5th Grade Approved Curriculum: Puberty: the Wonder Years 

LESSON 1: Ready, Set, Grow! 

Students will be able to:

• Participate in classroom discussions and related activities in a way that is respectful of themselves, their peers, teachers as demonstrated by active participation in community guideline creation and use of guidelines in discussions.

• Demonstrate preparation to have a conversation with a parent or other trusted adult about puberty by describing three strategies to prepare for the conversation.

• Demonstrate preparation to have a conversation with a parent or other trusted adult about puberty by identifying two adults they could engage in conversation.

LESSON 2: Puberty and the Male Reproductive System

Students will be able to:

• Display their communication skills by talking with a parent or other trusted adult about puberty using the second family activity sheet as evidenced by the adult’s signature on the activity sheet.

• Describe five changes that typically occur in people assigned male at birth during puberty after viewing a video about puberty. • Identify terms for the anatomy of the male reproductive system by labeling a diagram, matching at least four out of six terms.

LESSON 3: Puberty and the Female Reproductive System

Students will be able to:

• Display their communication skills by talking with a parent or other trusted adult about puberty using the second family activity sheet as evidenced by the adult’s signature on the activity sheet.

• Describe five changes that typically occur in people assigned female at birth during puberty after viewing a video about puberty.

• Identify terms for the anatomy of the female reproductive system by labeling a diagram, matching at least five out of seven terms. 

LESSON 4: Reproduction

Students will be able to:

• Describe two key changes in puberty that indicate an individual is physically capable of becoming pregnant or getting someone pregnant.

• Explain the roles of eggs, sperm, and sexual intercourse in reproduction.

• List ways pregnancy can occur by giving three examples. 

LESSON 5: Personal Hygiene and Healthy Habits

Students will be able to:

• Distinguish between accurate and inaccurate sources of information about puberty by listing five or more accurate sources.

• Develop a personal puberty plan to show their intent to implement personal hygiene and healthy habits.

• Identify benefits of delaying close sexual contact, including prevention of STIs and pregnancy by naming three benefits of waiting. 

LESSON 6: Social and Emotional Changes

Students will be able to:

• Identify six social and emotional changes and the role of hormones during puberty.

• Demonstrate respectful communication and boundaries when responding to biographies about peers who are going through puberty. 

LESSON 7: Consent

Students will be able to:

• Explain consent, personal boundaries, and bodily autonomy by identifying their presence in scenarios and creating two cartoons to illustrate consent.

• Identify situations where consent is violated and strategies for responding to uncomfortable or dangerous situations, including sexual harassment, by analyzing scenarios and naming three actions to take.

Scope and Sequence for Puberty the Wonder Years 

For more information on the curriculum, please visit www.PubertyCurriculum.com.

Videos for 5th Grade
AIDS Facts for Kids - Marsh Media  (.wmv or .mp4)
HIV and AIDS - Human Relations Media (.mp4)
HIV and Me: Marissa's Story (YouTube)
You, Your Body and Puberty - Human Relations Media  (.wmv or .mp4) Information Sheet (.pdf)
Your Body: Reproductive Systems - National Geographic  (.wmv or .mp4)