Lesson 11: The Penis

Objectives:

Students will:

• Label the penis, scrotum and testicles on a drawing.
• Realize that although circumcised and uncircumcised penises look different, they are both healthy and attractive and can do their jobs.
• Summarize the changes that take place in a boy's pubic area during puberty

Materials: Picture Cards 15, 16 and 17, athletic supporter or picture of an athletic supporter from a clothing catalog, worksheet #5

Procedure:

1. Read Picture Card 15 and go over discussion questions.
2. Show students an athletic supporter (jock strap) or a picture of one from a clothing catalog. Ask them if they know how it is worn and why. Explain that the testicles are very sensitive and that it's important to protect them during athletics. The jockstrap holds the testicles up against the body to protect them from injury.
3. Additional Information. It may be helpful to tell students that generally, one testicle hangs down slightly lower than the other. This is so the testicles will not bump into each other as a boy/man walks. Students should also know that the testicles feel smooth and sort of round like a bean. If a student notices any lumps or if his testicles feel sore he should tell a parent.
4. Read Picture Card 16 and go over discussion questions.
5. Additional Information. It may be helpful, after talking about the obvious difference between being circumcised and uncircumcised, to note that penises can be different in other ways. They vary slightly in coloration, thickness and length. And the scrotum can also look a bit different.

Also a lot of boys become concerned about penis size. It may be helpful for them to know that when teens are finished growing their penises are usually between 3 1/4" and 4 1/4" long. Confront the myth that the bigger the penis a guy has the more masculine or attractive he is considered. Help them understand that a boy's or man's personality, attitudes and general appearance are much more important than the size of his penis.

6. Read Picture Card 17 and go over discussion questions.
7. Give students worksheet #5. Have students draw in all the places a boy develops hair growth during puberty. (pubic area, underarm area, face, chest, thicker hair on arms and legs.)
8. Additional Information. Pubic hair generally grows first at the base of the penis. The color and thickness of pubic hair differs. It can be black, brown, blond or red. It does not have to be same color as the hair on a boy's head. And some guys have more pubic hair than others. All these differences are normal.