This is a Life Orientation lesson plan prepared by a group of third year students at the University of Johannesburg

1. SCHOOL: Seana Marena High School TERM: 3
TEACHER: Ms Motaung, Ms Mahloko, Mr
Maswanganyi and Ms Mosehla.
DURATION: 34 minutes
SUBJECT: Life Orientation NO: LEARNERS: 30
PHASE: Senior Phase DATE: 25 April 2017
GRADE: 7
TOPIC: Development of the self in society
LESSON: Changes in boys and girls: puberty and gender constructs.
LESSON AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:
By the end of the lesson, the learners should be able to:
 Define the concept of puberty.
 Know and understand the physical changes associated with puberty.
 Understand whether or not if puberty is avoidable.
 Understand the importance of puberty.
The learners should know how to define the concept of puberty. They should know and
understand the changes associated with puberty. They should also be able to engage in a
discussion, for this session they will discuss whether or not puberty is avoidable. Lastly they
should be able to understand the importance of puberty in the human cycle.
CONTEXT (CLASS-SIZE, LEARNER RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS, LOCATION OF
CLASS, ENVIRONMENT, ETC)

2. Six questions guiding lesson planning.
Who?
The participants of this lesson are the Life Orientation teachers, Miss Motaung, Miss Mahloko,
Mr Maswanganyi, and Ms Mosehla including the learners. Our lessonplan is for the Grade seven
C36 learners in Seana Marena High School aged 12 to 14 born into a democratic South Africa.
There are 34 learners’ in the classroom, 15 girls and 19 boys. It is a manageable class to teach.
Five of our learners have barriers to learning, two suffer from visual impairment and three a
living with hearing impairment, and we have placed them in the front row to accommodate
them inclusively. Half of the learners are from disadvantaged backgrounds. All learners are able
to learn in Englishas they have usedit sincetheir primary schooling,they are Sesotho, Setswana,
Sepedi and IsiZuluspeaking learners.Most of the learners are based in the samecommunity that
the school is in and they walk to school. While some of the learners come from farther places
and usetransport to get to school, and these are either public or private transport. As a teacher,
one has to alsomake sure that they do not givethe learners a biasedlessoninwhich they choose
a side in the topic. The topic has to be presented in all perspectives available and the learners
will be the ones deciding on which opinion they carry regarding the topic.
When?
The lesson will take place on a Thursday morning at 8h00, it is the middle of summer and the
temperature outside is mostly sunny conditions. The learners will pay much attention in the
morning compared to in the afternoon.
What?
 What is puberty?
 What physical changes are associated with puberty?
 Is Puberty avoidable?
 What is the importance of puberty?
Where?
The lesson will take place indoors (in the classroom). Our school is situated in Soweto which is
far from the areas.The classroomlaidout in alearner-centered setting whereby they are seated
in groups of four, in order to promote an effective environment for learners to actively engage

3. with the learning process. Grouping can help with integration of different kinds of learners so
you have the chance to mix everything up, girls often participate and dominate group
discussions in the classroom. There are tables, chairs, a blackboard and a chalks.
What For?
The learners should know how to define the concept of puberty. They should know and
understand the changes associated with puberty. They should also be able to engage in a
discussion, for this session they will discuss whether or not puberty is avoidable. Lastly they
should be able to understand the importance of puberty in the human cycle.
How?
The teaching methods that will be used during the teaching and learning process are the direct
instruction, demonstration, and question and answer teaching and discussion.The material that
will be used for this session are the school text books (FOCUS Life Orientation Grade 7), the
projector, laptop, PowerPoint presentation and a print out of slides.
SPECIFY CONTENTTO BE TAUGHT: (ALSOATTACH ASEPARATELISTOF SOURCES FROM WHICH
YOU OBTAINED THE CONTENT.
The lesson that we have prepared for our learners Grade 7 learners is about Puberty. The
learners will know how to explain puberty in depth, they will be taught the definition of puberty
first. Secondly, they will the taught the about the changes associatedwith puberty. Additionally,
they will engage in a discussion on whether or not is puberty avoidable. Lastly, they will be
taught about the importance of puberty.

4. KNOWLEDGE SKILLS VALUES
The Learners will know what
puberty is, they will know
how to define the concept
and understand what it
means. The learners will
understand the changes are
associated with puberty.
Furthermore, they will
understand whether or not if
puberty is avoidable. Lastly,
they will understand and
know the importance of
puberty.
For our lesson, we will be
using the FOCUS Life
Orientation text book. The
learners will acquire a skill of
being able to identify both
physical and emotional
changes associated with
puberty.
Learners should value that
people (both male and female)
undergo different changes
during puberty. They should
understand that these changes
are pressurised by different
physicalchanges that may have
an effect on their bodies
change in different ways at
different times.
TEACHING MEDIA AND LEARNING MATERIALS (BOOKS, ETC) NEEDED
1. School text books (FOCUS Life Orientation Grade 7)
2. Projector
3. Laptop
4. PowerPoint presentation (slides)
5. Print out of slides (in case we have power cut)

5. INTRODUCTORY/INVITATIONAL PHASE (HOW ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE LEARNERS
INTERESTED IN YOUR LESSON?)
TEACHER-ACTIVITIES
ASSESSMENT METHOD- DIRECT TEACHING
METHOD AND QUESTION AND ANSWER.
BIG QUESTION – WHAT IS PUBERTY?
1. To introduce the lesson I will first
play my learners the video as I have
attached the link below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRyOc
LSJDzk
2. After playing them the video, I will
ask them what they think about the
video.
3. I will ask teach them the definition
of the word puberty. My answer will
likely be that puberty is the time in
life when a boy or girl becomes
sexually mature.
LEARNER-ACTIVITIES
1. The learners will be expected watch the
video attentively.
2. The learners will tell the teacher what it is
that they think of the video.
3. The learners will answer the teachers
question and answer the teachers
question on what puberty is. Most of
them will not be familiar with the
term nor the definition. They are
expected to listen carefully as the
teacher defines the term and take
notes as well
TEACHING PHASE (engaging with new content)
TEACHER-ACTIVITIES LEARNER-ACTIVITIES

6. ASSESSMENT METHOD- DIRECT
INSTRUCTION AND QUESTION AND
ANSWER.
BIG QUESTION – WHAT ARE THE CHANGES
ASSOCIATED WITH PUBERTY?
 The teacher will discuss the changes
that come with puberty. I will first
discuss the physical changes in both
boys and girls.
 Learners are expected to write down
notes in their workbooks during this
instruction.
 The teacher will teach the learners
about the physical changes that are
associated with boys during puberty.
Examples would include the
following: Hair growth, increase in
size of genitals, growing taller,
deepening of voice and appearance
of facial hair.
 Furthermore, the teacher will teach
about the physical changes that are
associated with puberty in girls.
Examples will include: the start of
menstruation, bodily and pubic hair
growth, the widening of hips as well
as breast development.
 The teacher will ask if the learners
think that there are also emotional
changes that take place during
puberty in both boys and girls.
 Learners are expected to listen
attentively to the teacher as she names
the different changes that happen to
one’s body during puberty.
 They will take down notes in their
workbooks, noting down the four
changes discussed by the teacher.
 Learners will then be expected to pay
their undivided attention throughout the
lesson. They are also likely to ask for
clarification in some of the changes
taught by the teacher.
 Learners will then be expected to pay
attention while the teacher teaches.
They are equally allowed to ask
questions for likely to ask for
clarification.
 Learners will be expected to answer the
question posed to them by the teacher.

7.  I will therefore inform the learners
that we will cover more on emotions
and puberty in our next class.
 The teacher will ask the learners if
they have any questions about the
changes discussed.
 The teacher will play an educational
game with the learners to make the
lesson more interesting.
ASSESSMENT METHOD- DIRECT
INSTRUCTION AND QUESTION AND
ANSWER.
BIG QUESTION – IS PUBERTY AVOIDABLE?
 As I move onto the next topic, I will
ask the class the following question
to the classroomat large:
Do you think that puberty is
avoidable?
 Once they have given me an answer
to the question above, I will ask
them to elaborate on their answer.
 A possible answer to the question would
be ‘no’.
 The learners are likely to respond by
saying okay teacher.
 The learners are expected to pose any
questions that they might have about the
topic presented.
 The leaners will take part in the
educational game conducted by the
teacher.
 The learners will need to think hard
whether or not if puberty is avoidable.
Knowing my grade 7 pupils, some might
say no and others are likely to say yes.
 They will then need to elaborate on their
answer. Here they will give reasons as to
why they feel that puberty is not
avoidable, such as: Everybody has to

8.  After learners have given me their
thoughts, I will correct any
misunderstandings that they may
have about puberty and it being
avoidable.
 I will provide the learners with the
following facts about puberty:
 Puberty is a breath taking pace of
growth and change is second to that
of infancy.
 Puberty is one of the most
fascinating and a complex
transitions in the life span.
 They will listen attentively and ask
any questions about anything they
may not understand.
ASSESSMENT METHOD- DIRECT
INSTRUCTION AND QUESTION AND
ANSWER.
BIG QUESTION – WHAT IS THE
IMPORTANCE OF PUBERTY?
 I will begin discussing with my
learners the importance of going
through puberty.
grow so they will all experience puberty
as they go into adulthood.
 Learners will listen to the teacher fixing
any misunderstandings that they may
have about puberty and it being
avoidable.
 The learners will listen to the reasons
why puberty cannot be avoided.
 Should the learners have any questions
about anything that they do not
understand, they are to ask the teacher
questions in order to get a clear
explanation.
 Learners will listen as the teacher speaks,
thinking about the importance of
puberty and thinking of any questions
that they might have to ask the teacher
towards the end of the lesson.

9.  The teacher will then cover the
content on the importance of
puberty.
 The teacher will present reasons on
why puberty is important. There’s
reason are as follows: Puberty is
important because it is a major
milestone in growing up. This means
that in order for one to grow up and
become an adult, they have to go
through puberty.
 Their bodies need to change and
grow, their reproductive systems
need to develop so that they can
grow to have children too one day,
and they need to have adult
features such as facial and bodily
hairs, and visible body features such
as breasts and broader shoulders.
 I will then ask the learners if they
have any questions regarding the
importance of going through
puberty.
 The learners will be expected to pay
attention and take notes as the teacher
will be teaching them about the
importance of the puberty stage. They
are even allowed to ask questions to
deepen their understanding about the
content.
Summary and Conclusion:
I will conclude the lesson by telling learners that puberty and growing up is an exciting time
that can also be confusing. Explain that every single adult they know has survived puberty
and they will too. Close the lesson by asking learners some question related to the lesson or
based on the lesson of the day.

10. TEACHER-ACTIVITIES
ASSESSMENT METHOD- DIRECT
INSTRUCTION AND QUESTION AND
ANSWER.
BIG QUESTION – WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT
FROM TODAYS LESSSON?
 The teacher will first go through the
lesson objectives with the learners
to check if they have been reached
 The teacher will then have a recap
of the lesson to check if the learners
were paying attention. The teacher
will do this by posing questions to
the learners and answering the
leaners questions,
 Furthermore, the learners will be
given a home to complete at home.
See attachment of the activity and
the memorandum.
LEARNER-ACTIVITIES
 The learners will go through the lesson
objectives with the teacher.
 The learners will be expected to take
part in the lesson recap and answer any
question the teacher might have and
equally ask questions.
 The learners will be expected to write
the homework in their exercise books.
KEY POINTS OF LESSON:
1) Puberty is when a child’s body turns into an adult’s body.
2) Everyone goes through puberty at a time that’s right for their body.
3) There are a lot of physical changes during puberty that happen to everyone and some
happen just to boys or girls.
ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING OBJECTIVES AT CONCLUSION OF LESSON:

11. •Teachers can ask learners to write down one physical change that affects girls, one that
affects boys, and one that affects both boys and girls, and submit for assessment of the
learning objectives.
POSSIBLE ADAPTATIONS:
•Large class size— None
•Limited materials/technology— None