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Primary Science · Year 5Chapter 4 · Growing up to old age
Year 5 Science · Growing up to old age · Lesson 4.4

Year 5 Science: Puberty

Part of the Year 5 Science growing up to old age chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page

4.4

Puberty

Year 5
A1: puberty, the changes that take the body towards adulthood, described calmly and factually
Story. Tom notices that his voice sounds different when he talks on the phone, and his trainers feel too small. His grandad says: “Everyone goes through this. It is called puberty, and your body is getting ready for adulthood.”

Puberty is the time when the body changes, on the way to adulthood. The changes happen at different times for different people, and no two people change in exactly the same way.

During puberty the body changes in several ways:

These changes are normal. Washing every day, wearing clean clothes and using deodorant help to keep the body fresh.

57911131517100120140160180age (years)height (cm)
Line graph of an example growth record. The height rises fastest between ages 11 and 13.
Age (years)Height (cm)
5110
7122
9134
11146
13160
15170
17174

Key ideas

  • Puberty is the stage when the body changes, on the way to adulthood.
  • During puberty there is a growth spurt, when the body grows quickly.
  • The voice changes, and body hair grows during puberty.
  • Washing and deodorant help to keep the body fresh during puberty.
Worked example 4.4.1
Look at the record table in section 4.4. How much did the pupil grow between age 11 and age 13? Write the number of centimetres.

Method. Find the two heights and subtract.

  1. Read the two heights. The height at age 11 is 146 cm, and at age 13 it is 160 cm.
    146 and 160
  2. Subtract. The growth is 160 minus 146, which is 14 cm.
    160 - 146 = 14
  3. Write the answer.
    14

Check. Check: 146 + 14 = 160. ✓

Watch out. Subtract the smaller height from the larger height.

Worked example 4.4.2
Which change in puberty is a growth spurt? Write the words.

Method. Read the list of changes.

  1. Read the list. The first change in the list is a growth spurt, when the body grows quickly.
    growth spurt
  2. Name the change. So the change is a growth spurt.
    growth spurt
  3. Write the answer.
    a growth spurt

Check. A growth spurt is when the body grows quickly. ✓

Worked example 4.4.3
Is it normal for a voice to change during puberty? Write yes or no.

Method. Read the list of changes.

  1. Read the list. The list says the voice changes, and it can become deeper.
    voice changes
  2. Decide. So a voice changing is one of the normal changes, and the answer is yes.
    yes
  3. Write the answer.
    yes

Check. Puberty changes happen to everyone at different times. ✓

Watch out

Watch out: puberty does not start at the same age for everyone. A change that happens later than your friend’s is still normal.

Try it (with your teacher or a grown-up). With a grown-up, look at the growth record in the table. Find the age at which the pupil grew the most. Talk about why people’s bodies change as they get older.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Keep this calm and factual. Let your child ask questions. Say that these changes are normal, and that everyone changes at their own pace. Answer any questions honestly, and help your child find a trusted adult to talk to.

Exercise 4D  Puberty

1
FWhich stage of life is the time when the body changes, on the way to adulthood? Write the word.
2
FLook at the growth record table in section 4.4. What height was the pupil at age 13? Write the number of centimetres.
3
FLook at the growth record table in section 4.4. How much did the pupil grow between age 5 and age 7? Write the number of centimetres.
4
PSLook at the growth record table in section 4.4. Between which two ages was the biggest increase in height? Write the two ages.
5
PSLook at the growth record table in section 4.4. Between which two ages was the smallest increase? Write the two ages.
6
FFill in the gap: during puberty there is a growth ___. Write one word.
7
FName one thing that can help to keep the body fresh during puberty. Write one word.
8
PSTrue or false: every person goes through puberty at exactly the same age. Write true or false.
9
PSWorking scientifically. Read a graph. Look at the growth graph in section 4.4. Between ages 5 and 17, how much did the pupil grow in total? Write the number of centimetres.
57911131517100120140160180age (years)height (cm)
10
RExplain why some changes in puberty can make a person feel different from before. Write one sentence.
11
RExplain why washing and deodorant are useful during puberty. Write one sentence.

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