Topic: Human postnatal development

Target group

7th‑grade students of elementary school

Core Curriculum

Grade 7‑th of elementary school
General requirements
IV. Reasoning and applying the acquired knowledge to solving biological problems. Pupil:
1) interpret information and explain causal relationships between phenomena, formulate conclusions.
Specific requirements
III. The human body
12. Reproduction and development. Pupil:
4) lists the stages of prenatal human development (zygote, embryo, fetus) and explains the influence of various factors on the development of the embryo and fetus;
5) presents the characteristics of the physical, mental and social maturation of a human being.

General aim of education

The student learns the stages of a person's life from birth to death

Key competences

• communication in foreign languages;

• digital competence;

• learning to learn.

Criteria for success
The student will learn:

• explain what is individual development;

• discuss changes in the body at subsequent stages of development;

• describe the changes occurring during the maturation of a human;

• explain what is the meaning of the physical, mental and social maturation of a human being.

Methods/techniques

• expository

  • talk.

• activating

  • discussion.

• programmed

  • with computer;

  • with e‑textbook.

• practical

  • exercices concerned.

Forms of work

• individual activity;

• activity in pairs;

• activity in groups;

• collective activity.

Teaching aids

• e‑textbook;

• notebook and crayons/felt‑tip pens;

• interactive whiteboard, tablets/computers.

Lesson plan overview

Before classes

• Students will learn about the lesson material „Human postnatal development . The instructor asks for the preparation of instructions No. 2 and 3, described in the lesson.

Introduction

• The teacher gives the topic, the goals of the lesson in a language understandable for the student, and the criteria of success.

Realization

• The lecturer presents students with an infographic showing the stages of human development after birth and briefly discusses it. Then he divides the class into 6 groups and recommends one of the following topics for each group:

  • human development from the moment of fertilization to the moment of death;

  • human childhood and its stages;

  • the period of human maturation;

  • changes that take place in the appearance of a person from the moment of birth to adolescence (combined with the presentation of student / students photos);

  • stages of adult human life;

  • adaptation of public facilities to the needs of older people.

• Working in groups, students prepare presentations. Each group selects a representative who will present the results of the joint work.

• The students report the effects of working in groups. Next, the teacher initiates a discussion summarizing the subject of the stages of human life.

• Students, working individually or in pairs, carry out interactive exercises to check and consolidate knowledge learned during the lesson. Selected people discuss the correct solutions for interactive exercises. The teacher completes or corrects the statements of the proteges.

Summary

• The teacher briefly presents the most important issues discussed in class. He answers the additional questions of the proteges and explains all their doubts. Students complete notes.

Homework

• Listen to the abstract recording at home. Pay attention to pronunciation, accent and intonation. Learn to pronounce the words learned during the lesson.

• Make at home a note from the lesson using the sketchnoting method.

The following terms and recordings will be used during this lesson

Terms

Texts and recordings

Human postnatal development

Ontogenesis, also referred to as ontogeny, starts with fertilization and ends with death of an individual. It is composed of two stages of development:

• prenatal – intrauterine, which lasts from fertilization to birth, and

• postnatal – extrauterine, lasting from birth to death.

The development taking place outside the mother's organism covers successively the following stages: neonatal, infant, toddler, child, adolescence, adulthood, menopause and senescence. From birth, the organism undergoes a number of changes leading to physical, mental and social maturity.

The most important stages of development during childhood period are: neonatal, infant, toddler and child.

During adolescence, the activity of sex hormones, which are responsible for changes in the structure and functioning of organs (mainly the reproductive system) is increased. Body proportions change, body shape changes and the immune system matures.

The increase in sex hormones also affects mental well‑being of boys and girls. They can be irritable, anxious and suffer from constant mood swings. A child, so far being dependent on their parents, tries to highlight their individuality and ability to make decisions on their own. During that period, friends have a huge impact on the child’s behaviour. A child changes their interests, develops a set of standards and rules.

At the age of 25, when the body has reached its biological maturity, the next stage of development begins – adulthood. It involves reaching psychological and social maturity, which takes place 3‑4 years after achieving physical maturity. Mental maturity is synonymous to finding emotional balance and acquiring the ability to make independent, responsible decisions. Social maturity determines the ability to work, achieve material independence, adopt specific social roles and norms. The adulthood lasts until about the age of 50.

After adulthood, the menopause begins. It's a stage during which the body gradually begins to undergo physiological changes associated with ageing. The skin slowly becomes less and less firm, wrinkles appear, hair turns grey, metabolic rate decreases, which may lead to weight gains. This stage of development begins in the case of women between 45‑55, and in the case of men between 55‑60 years of age. At this age, the level of sex hormones decreases. As a result, women stop menstruating and ovulating. They can suffer from mood swings, insomnia, alternating hot and cold flashes. Men generally retain the ability to reproduce until late age but their reproductive capacity is significantly reduced. At the age of 65, human body enters the period of senescence. Ageing is associated with decreased regenerative capacity of cells and tissues, decreased in immunity, reduced bone density, which increases their susceptibility to fractures. Vision and hearing deteriorate, physical fitness decreases.

• Human ontogeny starts with fertilization and ends with death.

• Ontogeny includes the period of prenatal and postnatal development.