Grade 5 Unit: Human Growth & Development

  • The Human Growth and Development unit focuses on the cognitive, emotional, social, and physical changes students will experience as they progress through childhood into adolescence.  The lessons have been designed with your child in mind to address a number of events students may be experiencing or will soon experience as they enter a new chapter in their lives. 

    Each lesson in the series will be co-taught by our Physical Education Teachers, School Nurses, and/or School Counselors.  To provide a more inclusive learning environment, students will be taught together in their classroom; they will not be separated by gender.  

Summary Of Lessons In This Unit

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  • Lesson 1: Brain Development

  • Lesson 2: Emotional Development

  • Lesson 3: Social Development

  • Lesson 4: Physical Development

Parent Information Night

  • May 2, 2023

    6:00-7:00 pm   

    In Person: DHS Library

    Via Zoom:   https://dedham-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/94429353702

    To make sure we are addressing all of the needs of our families, we would invite you to an information session that will review the content of the unit and answer any questions families may have.  This session is best suited for adults only.

Frequently Asked Questions

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  • I do not want my child to participate in these lessons. What can I do?

  • Who will be teaching these lessons?

  • Where will these 4 lessons take place?

  • Will the students be receiving these lessons together or will they be grouped by gender?

  • Will pregnancy and intercourse be discussed in any of the 4 lessons?

  • Will all the students together be learning about the female menstrual cycle and the male sperm product “wet dreams”

  • What resources were used to develop these lessons?

Tips For Follow Up Discussions At Home

    • Discuss your values and expectations, and consider your child’s: Be willing to hear their entire question or story before responding. If you disagree, explain your concerns (safety, school rules, family expectations, laws, etc.) and come to a solution together.

    • Share information before puberty starts. Research shows that frequent conversations about adolescent growth and development make young people feel closer to and more open with their parents and caregivers.

    • Be “askable”: make it clear that they can ask you anything, as well as seek help to find the answer together. 

    • As your child goes through puberty, emphasize that all bodies develop differently and at their own pace. 

    • Share personal experiences to discuss the changes of puberty and what healthy relationships look and feel like. Use “teachable moments”: You can start a conversation naturally while you’re watching television, reading a book or listening to music together.

    • Keep it simple; provide simple, direct explanations, using words young people can understand. Long explanations can be unnecessary, or more confusing. 

    • Use correct terms that prepare children to talk about their body and experiences: knowing the real names for their body parts makes it easier to communicate about them.

    • Try multiple teaching techniques: present information through pictures, books, videos, or social learning models, including role play or asking “What would you do if . ...” This helps you reinforce your message and find out how they prefer to learn.

    • Don’t feel like you have to have all the answers: it’s okay to say, “That’s a good question! I’m not sure about the answer but let’s find out together,” or “Let me think about that one,” if you need more time or information to confidently answer.

Contact Us With Questions or Concerns

  • If additional resources are needed or if you have further questions, feel free to contact one of your child's teachers identified below or any of our directors.