Human Growth &

Development

7th Grade Presentation

Class Agenda for Part 1

• Purpose of the Unit• Case Study (Ground Rules) • Sex vs. Sexuality• Endocrine System• Rewind & Review• Comments/Questions

Purpose of this Unit

• Have the correct information about their bodies and growth

• Feel good about growing up• Be more comfortable asking questions • Understand & appreciate themselves

Case Study“The class was beginning a unit on 'sexuality' that day. They came in from lunch and Mr. Clark asked everybody to calm down and get ready to work. But everybody was a little nervous and excited, and it took a long time before the jokes and laughter let up. When it was quiet, Mr. Clark asked whether anyone knew what kinds of things they'd be studying in this next unit called ‘human growth and development.' Marco raised his hand and asked, 'What about the reproductive system?' A few people giggled. Then Shawna raised her hand. She asked whether the class would learn about menstrual periods. Four or five people began to roar with laughter and Michelle said 'How dumb!' Shawna started to blush. When the laughter kept up, tears came to her eyes and she finally got up and left the room.”

Questions to Consider

1. If you were the teacher, how would solve this problem?

2. How can we prevent this from happening here?

Ground Rules

• No put downs (including yourself)• Protect people’s privacy• Be considerate of the feelings of others• Save questions for Q & A period (teacher will

announce when)• Write down any questions you may have until

the session for questions starts.

Sex vs. Sexuality

• Sex and Sexuality are not the same.• Sex means gender (for ex: male or female)• Sexuality includes how a person feels about

him or herself, what they feel about being male or female, whether they know how to love, how to trust, how to communicate.

The Endocrine System

• System of the body responsible for the growth and development of your body

• Growth: how a living thing increases in height or weight as they get older

• Development: the changes the body goes through as they move from the infancy to adult and then to the senior citizen stage.

Gland vs. Part

• A gland is a part of a system.• The endocrine system is made up of many

glands or parts.

Glands of the Endocrine System

• Hypothalamus gland• Pituitary gland• Thyroid gland• Parathyroid gland• Adrenal gland

• Thymus gland• Pancreas• Ovaries in females• Testes in males

Hypothalamus

Function of the Gland• Links the brain and the

endocrine system together• Controls sleep and hunger

What it looks like & location

Pituitary Gland

Function of the Gland• Works with the

hypothalamus• Controls growth hormones

from infancy to adulthood

What it looks like & location

Thyroid Gland

Function of the Gland• Controls the release of

energy from food molecules inside cells

What it looks like & location

Parathyroid Gland

Function of the Gland• Tiny glands that regulate

the amount of calcium in the blood

What it looks like & location

Adrenal Gland

Function of the Gland• Releases the hormone

adrenaline• Hormone that responds to

an emergency situation

What it looks like & location

Thymus Gland

Function of the Gland

• Help the immune system develop during childhood

What it looks like & location

Pancreas Gland

Function of the Gland• Produces the hormones

insulin and glucagon, which control our blood sugar levels

• Hypoglycemia vs Diabetes

What it looks like & location

Ovaries in Females

Function of the Gland• Release female sex

hormones• Estrogen controls changes

in the female body

What it looks like & location

Testes in Males

Function of the Gland• Release the sex hormone

testosterone• This hormone controls the

changes in the male body

What it looks like & location

Question & Answer Session

HGD Review Questions Part 11. Explain why teachers and students should behave in

an emotionally sensitive manner during this lesson?2. In reference to your own growth & development,

why is it more beneficial to speak to a doctor or parent?

3. If you were a science teacher, why would you include the endocrine system in this lesson?

4. Using any of the two genders, write how the following terms are related to each other: endocrine system, gender, sex hormone, physical characteristics, and anatomical characteristics.