BeyondtheBasics:Teen
IssueswithReproductiveHealth
TEACHERGUIDE
60MinuteHealthLesson
InteractiveVideoConferencing
Grade: 8 - 1 2 BeyondtheBasics-TeenIssueswithReproductiveHealth
Description
Objectives
Afterlearningthebasicsaboutpubertyandtheirownreproductive
system, students often have questions about gender-specific
personal health issues. Our health educators can tailor a
discussion for your students around various aspects of human
reproductivehealth:
Female Specific: Suggested for girls only, this talk will center on
female anatomy, menstruation, pad and tampon use, breast selfexams, personal hygiene, toxic shocksyndromeandother female
healthissues.
Male Specific: Suggested for boys only, this discussion will cover
male anatomy, testicular self-exam, prostate health, personal
hygiene, stress and anger management, and other male health
issues.
The Process of Pregnancy & Childbirth: Suitable for a mixedgender group, this exploration of human reproduction reinforces
that sexual reproduction, menstruation and breastfeeding are
healthy aspects of human life. Students will follow the
developmentof ahumanembryo,physicalchangesinamother’s
bodyasshegoesthroughherpregnancy,andtheprocessoflabor
anddelivery.Wewillviewashortvideoofhumanbirthwiththe
students(teachersmayviewthevideobeforehand),andcompare
humanstootherplacentalmammalsvs.egg-layingspecies.
•
Ohio’sLearningStandards
•
•
•
Identifymajor
structuresand
functionsofthe
humanreproductive
system.
Describethe
relationship
betweenhormones
andphysicalchanges
duringpuberty.
Identifytypical
physicaland
emotionalchanges
thatoccurduring
puberty.
Recognizethat
individualsmay
experience
reproductive
developmentin
differentwaysand
stillbenormal.
Grade8:LifeScience–SpeciesandReproduction
• Reproductionisnecessaryforthecontinuationofeveryspecies.
NationalHealthEducationStandards
Standard1:Studentswillcomprehendconceptsrelatedtohealthpromotionanddiseasepreventionto
enhancehealth.
Standard3:Studentswilldemonstratetheabilitytoaccessvalidinformation,products,andservicesto
enhancehealth.
Standard7:Studentswilldemonstratetheabilitytopracticehealth-enhancingbehaviorsandavoidor
reducehealthrisks.
BeforeYourProgram&HowToSetUpYourRoom
•
•
•
Pleasetellourschedulerwhichspecifictopicsyou’dlikeourprogramtocover.Ifyour
studentsarein5th-6thgrade,our“GrowingUpandLikingIt”basicpubertyprogram
mightbemoreappropriatefortheirexperiencelevel.
Duetothesensitivenatureofthistopic,werequireateachertoremainintheroom
withusduringtheseprograms.
Sharethelastpagesofthisguide,ourQ&AAbout‘BeyondTheBasics’,withany
parentsorteacherswhohavequestionsaboutthisprogram.
Vocabulary
adolescence–periodoftransitionfromchildhoodtoadulthoodmarkedbyphysical,mentaland
emotionalchangesthatindicatereadinessforsexualmaturity(reproduction)andpsychological
independence.See“puberty.”
amnioticsac/fluid–thinmembraneandliquidthatsurroundandprotectthefetusinsidethe
uterus.
anus–scientificnamefortheopeningthroughwhichfecespassoutofthebody.
BSE–BreastSelf-Exam.Anexaminationofagirl’sbreastusingherhandstofeelforlumpsor
painfulareasthatcouldbeasignofbreastcancer.
cervix–thesmallmuscularringandopeningatthebottomoftheuterus.
circumcision–surgicalremovaloftheforeskinfromthepenis.
conception–momentwhenonespermcellentersaneggcell,fusingtheirnuclei.
contraction–muscularsqueezingoftheuterustopushoutababyduringchildbirth.
cystitis–aninfectionofthebladder,usuallycausedbybacteriainvadingtheurethra.Themain
symptomsarepainwhenurinatingandpressureinthebladder.
ejaculation–muscularcontractionsthatsendsemenoutofthepenis.
embryo–nameforthegrowingbabyataround4weeks(about¼inchlong),whencell
differentiationhasgeneratedspecificclustersofcellsthatarebecomingthebaby,umbilical
cord,amnioticsac,andplacenta.
endocrinesystem–agroupofglandsthroughoutthebodythatproducehormones,which
controlmanyaspectsoflife,includinggrowth,metabolismandreproduction.Theseglands
includethepituitary,thymus,thyroid,pancreas,adrenals,testesandovaries.
endometrium–innerliningoftheuterusthatproducesextrabloodvesselsandtissueinorder
tonourishadevelopingembryo.
epididymis–aseriesofsmalltubeslocatedatthetopofthetesticleswithinthescrotum.Itis
thestorageareaforspermcells.
erection–enlargementandstiffeningofthepenisduetobloodflowintothetissuesofthe
penis.
estrogen–femalesexhormoneproducedbytheovariesthatsignalsdevelopmentoffemale
characteristicsandinducesmenstruationandthegrowthoftheendometriumduringthefirst
halfofthemenstrualcycle.
fallopiantubes–alsocalledtheoviducts.Twosmalltubesthatalloweggcellstomovefrom
theovariesintotheuterus.
fetus–nameforthegrowingbabyataround7weeks(about1inchlong),whenalltheorgans
andotherworkingpartsofthebodyareessentiallycomplete.
follicle-hollowballofcellswithanimmatureegginthecenter.Atbirthbothovariestogether
containabout2millionfollicles.
gynecology–thespecificstudyofdiseasesofthefemalereproductiveorgans.
hormone–achemicalmessengerinthebodyproducedbyglandsandcarriedbythe
bloodstreamtoanotherorgan,whereitsignalssomethingtohappeninthatorgan.
mammaryglands–milkproducingorgansoffemalemammals,whichprovidefoodforinfants;
breasts.
menstrualcycle–regularcycleofhormonechangesfromthebeginningofmenstruationtothe
beginningofthenextmenstruation;occursevery28daysonaverageduringawoman’s
reproductiveyears.
menstruation–theperiodicsheddingoftheliningoftheuteruswhichresultsintissueand
bloodflowoutofthevagina.Occursapproximatelyonceamonthabouttwoweeksafter
ovulation,andmarksthebeginningofthemenstrualcycle.
nocturnalemission–ejaculationofsemenduringsleep,whichisnormalinadolescentmales;
commonlycalleda“wetdream”.
ovary–Oneofapairofreproductiveglandsinawoman’sbodythatholdeggcellsandrelease
thehormonesestrogenandprogesteronetocontrolherovulationandmenstruationcycles.
ovulation–releaseofamatureovum(eggcell)bytheovary;occursabout14daysbefore
menstruation.
ovum–femalesexcell,oregg,releasedbytheovaryduringovulation.
Papsmear–partofagynecologicalexam,usingadevicecalledaspeculumtoholdopenthe
vaginalcanalwhileafewcellsarecollectedoffthecervixtobecheckedforabnormalgrowth
thatcouldbeasignofcervicalcancer.
placenta–organthatdevelopswheretheumbilicalcordattachestotheuterus.Itfilters
needednutrientsfromherbloodandallowsthemtopasstothebaby.
Premenstrualdysphoricdisorder-PMDDisaconditionassociatedwithsevereemotionaland
physicalproblemsthatarelinkedcloselytothemenstrualcycle.Itonlyoccursin5-8%of
menstruatingwomen.
premenstrualsyndrome-PMSisthecollectionofsymptomsthatoccuranywherefromaweek
to10daysbeforeagirl’speriodstarts.Itmaybephysical,likebreasttenderness,andbloating,
oremotionallikedepressionandanxiety.NotallwomenexperiencePMS.
progesterone–femalesexhormoneproducedbytheovariesthatsignalsdevelopmentofthe
liningoftheuterusduringthesecondhalfofthemenstrualcycleinpreparationfor
implantationofthefertilizedovum(egg).
prostategland--asmall,walnut-sizedstructureatthebaseofthepenisthatmakesafluidto
protectspermcellsoncetheyleavethepenisduringejaculation.Itwrapsaroundtheurethra,
thetubethatcarriesurineorsemenoutofthebody.
puberty–periodofgrowthanddevelopmentduringwhichsexualcharacteristicsformandan
individualbecomescapableofreproduction.See“adolescence.
semen–fluidcontainingnourishingandprotectivesubstancesthattransportsspermoutofthe
penisduringejaculation.
seminalvesicles–Glandsatthebaseofthepenisthatcreateafluidtonourishandtransport
spermcellsoutofthepenisduringejaculation.
testicularself-exam–avisualandphysicalexaminationofthetesticlesforanyunusual
appearanceorlumpsthatcouldindicateahealthproblem.
testosterone–malesexhormoneproducedbythetestesthatsignalsdevelopmentofmale
characteristicsandproductionofsperm.
umbilicalcord–tubemadeupofthreebloodvesselsthatconnectsbabytothemother,and
transportsnutrientstothebabyandwastesaway.
urethra–theverysmalltubeleadingfromthebladderthaturinepassesthroughduring
urination.
uterus–muscular,holloworganaboutthesizeofasmallpearthatbuildsupaninnerlayerof
nourishingbloodcalledtheendometriumonceamonthbeforeovulation,andreleasesthis
bloodduringthemenstrualcycleiftheeggisnotfertilized.Theuterusholdsababyduring
pregnancy.
yeastinfection–anovergrowthofmicroscopicyeastcellsinthevaginathatcancause
irritationanddischarge.
zygote–tinyballofdevelopingcellsthatgrowsfromthejoinedspermandegg.
ExtensionActivities
1) QuestionBox
a. Duringthislesson,studentsareencouragedtoparticipatebyaskingquestions.Have
yourstudentsanonymouslywriterelevantquestionstheywouldliketohave
answeredontoslipsofpaperandputtheslipsofpaperintoacontainer.Bringthe
questionstotheprogram.
2) “FeelingGoodAboutBeingaGirl/Boy”Game.Trythisgamewithyourstudentstohelp
themreviewwhattheyhavelearnedabouttheirspecifichealthissues,andtobuild
empathywiththeirpeers.
a. Onapieceofpaper,askstudentstowritealistoftheirfivemostembarrassingor
frustratingissuesassociatedwithmen’sorwomen’shealth.Havethemleaveafew
linesblankbeloweachone.DONOThavethemputtheirnamesonthepapers.
b. Collectallthelistsandre-distributethem.Thegoalistohaveeachstudentreceive
someoneelse’slist.
c. Thenaskstudentstoreadthelistonthatpaperandwriteideasforcopingwiththese
issuestomakethemlessembarrassingontheblankspacebeloweachitem.
d. Finallycollectandre-distributethelistsonemoretime.Thenhaveclassmembers
comparelistsandideas.Usethefollowingquestionstohelpguideadiscussion
aroundtheselists:
• Whattypesofchangesareonthelists?Physical?Emotional?
• Whichoftheseshowupmostoften?Arethesethemostembarrassing?Why?
• Whatideasforcopingdoyoulike?Ordislike?
• Howcouldyougroupthelistsorideas?
• Doallthestudentsinthegrouphavethesameconcerns?
• Doallthestudentshavedifferentcopingideas?Willtheyallworkfor
everyone?
OnlineResourcesforTeachersandStudents
Clickthelinkbelowtofindadditionalonlineresourcesforteachersandstudents.These
websitesarerecommendedbyourMuseumEducatorsandprovideadditionalcontent
informationandsomefun,interactiveactivitiestosharewithyourclass.
CMNHEducatorsregularlyreviewtheselinksforquality.Webaddressesoftenchangesoplease
notifyusifanylinkshaveissues.
ClevelandMuseumofNaturalHistoryhttps://cmnh.org/edlinks
QuestionsandAnswersAbout“BeyondtheBasics”:
AParentandTeacher’sGuide
THEFORMAT
Wewilluseaslideshowtoguidethediscussion,andinvitestudentstoaskquestionsduringour
talk.Twoslideexamplesareshownbelow.
Wewillhavehands-onmodelsandspecimensondisplayduringthepresentation,including:
• Plasticmodelsofmaleandfemalereproductiveanatomy(similartoimagesbelow)
• Replicasofhumanpelvisbonesandaninfantskull
• Preservedspecimens,includingahumanuterus&endocrineglands
• Commercialhygieneproducts(menstrualpads,tampons,deodorant,acneproducts,
athleticcup)
Withprogramsincludingourbirthvideo,wewillprefacetheviewingbyexplainingthatthe
womaninthefilmishavinga‘natural’,or‘vaginal’birth.WediscussCaesareansurgeryearlier
intheprogram.
THEQUESTIONS
Asanyeducatorwhohandlesthistopiccantellyou,moststudentswillaskspecific,healthrelatedquestions.Occasionally,wedoreceivewrittenquestionsaboutsexualbehaviororslang
terminology;theschoolrepresentativeintheroomalwayshas‘vetopower’overstudent
questions,andoureducatorswillalwaysanswerinascientific,non-judgmentalmanner.
QUESTIONSWE’VEHEARDFROM5THAND6THGRADESTUDENTS,
ANDOURANSWERS
Q: WhenwillIstartgrowingpubichair/gettingmyperiod/having‘wetdreams’?
A: Everyonedevelopsinaslightlydifferentway,andtherangeofagesforkidsenteringpubertyis
from9-15.Girlsgenerallybeginseeingphysicalchangesbeforeboys.Scientistscallpubicandunderarm
hair‘secondarysexualcharacteristics’,whichmeansitindicatesthatyourbodyisapproachingsexual
maturitybutdoesn’taffecttheactualabilitytoreproduce.
Q: Whatisacondom/tamponfor?
A: Acondomisathinrubbertubethatisputoveraman’spenistoavoidanysementouching
anotherperson’sbody.It’softenusedtoreducethechanceofagirlgettingpregnant.Atamponisa
smallcottonplugthatisplacedinagirl’svaginatoabsorbmenstrualblood.[Withanyquestionsabout
specificproducts,westickwithashortdefinition.]
Q:
A:
Whatdothewords‘virgin’and‘sex’mean?
Thedictionarydefinitionoftheword‘virgin’is,“Onewhohasneverhadsexualintercourse”.
Therearealotofactivitiesbetweentwopeoplethatarecalled“sexualbehavior”,butduringthis
programweusetheword“sex”specificallyreferringtoamaleandafemalebeingtogether,becausethis
ishowagirlcangetpregnant.Anytimetwopeopleareinvolvedwithcontactbetweentheir
reproductiveparts,itisgoingtoaffectthembothphysicallyandmentally;youreallyneedtothinkabout
alltheconsequencesbeforedecidingtobethatintimatewithanotherperson.
Q: Isitokaytomasturbate?
A: First,weneedtodefinetheword—itmeanstouchingyourowngenitalsforpleasure.Other
animalsdothis—dolphins,horses,dogs,birds,monkeysandotheranimalshavebeendocumented
masturbating.Somecultureshaverulesandtaboosagainstthisact,othersdonot.Ifaadultinyour
familyhastoldyouthatitiswrongtotouchyourownbodyparts,thenIrecommendthatyouaskthem
forthereasonwhy,andusethatinformationtodecideifyouthinkitisokayornot.
Wehandleall‘rightorwrong’questionsinthissamemanner—referringstudentsbacktothe
trustedadultsintheirfamilyorreligiousgroup.Forexample,ifastudentweretoask,“Isitwrongtobe
gay?”wefirstdefine‘gay’asatermreferringtohomosexuality,orbeingattractedtomembersofthe
samesex.Wethenexplainthatsomepeopleseenothingnegativeaboutthesefeelings,andothersare
uncomfortablewiththem.Itisuptotheindividualstudenttodecidetheirstanceonthisaspectof
humanbehavior,withadvicefromtheirtrustedadults.
Q:
A:
Whydopeopleenjoythe‘feeling’ofsex?
Ifwethinkaboutwhymaleandfemaleanimalswouldwanttomate,itistocreatebabies.The
processofnaturalselectionensuresthatanyactivityhelpingtokeepaspeciesalivetendstobepassed
ontotheoffspring.Itmakessensethatmatingwouldneedtobepleasurablefortheanimals,orthey
wouldn’twanttodoitandtheywouldeventuallygoextinct.Thesameistrueforhumans,sinceweare
animals.Theactivityofmating,or,aswecallit,sex,shouldbeasafeandnon-threateningactivityfor
boththemaleandthefemale,orwe’dgoextinct!
VirtualConnectionsforParentsorTeachers:
Ourhealtheducatorsarehappytodiscusstheseprogramswithyourschool’sstaffandparentsof
studentsbeforetheevent.Thisdiscussionwilltakeplaceviaourvideoconferencingstudios;youwill
needacomputer,webcamandmicrophonetoconnectwithus.PleasecontactourSchedulerfor
availabledatesandtimes,andfordetailsonhowtosetupthisvirtualmeeting.