing of Puberty Pete

At least three facts that Puberty Pete can provide about the change of puberty you selected

Extension:
1.

Everyone develops differently during puberty. It can be hard to be the kid who develops before or after friends.
Discuss how it might feel to be the first boy in class to have to shave or the last girl to get her period.

Reproducible Materials
Handout: Puberty Pete
KidsHealth.org/classroom/3to5/personal/growing/puberty_handout1.pdf

Quiz: Puberty
KidsHealth.org/classroom/3to5/personal/growing/puberty_quiz.pdf

Answer Key: Puberty

KidsHealth.org/classroom/3to5/personal/growing/puberty_quiz_answers.pdf

KidsHealth.org is devoted to providing the latest childrens health information. The site, which is widely
recommended by educators, libraries, and school associations, has received the Teachers Choice Award
for the Family and the prestigious Pirelli Award for Best Educational Media for Students. KidsHealth comes
from the nonprofit Nemours Foundation. Check out www.KidsHealth.org to see the latest additions!
2006 The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. Reproduction permitted for individual classroom use.

Personal Health Series

Puberty

Name:
Date:

Puberty Pete
Instructions: Its time to design a bookmark starring a character called Puberty Pete to help kids learn more about puberty. First, read the articles at KidsHealth and select one
puberty change that you want to address. Then create a bookmark that includes the following: a drawing of Puberty Pete and at least three facts about the change of puberty
you selected.

2006 The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. Reproduction permitted for individual classroom use.

Personal Health Series

Puberty
Name:

Date:

Quiz
Instructions: Answer each question.

1.

is the time when you begin developing into an adult.

2.

List three changes that happen to boys in puberty:

3.

List three changes that happen to girls in puberty:

4.

Which gland in your body releases the hormones that begin puberty?
a. pineal
b. adrenal
c. pituitary
d. thyroid

5.

True or False: Estrogen is the hormone that causes most of the changes in a boys body during puberty. T F

6.

During the menstrual cycle, what is released from a girls ovaries?

a. an egg
b. a fallopian tube
c. a sperm cell
d. blood and tissue

7.

Whats an Adams apple?

8.
9.

is the name for those red bumps called pimples that a lot of kids and teenagers get on their skin.
Name two ways you can reduce body odor:

10. A girl can wear a

to protect her breast tissue and keep her breasts supported.

2006-2008 The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. Reproduction permitted for individual classroom use.

Personal Health Series

Puberty
Quiz Answer Key

1.

Puberty

is the time when you begin developing into an adult.

2.

List three changes that happen to boys in puberty:

any three of the following: body grows bigger, voice changes, body hair grows, muscles develop, testosterone increases, body
odor, acne, erections, wet dreams, penis grows longer, testes get bigger, sexual thoughts, strong emotions

3.

List three changes that happen to girls in puberty:

any of the following: breasts develop, menstruation begins, body grows taller, body hair grows, body odor, estrogen
increases, weight gain, body fat increases, vaginal discharge, sexual thoughts, strong emotions

4.

Which gland in your body releases the hormones that begin puberty?
a. pineal
b. adrenal
c. pituitary
d. thyroid

5.

True or False: Estrogen is the hormone that causes most of the changes in a boys body during puberty. T F
Estrogen causes changes in a girls body during puberty. Testosterone is the hormone that causes changes in a boys body

6.

During the menstrual cycle, what is released from a girls ovaries?

a. an egg
b. a fallopian tube
c. a sperm cell
d. blood and tissue

7.

Whats an Adams apple?

The Adams apple is the place on the front of the throat where the larynx sticks out.

8.
9.

Acne

is the name for those red bumps called pimples that a lot of kids and teenagers get on their skin.

Name two ways you can reduce body odor:

You can reduce body odor by taking a shower or bath regularly and using deodorant.

10. A girl can wear a

bra

to protect her breast tissue and keep her breasts supported.

2006-2008 The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. Reproduction permitted for individual classroom use.