Teacher sheet · Ages 10–11 · about 45–50 minutes
The human life cycle
Lesson page: echoesof.science/school/growing-up/ages-10-11/ · Pupil worksheet: echoesof.science/school/growing-up/ages-10-11/print/
Learning aims
- Describe the stages of the human life cycle from before birth to old age.
- Know that babies grow fast and learn motor skills step by step.
- Describe puberty as a normal stage controlled by hormones that starts at different ages.
- Measure and compare body proportions; plan fair measurements.
Lesson plan
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 5 min | Starter: put pictures of people of different ages in order. |
| 10 min | Read the text; check vocabulary (embryo, fetus, puberty, hormone, adolescence). |
| 15 min | Head and body proportions investigation. |
| 10 min | Results and discussion: why do babies look 'top-heavy'? |
| 5 min | Quiz or the Which life stage? game. |
Materials for the experiment
- Tape measures or metre sticks
- A ruler and a set square or a book (to mark the top of the head)
- Pictures of a baby, a child and an adult (the same height on the page)
- The record table and a calculator
Safety: Measuring is voluntary and done in pairs pupils choose; pupils can use only the pictures instead. Do not compare or rank pupils by height. Take shoes off only on a safe, clean floor.
Common misconceptions
| Pupils may think… | Actually… |
|---|---|
| Puberty starts at the same age for everyone. | It normally starts any time between about 8 and 14, and everyone goes at their own pace. |
| Babies are just small adults. | Babies have different body proportions: their head is about a quarter of their length. |
| Growing stops when you leave primary school. | Most growth in height continues through adolescence; brain development continues into the early 20s. |
Worksheet answers
- The head is a bigger fraction of the body in babies (about 4 heads tall) than in adults (about 7 heads tall); children are in between.
- Any two of: same method each time, standing straight, no shoes, measuring twice, same units.
- Any three of: growth spurt, more sweat, greasier skin, hair in new places, breasts and periods (girls), deeper voice (boys), changing feelings.
- About 7 kg (3.5 × 2).
Quiz answers
- About how long does a baby develop before birth? About 40 weeks. The fetal stage lasts until about week 40.[1]
- A baby weighs 3 kg at birth. Roughly what might it weigh at one year? About 9 kg. Weight typically triples in the first year: 3 × 3 = 9 kg.[1]
- In a newborn, the head is about what fraction of the total length? A quarter. The newborn's head is about a quarter of its length; in adults about a seventh.[4]
- What is puberty? When a child's body begins to change as they become an adult. That is the NHS description of puberty.[2]
- When is it normal for puberty to start? Any time between about 8 and 14. Puberty starts at different ages for different people.[2]
- What tells the body it is time for puberty? Hormones released by the brain. The brain releases hormones that start the changes.[3]
Going further
Follow your school's relationships and health education policy for puberty lessons and tell families in advance. Provide a question box for anonymous questions, and point pupils to a trusted adult or the school nurse for personal questions.
Sources used in this lesson
- [1] Psychology 2e, 9.3 Stages of Development (OpenStax, Rice University): reliability High
- [2] Early or delayed puberty (NHS (UK National Health Service)): reliability High
- [3] Puberty (Health for young people) (Healthier Together, NHS North West London): reliability Medium-high
- [4] Human development (Encyclopaedia Britannica): reliability High
Full list with links and a note on each source's reliability: echoesof.science/school/growing-up/sources/
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