Group2

Puberty
What this lesson will cover…

■What is puberty?

■What changes can we expect?

■A look at the differences between

girls and boys and amongst each
other
What is puberty?
■ Puberty is the time in life when you begin to
become an adult. This means a lot of changing and
growing – both inside and out.

■ Some of the changes that happen in puberty are

also known as adolescence.

■ Puberty starts because of sex hormones (chemicals

in our bodies that send messages about our
development).
Changes in boys

■Penis & testes size ( or willy & balls)

■Body & facial hair
■Pubic hair (the hair around our sex organs)
■Body shape
■Voice change (or voice breaking)
■Body odor (our smell) & acne (spots)
Changes in girls

■Breast development
■Body hair (e.g. on our legs, arms,
underarms) & pubic hair (the hair around
our sex organs)
■Menstruation (a monthly bleed or period)
■Body shape
■Body odor (our smell) & acne (spots)
Differences amongst boys
■ Penis & testes:
– All look different and vary in size and shape
■ Body & facial hair:
– Some men have lots of facial hair, while others have very little
– Not all men develop chest hair
■ Pubic hair:
– Like the hair on our head, pubic hair varies in colour and thickness
■ Body shape & muscle:
– Growth spurts happen to different boys at different times and in
different ways; people are all different shapes and sizes
– One side of the body might develop faster than the other
■ Voice change:
– Happens to different boys at different times and in different ways;
everybody sounds different.
■ Body odour & acne:
– Both result from an increase in hormone levels and affect everyone
differently.
 Differences amongst girls
■ Breast development:
– Breasts are all different shapes and sizes
■ Body hair & pubic hair:
– As with boys the colour and thickness of body hair and pubic hair varies
between girls
■ Menstruation (a monthly bleed or ‘period’):
– Girls can start their period within a big range of ages; it could be at age
8, or it could be at 16
– No two girls’ periods are exactly alike, some last 2 days, others a week
■ Body shape:
– Hip size varies between girls, as does overall size and shape
■ Body odor & acne:
– Just like boys, odor and acne result from an increase in hormone levels
and affect everyone differently
 Where to go for more info
on puberty?
■ Friends: They’re going through the same thing too, so
don’t be embarrassed to talk things through with each
other

■ Parents: They went through it too, so they do

understand

■ Teachers, school counsellors or other adults in school:

They are always around to talk to and discuss
individual worries

■ Internet: there are lots of useful websites to help

answer your questions