1. Always Changing 5th Grade Puberty Education Program
The following power point presentation can be used to assist you in the instruction of puberty education to your 5th grade students. It follows the same organizational structure and contains the same content as your Always Changing instructor’s guide. Feel free to adjust the presentation to accommodate your own classroom needs.
Approved by the CCSD B.O.E. 9/23/10

2. Class Overview As you grow up, your body changes
Changes in how you look and feel
Timing is different for everyone – from 9-14 years old
Each girl grows at her own pace
Girls are usually 2 years ahead of boys
In this class we’ll discuss the changes you will go through as you grow up. As you grow you’ll notice changes in how you look and feel. These changes are part of a stage in your life called Puberty.
Puberty usually starts between the ages of 9 and 14 and lasts for a few years.
It doesn’t matter when you start; your body will decide when the time is right.
Don’t worry if your friends seem to be growing more quickly than you.
You’ll know that you’re starting to go through puberty when you suddenly begin to grow taller and your body grows into a more womanly shape. Other more specific changes will be discussed throughout this class.

3. Class Guidelines Don’t be afraid to ask questions
Be respectful of your peers
No personal stories
Use appropriate medical terms

4. Class Agenda Video Puberty Personal Hygiene Healthy Bodies Questions
Physical Changes
Emotional Changes
Menstruation/Cramps
Feminine Protection
Personal Hygiene
Healthy Bodies
Questions

5. Watch Video Stream
NOTE: Watch the Always Changing Video. There is a section for just girls.

6. Personal Hygiene Sweating Body produces more sweat; body odor
Bathe/shower daily with soap
Shampoo hair regularly, from root to tip
Control underarm odor and wetness with deodorant or antiperspirant
Change sweaty clothes
During puberty your body will begin to produce more sweat. This occurs when the apocrine glands (located under the arms and in the genital areas) become active during puberty. When stimulated, these glands produce milky-looking perspiration and cause body odor when it comes in contact with bacteria on the skin.
To control perspiration odor, the 1st step is to bathe regularly with soap and water; shampoo for hair. This removes dirt and oil from the skin and reduces the bacteria that can lead to body odor.
The 2nd step is to use deodorant/anti-perspirant. Deodorant helps you smell good. Anti-perspirant reduces perspiration and underarm wetness, and helps prevent body odor before it starts.
Body odor can be held by the clothes you wear, so always put on clean clothes after bathing, including undergarments and socks.
If you are in sports, it is especially important to bathe, use deodorant, and change clothes after your practice or game.

7. Personal Hygiene Skin Care Oil glands in your skin become more active
Oil and dead skin cells lead to acne
Cleanse skin twice a day
Don’t worry; acne is a normal part of puberty, and steps can be taken to reduce it
During puberty, oil glands in your skin become more active and produce excess amounts of an oily substance called sebum.
Acne (pimples) forms when the skin’s pores become blocked with dead skin cells and sebum. Bacteria can then develop in the clogged pore and cause a pimple.
To help prevent acne, cleanse your face twice a day with medicated acne wash or cleanser.
90% of young people get acne at some point in time, so don’t be alarmed or feel like you are the only one. Acne is a normal part of puberty, but steps can be taken to reduce it.  Talk to your parent, pharmacist, or see a dermatologist to help find a treatment option that works for you.
To prevent scarring, don’t squeeze or pick at pimples, and be patient. Don’t expect acne to disappear overnight.

8. Healthy Bodies Stay active – exercise! Eat nutritious foods
Regular bathing and dental care
Personal safety
As you get taller, your hips get wider and your breast size increases, causing you to gain weight. This is normal. As long as you eat healthy and keep active, you should not worry about your weight.
Puberty is not a good time to limit the amount of food you eat – you are meant to put on weight during this time. But you are more likely to put on excess weight if you don’t exercise enough or if you eat too many fatty and sugary foods.
Remember to brush your teeth twice a day – morning and night. Use floss and rinse every day to help prevent cavities.
Personal Safety:
If you ever feel unsafe or uncomfortable, just say no! Keep saying no as many times as you need to. Then tell a trusted adult about what happened so they can help you.
Make sure to wear the proper protective gear (helmets, knee pads, etc) when playing sports and other athletic activities to prevent injuries.
When walking alone, always be aware of your surroundings and avoid dimly lit areas with few people, especially at night. If possible, always travel with a buddy or parent when in public places such as the mall, park, etc.

9. Puberty: Physical Changes
The female stages of development are typically described by the five Tanner stages of breast development and pubic hair growth, along with other signs of female maturation: the growth spurt, the onset of vaginal discharge, and the start of menstruation.
This drawing describes the five stages with average age ranges.
NOTE: Emphasize that each girl’s progression through the stages will be slightly different according to her own body’s timetable.

10. Puberty: Physical Changes
Stage One (up to ages 8-12):
Childhood stage; no visible signs of puberty
Stage Two (may begin at ages 8-14):
Height and weight increase rapidly
Breast buds
Pubic hair
Stage Two extended information:
Breast Buds: As the breast buds appear, the nipples become raised and this area may be tender.
Pubic Hair: Fine straight hairs start growing close to the labia.

11. Puberty: Physical Changes
Stage Three (may begin at ages 9-15):
Height continues to increase
Breasts – rounder and fuller
Pubic hair – darker and thicker
Hips widen
Vaginal discharge
Menstruation for some girls
Stage Three extended information:
Hips: Your hips may start to widen in relation to the waist, giving a more rounded, softer shape.
Vaginal Discharge: Your vagina begins secreting a clear, whitish fluid called vaginal discharge.
Menstruation: For some girls, ovulation and menstruation begin late in this stage.

12. Puberty: Physical Changes
Stage Four (may begin at ages 10-16):
Underarm hair
Nipple and areola more prominent
Pubic hair starts to form triangular patch
Menstruation for many girls
Stage Five (may begin at ages 12-19):
Breast development complete
Pubic hair forms thick triangular patch
Adult height probably reached
Menstruation occurs regularly

13. Puberty: Emotional Changes
Feelings may change from day to day
Caused by hormones
Don’t worry; it’s all part of growing up!
During puberty you may become more emotional and react more strongly than you did before, regardless of whether it’s a school or peer-related issue.
These wide emotional swings are caused by hormones. For females, these hormones are:
Estrogen- female hormone produced in the ovaries; responsible for many changes of puberty
Progesterone- causes lining of uterus to thicken and prepares body for pregnancy
As a pre-teen, you may also experience a change in self-confidence as your body grows. This growth can occur faster or slower than your peers, often causing you to feel awkward or embarrassed.
These mood swings and feelings are all a normal part of growing up. Don’t be afraid to talk to a parent, teacher, school nurse, or other trusted adult if you are feeling overwhelmed or need help/advise.

14. Puberty: Menstruation
Menstruation is part of the female reproductive process
Average 28-day cycle, but different for everyone
Your period is when you lose fluid at the end of the cycle
Menstruation is part of the female reproductive process when a woman’s body prepares for possible pregnancy.
The average cycle is 28 days long (approximately one month), but this varies from person to person – and even from period to period.
Your period is defined as the monthly discharge of lining of the uterus (endometrium) which passes out of the body through the vagina.

15. Puberty: Female Reproductive System
NOTE: By becoming familiar with the female anatomy, girls can better grasp what happens during the menstrual cycle. Help students understand the approximate location, size and shape of each organ.

16. Puberty: Menstrual Cycle
There are four phases in the menstrual cycle, each controlled by rising and falling levels of hormones. The cycle can vary in length for each woman.
Although the cycle length is counted from the first day of menstruation, it is easier to explain if we start with the pre-ovulatory phase, before the egg is released.
Stages:
1.) Pre-Ovulatory- ovary gets ready to release an egg
2.) Ovulation- egg released and uterus lining starts to thicken
3.) Premenstrual- egg travels along fallopian tube to the uterus;
uterus lining gets thicker
4.) Menstrual- lining sheds through the vagina (This is your
period.)
*Go to for a classroom demonstration of the menstruation cycle.

17. Puberty: Periods Usually last 3-7 days Might not be regular at first
Only lose about 7 teaspoons of blood
It doesn’t hurt!
When you start to have periods, they may not be regular. After your first period, the next one might be 2 or 3 months later, and it might last 1 day or 10. Your body will take a while to become regular – maybe 2 years or more.
The average woman loses about teaspoons of menstrual fluid during her period, but only about 7 teaspoons of it is blood. Your body contains more than 5 quarts of blood, so it doesn’t miss the little bit you lose during a period.

18. Puberty: Periods When Does My Period Start?
Usually between years old
About 2 years after your breasts develop
Soon after you grow pubic hair
After you start to notice vaginal discharge
Remember – it’s different for every girl!

19. Puberty: Calendar Track your period on a calendar:
How to use:
You can use a calendar to keep track of your menstrual cycle and help prepare for your next period.
Draw stars to mark the dates when you have your period
Draw 1, 2 or 3 stars to show the level of flow for each day
1 is light
2 is medium
3 is heavy
Count the days from the first star of one period to the first star of the next period. This is the length of your menstrual cycle.
*If your cycle is regular, you can use the Period Predictor on BeingGirl.com to chart your period online.
Visit Beinggirl.com for an online Period Predictor

20. Puberty: Cramps What Are They? What Can I Do?
Aches in the lower abdomen or along the inner thighs
What Can I Do?
Take a warm bath
Hold a heating pad on your lower stomach
Exercise
Check with an adult before taking medication

21. Puberty: Feminine Protection
Pads
Worn outside your body, in your underwear
Many different kinds, depending on heaviness of period and body size
Wings provide extra protection
Change frequently to keep fresh and dry
Pads are a good product to start with when you first get your period.
Today, many pads are thin – but they are just as absorbent as thick pads.
Some pads come with wings, which wrap around the sides of your panties to help the pad stay in place and protect the sides of your underwear.
How often you change your pad depends on flow and what kind of pad you’re using. Generally you should change them every 4-6 hours, more often if your flow is heavy. They may start to leak if you wear them for too long. Make sure to bathe daily when you have your period to stay fresh and clean, and always wash your hands before and after changing your pad.

22. Puberty: Feminine Protection
How to Use a Pad
1. Pull off paper strip or wrapper.
2. Attach sticky part securely to center of underwear.
3. For wings, peel off paper strips and wrap around sides of underwear.

23. Puberty: Feminine Protection
How to Get Rid of Pads
Fold it up
Wrap it in tissue or toilet paper
Put it in the trash (special cans in ladies’ room)
Don’t flush pads down the toilet – they clog it!
Wash your hands

24. Who to Talk To
Family member: Your mom, aunt, grandma, older sister, or trusted adult etc.
Teacher or school nurse
Doctor
In the future, you will most likely have questions regarding puberty and need to talk to someone. Here are some ideas of adults you can speak to.
Be sure to give your mom the Mother/Daughter booklet found in your Always girls’ kit. It contains fun activities for the two of you to do together and can help answer your questions on puberty.
If you get your period at school for the first time, come see your teacher or school nurse. We are here to help you!

25. Questions
Write question on a note card; fold it and place it in the Question Box
Everyone must write something on the notecard
All questions are good
I know you all have questions but may be too embarrassed to ask them.
Please write your question on the notecard, fold it and place in the Question Box.
Everyone must write something on the notecard – if you don’t have a question then write “I don’t have a question” so we will all be writing at the same time.
I will pull the questions out of the box and answer them one at a time.
There is no such thing as a wrong question, so don’t be afraid to ask about any concerns you may have. Remember to always be respectful of all questions asked.