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Puberty Facts & Worksheets

Puberty is a period of fast growth during which the body achieves reproductive maturity.

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Puberty is a period of fast growth during which the body achieves reproductive maturity. During this stage, other body systems also mature. It is a time of rapid brain development, identity creation for boys and girls, and significant emotional changes. Adjusting to puberty may be challenging for both parents and children, but teens can successfully navigate it with excellent communication and support from family and friends.

See the fact file below for more information on Puberty, or you can download our 30-page Puberty worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

PUBERTY

  • When your body reaches a particular age, your brain produces a specific hormone that initiates puberty. 
  • When gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) enters the pituitary gland (a pea-shaped gland located directly behind the brain), it releases two more puberty hormones into the bloodstream: luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).
  • GnRH is a hormone released during puberty. 
  • These hormones are present in both girls and boys. The hormones affect distinct body parts depending on whether you’re biologically a girl or a boy.
  • For boys, these hormones go through the blood and signal to the testes to begin producing testosterone and sperm. 
  • The hormone testosterone is responsible for most changes that occur in a boy’s physique throughout puberty. 
  • For a male to reproduce, they must generate sperm cells.
  • On the other hand, FSH and LH are female ovary hormones that target eggs that have been present since birth.
  • These hormones cause the ovaries to create estrogen, another hormone. Estrogen, FSH, and LH help a girl’s body mature and prepare her for pregnancy.
  • Puberty usually begins between 7 and 13 for girls and 9 and 15 for boys. However, some people begin puberty earlier or later than others. 
  • Because everyone is unique, everyone starts and progresses through puberty at different times. 
  • This is one of the reasons why some of your friends may still look like children while others seem to be growing up.

STAGES OF PUBERTY

  • Child development expert Professor James M. Tanner was the first to identify the observable stages of puberty.
  • These stages are now known as Tanner stages or, more accurately, sexual maturity ratings (SMRs). 
  • They serve as a comprehensive guide to physical development, although each person’s puberty timetable is unique.

TANNER STAGE 1

  • Tanner stage 1 summarizes what a child is going through before any physical indicators of puberty occur. 
  • It usually begins after a female’s eighth birthday and a male’s ninth or tenth birthday. 
  • These internal alterations are the same for boys and girls at this stage.

In this stage:

  • The brain begins to transmit messages to the body to prepare for changes.
  • The hypothalamus sends GnRH to the pituitary gland, which produces hormones that regulate other glands in the body.
  • The pituitary gland begins to produce two additional hormones: LH and FSH.
  • Neither males nor females experience physical changes.

TANNER STAGE 2

  • Stage 2 is the start of physical growth. Hormones start sending signals all across the body.

FEMALES

  • Female puberty may begin between the ages of 9 and 11; however, females with a higher BMI may begin puberty early.

In this stage, you may observe the following:

  • The first signs of breast development, known as “buds”, appear beneath the nipple. It is common for one bud to be larger than the other and to be itchy or uncomfortable.
  • The darker area surrounding the nipple (areola) will also grow larger.
  • The uterus grows, and small quantities of pubic hair sprout on the vulva’s lips.

MALES

  • Male puberty typically begins around the age of 11. The testicles and the skin surrounding the testicles (scrotum) grow in size.

In this stage, you may observe the following:

  • The testicles and the skin surrounding the testicles (scrotum) grow in size.
  • The first pubic hairs appear at the base of the penis.

TANNER STAGE 3

  • In stage 3, both males and females experience physical changes. The teen hormones at work are complex, furthering development from the previous stage and a growth spurt in height.

FEMALES

  • Physical changes in girls typically begin after the age of 12.

In this stage, you may observe the following:

  • Acne symptoms may first emerge on the face and back.
  • The period of greatest height growth begins (around 3.2 inches per year).
  • Fat begins to accumulate in the hips and thighs.
  • Breast “buds” continue to develop and grow.
  • Pubic hair thickens and curls.
  • Hair begins to grow under the armpits.

MALES

  • Males’ physical changes often begin around the age of 13. 

In this stage, you may observe the following: 

  • As the voice changes, it may “crack”, shifting from higher to lower pitches.
  • Muscles grow in size.
  • Height growth rates range from 2 to 3.2 inches per year.
  • The penis becomes longer as the testicles grow larger.
  • Some breast tissue may form beneath the nipples (this happens to some teenage males during development and usually goes away within a couple of years).
  • Males start having “wet dreams” (ejaculation at night).

TANNER STAGE 4

  • During stage 4, puberty is in full swing. Males and females are both observing several changes.

FEMALES

  • Stage 4 typically begins around the age of 13 in females. 

In this stage, you may observe the following: 

  • Height growth will reduce to approximately 2 to 3 inches per year.
  • Pubic hair thickens.
  • Breasts become fuller after passing the bud stage.
  • Many females experience their first period between the ages of 12 and 14. However, it can occur sooner.

MALES

  • Stage 4 typically begins around the age of 14 in males.

In this stage, you may observe the following: 

  • A deeper voice becomes permanent.
  • Acne may emerge.
  • The testicles, penis, and scrotum continue to grow, and the scrotum darkens in color.
  • Armpit hair begins to develop.

TANNER STAGE 5

  • Stage 5 marks the climax of a teen’s growth. Teens will finally complete full physical maturation, including reaching their final adult height, during this final phase.

FEMALES

  • Stage 5 occurs typically around the age of 15 in females. 

In this stage, you may observe the following: 

  • Females reach their adult height between one and two years following their first menstruation.
  • Pubic hair grows to reach the inner thighs.
  • Breasts develop adult size and shape, though they might continue to fluctuate until 18.
  • After six months to 2 years, periods become regular.
  • Reproductive organs and genitals have completed development.
  • Shaped hips, thighs, and buttocks.

MALES

  • Stage 5 typically begins around the age of 15 in males. 

In this stage, you may observe the following: 

  • Height growth will slow, although muscles may continue to expand.
  • Most boys have attained their peak growth potential by the age of 18.
  • The penis, testicles, and scrotum will have matured.
  • Pubic hair has grown and reached the inner thighs.
  • Facial hair will begin to grow, and some men will need to start shaving.

OTHER NOTABLE CHANGES

  • Puberty hormones stimulate the glands in your skin, notably the sweat glands beneath your arms, when you reach puberty. 
  • Sweat and bacteria on your skin can combine to produce an unpleasant odor, but you can lessen it by using deodorant.
  • Girls can sometimes see and feel a white or clear substance emerging from the vagina. It is called vaginal discharge and is just another piece of evidence that hormones are transforming your body.
  • Boys will start getting erections (when the penis fills with blood and becomes hard). Erections can occur while boys are thinking about sexual matters, or they might occur for no apparent cause.
  • Boys may also suffer nocturnal discharges (or wet dreams). When a boy sleeps, his penis becomes erect, and he ejaculates. 
  • When a boy ejaculates, semen — the fluid that carries sperm — comes out of the penis. That’s why they’re called wet dreams – they happen when you’re asleep, and your underwear or the bed can be wet when you wake up. 
  • Wet dreams become less common as boys progress through puberty and eventually cease.

EMOTIONAL CHANGES

  • Hormones influence how your body looks on the surface, but they also cause changes inside. 
  • During puberty, you may feel puzzled or experience intense emotions that you have never experienced before. 
  • You may be extremely sensitive or easily upset.
  • Some children lose their cool more frequently and become irritated with their peers or relatives. 
  • You may also be concerned about how your changing body appears.
  • It’s important not to compare yourself with your peers or let social media influence your thoughts about your body. Try to be body positive during this time.
  • You may also have sexual feelings that you have never experienced before. And you’ll most likely have many questions about these new, strange feelings towards sex and attraction.

Puberty Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Puberty across 30 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching kids about Puberty, which is a period of fast growth during which the body achieves reproductive maturity.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Puberty Facts
  2. Search Search Search
  3. Tanner Stages
  4. What’s that Term?
  5. Sexual Maturity
  6. Menstrual Cycle
  7. Male Changes
  8. Moods
  9. Puberty Challenges
  10. Personal Hygiene
  11. My Journey

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens during puberty?

The hormones travel through the blood and tell the testes to begin making testosterone and sperm. Testosterone is responsible for most changes in a boy’s body during puberty, like growing taller and having a deeper voice.

In girls, these target hormones in ovaries that contain eggs born with her. Hormones kickstart the production of another hormone called estrogen under their influence. Together, these work on preparing a girl’s mind-body for when she gets her period and might become pregnant one day.

At what age puberty ends?

The process of puberty typically begins around age 9 and can last several years. For girls, puberty is generally over by age 14, while for boys it may continue until the age of 15 or 16.

What age is puberty most active?

Puberty is the time when a person becomes sexually mature. Girls typically go through puberty between 8 and 13 years old, and boys between 9 and 14 years old. However, sometimes children go through puberty earlier or later than this.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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