Puberty part 1

Time to complete Puberty part 1: 55 min

Year level: 7 or 8



Learning focus


Year 8: The impact of physical changes on gender, cultural and sexual identities (ACPPS070).

Key understandings

enlightened Puberty is the period of time when your body changes from a child to an adult.

enlightened There is a wide range of 'normal' when it comes to the physical changes of puberty.

enlightened Puberty positivity - it's not something to be scared of! 


  • Access to internet
  • Laugh and Learn video - puberty part 1 (2min 44sec)
  • Preferred media for large and small group work and individual work (e.g. paper and textas, or ipads/tablets)
  • Sticky notes/post-it notes
  • A4 coloured card or paper
  • Small squares of scrap paper for question box

General capabilities

No General Capabilities values have been selected.

Health and physical education(P)

Relationships and sexuality

Blooms revised taxonomy

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Inquiry learning phase

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Related items

Teaching resource (download) Guides Resource collections Booklets and Brochures

Before you get started



  • Question box - Have a question box available in every lesson to allow students the opportunity to ask questions that may be too embarassing or unsafe for them to ask openly in class. See Setting up the question box and Types of questions for further information. For ways to answer some of the curly questions, see Student FAQs.

  • Preview the Laugh and learn - puberty 1 video (2min 44sec) to determine suitability for your students.

Learning activities

Group agreement

Time to complete Group agreement: 5 min


  1. Revise the class group agreement

Introduction: Brainstorm

Time to complete Introduction: Brainstorm: 10 min

  1. Remind students that many of them have probably covered puberty in Years 5 and 6, but there may also be some students who have missed out on formal lessons about puberty. This lesson aims to revise and extend their knowledge.

  1. laugh Say:

 “During this session I want you to think about what you wish you had known about puberty even a year or two ago. What do you think would make it easier for you to deal with the changes of puberty? You may also have young people around you who are asking you questions about puberty. This session can help you to be sure that information that you may want to share will be accurate.”

  1. Brainstorm - Write at least 5 single words (adjectives) that describes how someone might feel about puberty. (Recording options: sitcky notes; wordcloud makers; Mentimeter - wordcloud

  2. Ask for words and record the number of students who have written the same word. Rank and discuss the most common words.

E.g wordcloud creates an image where the most common word is largest.

  1. laugh Ask:

❓ Are they generally positive, negative or neutral words?

(They are likely to be negative words)

❓ Why do you think these words might be the most common?

(Puberty is often not talked about openly and the unknown can be scary. Movies often portray the awkwardness of puberty. There is a lot of stigma around menstruation in the media and adverts often talk about period products in metaphors. We often focus on the negative and don't talk about the positives of puberty) 

Laugh and learn - puberty part 1 video

Time to complete Laugh and learn - puberty part 1 video: 5 min

  1. Watch Laugh and learn video - puberty part 1 video (2 min 44 sec)

  1. laugh Ask the following questions:


❓ Does it help get the information across?

❓ What is the message/information you took from this video?

Puberty myths and facts

Time to complete Puberty myths and facts: 20 min

  1. In pairs, on sticky notes, write two myths that students have heard about puberty or that they heard in the video.

  2. With the whole class, facilitate grouping these into same/similar myths into a T-chart (labelled 'myths' and 'facts'). See which myths are most common.

  3. Work through each myth and ask students if they can provide a fact to dispel each myth. See the table below for possible answers. Discuss the corresponding facts addressing any misconceptions, and record on the T-chart.  

Myth Fact
You 'catch' puberty Puberty happens to most people. It's not contagious like an infection or disease. You can't 'catch it.
Puberty happens overnight. Puberty takes time.
Puberty happens at the same time for everyone. Generally puberty starts somewhere between 9 and 15 years.
Puberty is scary! Puberty doesn't have to be scary or something to worry about. In some cultures and families it is a time of celebration.

Background teacher notes: Puberty and Menstrual cycle provide teachers with additional professional reading.

Students can use the following free resources as references if required:

           How to order free hardcopies.

  1. Students nominate two myths they wish to work with (make sure all myths are covered). In pairs, write one myth on one side of their A4 coloured card and illustrate with a cartoon. On the other side, write the corresponding fact. Repeat with the other myth. (This activity could also be completed on electronic media.)

  2. Share with whole class.

3-2-1 Reflection

Time to complete 3-2-1 Reflection: 10 min

  1. 3-2-1 Reflection - Students write on a prepared worksheet or in a journal:
  • 3 x recalls: state three facts about puberty 

  • 2 x so what's: write two things about why this information is relevant and important

  • 1 x questions: write one qustion. For example:

    • Why is it that...?

    • In the future, what will....?

    • How does this affect...?

Take home message

Time to complete Take home message: 5 min

  1. Remind students of the take home message/s:

enlightened Puberty positivity - it's not something you 'catch' and not something to be scared of!

enlightenedPuberty happens to most people and is a normal part of growing up and developing from a child to an adult.

  1. Question box: Give out some small scrap pieces of paper and allow students time to write any questions they have for the question box. To ensure confidentiality, ask all students to write something on the scrap paper at the same time (even if the just draw a smiley face or scribble) and place it in the question box.

  2. Remind students that Get the Facts has a completely confidential 'Ask a question' service that they may wish to use. All questions are answered by a qualified health professional within a week. 


Optional activity: Sharing

  • Compile into a book titled Myths and facts about puberty.

  • Depending on class/school demographics (and with suitable teacher support and supervision), there may be opportunities for some students to share the book with other classes. Alternatively, the books can be given to teachers to share with younger students.


Health promoting schools strategies

Backgroud teacher note: Health promoting schools framework

Partnerships with parents

Partnerships with school staff

  • Invite the school health professionals and pastoral care staff (school nurse, school pyschologist, chaplain, boarding house master, etc) to a class or an assembly to introduce them to the students and let them know what their roles are and how they can help the students. For example:

    • If you get your period at school, you can go to...
