Teaching Tool - Puberty (Grade 4)
These resources teach students about the emotional and physical changes that happen during puberty. They also teach how they can make decisions for healthy growth and development.
Learning goals
- I will describe the physical changes that happen during puberty
- I will understand the emotional and social impacts that might happen because of changes during puberty
- I will gain an understanding of caring for my personal hygiene
- I will develop strategies for coping with any challenges that might happen during puberty
- I will identify trusted people who I can talk to if I need help (sources of support)
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)
- D1.5 describe the physical changes that occur at puberty and the emotional and social impacts that may result from these changes. This specific expectation is also connected to the social-emotional learning expectations A1.1 Emotions, 1.2 Coping and 1.4 Relationships.
- D2.4 demonstrate an understanding of personal care needs and the application of personal hygienic practices associated with the onset of puberty. This specific expectation is also connected to the social emotional learning expectation A1.5 Self.
Learning activities
Puberty presentation
This presentation introduces puberty and the importance of personal hygiene while going through puberty.
Alex's story
For this activity, students will listen to a story of a person experiencing puberty. They will then try to determine if the changes they are experiencing are common.
What's in the bag?
In this activity, students will match descriptions to items used during puberty.
- What's in the bag? instructions
- What's in the bag? card descriptors
- What's in the bag? deck of cards
Advice corner
During this activity, students will work through scenario questions on changes that happen during puberty.
Question box
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.
Supplementary resources
- All about puberty (Kids Health): This resource talks about what puberty is, what changes happen and what to expect while going through this process.
- Grade 4 lesson plans (Teaching Sexual Health): These lessons describe physical, emotional and social changes that happen during puberty, for example menstruation, secondary sexual characteristics, changing identity and moods. Refer to lesson 1: Puberty changes and lesson 2: Coping with puberty.
- Personal hygiene (Ontario Physical and Health Education Association): This lesson teaches students about the physical changes that happen at puberty and the personal care needs and personal hygiene practices associated with the changes during puberty.
- Physical and emotional changes at puberty (Ontario Physical and Health Education Association): This lesson teaches students about the physical changes that happen at puberty and the emotional and social impact that may result from these changes.
- Physical changes at puberty (Ontario Physical and Health Education Association): This lesson teaches students how choices they make every day can have a positive impact on their mental health during puberty.
- Promoting healthy hygiene habits (Ontario Physical and Health Education Association): This lesson teaches students about personal care needs and personal hygiene practices associated with the onset of puberty. Also, students will learn how choices they make every day can have a positive impact on their mental health during puberty.
- Puberty video (Everybody Curious): In this video, two expert hosts Nadine and Eva, teach about what is happening in the mind and in the body during puberty.
- Teacher's guide: Puberty (Kids Health): This lesson plan has activities that help students recognize and understand the changes that are happening to their bodies during puberty.
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