LIFESMART YOUTH CURRICULUM

Human Growth & Development (HGD)

Talking About Puberty

Grades 4-6 | 1 session (1 hour)

Group of children and teenagers standing in a circle outdoors, looking down at the camera with smiles, with blue sky and green leaves overhead.

4th Grade

AGE WHEN SOME GIRLS BEGIN PUBERTY, EARLIER THAN IN PREVIOUS GENERATIONS.

Human Growth & Development (HGD) is an evidence-informed puberty and reproductive health education course for 4th - 6th graders. This program is endorsed by the Indiana University School of Medicine as a high-quality, medically accurate, and fact-based program that positively informs youth about their growing and changing bodies. Programming is facilitated by LifeSmart Youth’s degreed, professional Health Educators.

Curriculum Overview

- Identify parents or other safe adults of whom they can ask questions about puberty and adolescent health issues
- List the physical changes that typically occur during puberty and identify the difference between social and emotional changes
- Describe the purpose of puberty and the basic structures and functions in the male reproductive system
- Explain that differences in the private area of the body are normal
- Discuss hygiene practices related to body changes
- Identify when to seek help if personal injury occurs
- Identify parents or other safe adults of whom they can ask questions about puberty and adolescent health issues
- List the physical changes that typically occur during puberty and identify the difference between social and emotional changes
- Describe the purpose of puberty and the basic structures and functions in the female reproductive system
- Understand the process of the menstrual cycle
- Identify products that a person may choose to use during menstruation and how to use said products
- Discuss hygiene practices related to body changes
- Identify parents or other safe adults of whom they can ask questions about puberty and adolescent health issues
- Describe the purpose of puberty and the basic structures and functions in the male and female reproductive systems
- Understand the process of the menstrual cycle
- Identify products that a person may choose to use during menstruation and how to use said products
- Define sexual intercourse as it relates to pregnancy
- Define fertilization and explain the basic process of reproduction
- Define sexual abstinence as the only 100% effective way to prevent pregnancy
- Review the basic structures and functions of the male and female reproductive systems, as well as the basic process of reproduction
- Define what an STI is and identify how a person knows they have one
- Compare and contrast the risks of pregnancy and STIs for vaginal sex, oral sex, and anal sex
- Identify various ways of preventing pregnancy and STIs
- Identify sexual abstinence as the only 100% effective way to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections
- Determine other ways to express sexual feelings while remaining abstinent

View Full Curriculum

Indiana Academic Standards Met:

4th Grade Boys

3-5.1.1
3-5.1.2
3-5.1.3
3-5.1.4
3-5.1.5
3-5.2.2
3-5.3.2

4th Grade Girls

3-5.1.1
3-5.1.2
3-5.1.3
3-5.2.2
3-5.3.2

5th Grade

3-5.1.1
3-5.1.2
3-5.1.3
3-5.2.2
3-5.3.2
3-5.5.1

6th Grade

6-8.1.1
6-8.1.2
6-8.1.4
6-8.1.5
6-8.1.7
6-8.3.3
6-8.3.4

Indiana Code § 20-30-5-13 states, “when sexuality education is taught, abstinence from sexual activity outside of marriage must be stressed. Instruction must teach that abstinence outside of marriage and a mutually monogamous relationship inside of marriage are the best ways to avoid out-of-wedlock pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and other associated health problems.” LifeSmart Youth adheres to Indiana’s legal requirements in our abstinence-based programs. We also utilize the medically accurate definition of abstinence as “not engaging in vaginal, oral, or anal sex.” In accordance with Indiana law SB442, parents of the youth served by LifeSmart Youth are provided “Opt-Out” consent forms for the Human Growth & Development and 3Rs programs.

A young teenager or tween with dark hair is looking at her forehead in a mirror, examining her skin. She is wearing an orange sweater and is seated at a wooden table.

Changes are going to happen, and you don’t need to be scared.

— 4th Grade Girl

Our Instructional Flow

Guardian Consent Forms are sent home with the student twice prior to the start of the class in compliance with Indiana code.

Students are assessed on their entry-level knowledge of the curriculum subject before the session.

Review assessments and feedback to ensure programs continue meeting the needs of both teachers and students.

Students complete an exit survey to assess their understanding of the course content.

Students complete the one-hour session with our trained Health Educator, who ensures a safe environment where questions are encouraged.

Meet Our Health Educators

Danielle Bechtold

Adolescent Health Educator
Hannah Rapp

Adolescent Health Educator
Kathy Lesch

Adolescent Health Educator
Madison Good

Adolescent Health Educator
Lindsey Welch

Adolescent Health Educator
Scarlet Romo-Reynoso

Adolescent Health Educator

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