My Changing Body
Learn about the physical changes that happen to our bodies as we grow from children into adults, like getting taller, stronger, and developing new abilities.
TL;DR:Take your pupils on a trip down memory lane to explore the incredible journey of growth they have already been on. This topic helps them understand the amazing physical changes our bodies go through as we get older.
About This Topic
This topic, 'My Changing Body', is a foundational element within the Irish Primary School SPHE Curriculum for Fourth Class pupils. It aligns directly with the 'Myself' strand, specifically addressing the strand units of 'Growing and Changing' and 'Taking Care of My Body'. The focus at this stage is on the observable physical changes from infancy to late childhood, such as increases in height and strength, and the development of new physical abilities. It is crucial to approach this topic with sensitivity, fostering a positive and accepting atmosphere that celebrates growth as a natural part of life. The lessons serve as a vital precursor to the more detailed study of puberty in the senior cycle (Fifth and Sixth Class).
By contextualising growth within their own life experiences, pupils can develop a healthy understanding and appreciation for their bodies. The activities should normalise the diversity in growth rates and developmental timelines, reassuring pupils that everyone's journey is unique. This topic provides an excellent opportunity to build a vocabulary for discussing bodies in a respectful, factual manner, reinforcing the idea that physical change is something to be understood and embraced, not feared. It strengthens self-esteem and lays the groundwork for a positive body image, which are core tenets of the SPHE programme.
Key Questions
- Identify two ways your body has changed since you were a baby.
- Explain why our bodies need to change as we get older.
- Compare the physical abilities of a child with those of an adult.
Learning Objectives
- Identify at least two physical ways they have changed since they were a baby.
- Describe growth and change as a normal and positive part of life.
- List three abilities they have now that they did not have as a toddler.
- Understand that everyone grows and develops at their own unique pace.
- Use appropriate vocabulary to talk about physical growth.
Key Vocabulary
| Growth | The process of getting bigger in size, like getting taller. |
| Development | The process of gaining new skills and abilities as you get older. |
| Abilities | The skills you have, or the things you are able to do. |
| Unique | Being special and different from everyone else in a good way. |
| Timeline | A line that shows the order in which things have happened. |
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Common MisconceptionEveryone grows at the same speed and should be the same size.
What to Teach Instead
Everyone's body has its own unique timetable for growing. It is completely normal for friends of the same age to be different heights and sizes.
Common MisconceptionGrowing only means getting taller.
What to Teach Instead
Growing involves many changes, not just height. It also includes getting stronger, our brains developing to learn new things, and gaining new skills like reading and riding a bike.
Common MisconceptionThe changes are finished once you are not a little kid anymore.
What to Teach Instead
Our bodies continue to change throughout our childhood and teenage years. You will keep growing and changing until you are a young adult.
Active Learning Ideas
See all activities→Think-Pair-Share
Then and Now Photo Timeline
Pupils bring in a photograph of themselves as a baby or toddler. On a worksheet, they stick their 'then' photo and draw a 'now' picture, labelling at least three ways their body has changed, such as 'taller', 'more hair', or 'can run fast'.
Think-Pair-Share
Super Skills Stations
Set up stations around the classroom with simple tasks like threading beads, writing a sentence, building a tower of blocks, and doing a star jump. Pupils rotate through the stations and reflect on which skills were difficult as a toddler but are easy now.
Think-Pair-Share
The Growing Tree
Create a large tree outline on a wall display. Each pupil writes one new skill they have learned as they have grown on a paper 'leaf' and adds it to the tree, creating a visual representation of collective development.
Real-World Connections
- Looking at old family photo albums to see how parents, siblings, and relatives have changed over time.
- Understanding why they need new shoes or a bigger coat when the old ones become too small.
- Noticing the different abilities of younger siblings or cousins compared to their own.
- Recognising that eating healthy food gives their body the energy and materials it needs to grow.
- Seeing height charts on the wall at home or at the doctor's surgery.
Assessment Ideas
Use a 'Think-Pair-Share' activity where pupils discuss with a partner one way they have changed, other than getting taller. Listen to the discussions to gauge understanding.
Pupils complete an 'All About Me' worksheet, drawing themselves as a baby and now, and writing three sentences describing key changes and new abilities.
Use an exit ticket with two prompts: 'One thing I learned about my body changing is...' and 'One question I still have is...'.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my friend taller than me even though we are the same age?
What if I can't do something that my friend can do?
How should I handle questions about puberty that are beyond the scope of this topic?
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