Grade 6 Science

Week of October 13 – October 16

Reproduction

Introduction
All living things have the ability to reproduce offspring–this is how a species survives. Reproduction —
the process by which organisms make more organisms like themselves — is one of the things that sets
living organisms apart from nonliving matter. However, even though the reproductive system is
essential to keeping a species alive, unlike other body systems, it's not essential to keeping an individual
alive.

Males and females have different reproductive systems. In this section, you will learn about both
systems and how they can work together to reproduce.

Human Traits
Humans, like other organisms, pass certain characteristics of themselves to the next generation through
their genes, the special carriers of human traits.
Organisms that reproduce sexually contribute half of
their genetic information from one parent and half from
the other parent. The genes parents pass along to their
children are what make children similar to others in
their family, but they are also what makes each child
unique. These genes come from the father's sperm and
the mother's egg, which are produced in the male and
female reproductive systems. In this unit, you will learn
about the structures found in the male and female
reproductive systems and their functions.
Key Terms
Here are some key terms that you will encounter throughout this unit:

Term Meaning
Gamete A reproductive (sex) cell. In males, sperm; in females, eggs
Process during which adolescents reach sexual and reproductive
Puberty
maturity
The male reproductive gland that produces sperm and male
Testes
hormones
The female reproductive gland that produces eggs and female
Ovaries
hormones
Menstrual The pattern of events in females involving the development and
cycle release of an egg
The process in sexual reproduction in which a male gamete and
Fertilization
female gamete fuse/join to form a new cell

Complete the following:

True or False: If a statement is false, change it so that it is

1) Genes are what make a child’s similar to their family but also what
makes them unique.
__________________________________________________________

2) Genes come from a mother’s egg and a father’s sperm.

__________________________________________________________
Complete the table.
Term Meaning
A reproductive (sex) cell. In males,
Gamete __________; in females, __________

Process during which adolescents

reach sexual and reproductive
maturity.

Testes

Ovaries

The pattern of events in

Menstrual Cycle ____________ involving the
____________ and ______________of
an egg.

The process in sexual reproduction in

which a male gamete and female
gamete fuse/join to form a new cell.

The Male Reproductive System

Most species have biological two sexes: male and female. Each sex has its own unique reproductive
system. They are different in shape and structure, but both are specifically designed to produce,
nourish, and transport either the egg or sperm.

Unlike the female, whose sex organs are located entirely within the pelvis, the male has reproductive
organs, or genitals, that are both inside and outside the pelvis.

Watch this video for a quick overview of the male anatomy: https://youtu.be/G2ciOhidKpg
Video: Biological Male Anatomy
Watch the video “Biological Male Anatomy” to answer the following questions:

1) How many testicles does a biological male have? _____________

2) Does a penis have bones in it? _____________
3) What is the hole at the tip of the penis? _____________
4) Can a person pass urine and semen at the same time? ____________
5) What is pre-ejaculate fluid for?
__________________________________________________________

Penis, Testes, Scrotum

Males have two sex organs on the outside of their body, the testes (typically 2, also known as testicles),
and the penis. A male's testes are protected in a skin sack called the scrotum.

In a male who has reached sexual maturity, the testes produce and store millions of tiny sperm
cells (male gamete, a special kind of cell). As you know, the testes are also part of the endocrine
system because they produce hormones, including testosterone. Once puberty is reached testosterone
also stimulates the production of sperm.

A male who has reached puberty will produce millions of sperm cells every day. Sperm develops in the
testicles extremely small: only 0.05 millimeters long.
Epididymis, Vas deferens, and Urethra
Now you know that a male's testes (or testicles) are where sperm is made. But once it's made, it has to
be stored somewhere until it's time for it to be released from the body. This is the job of the epididymis;
to store the sperm that is created by the testes. The epididymis is protected in the scrotum with the
testes.

From the epididymis, the sperm is moved through a tube called the vas deferens which brings it to the
ejaculatory duct. While the sperm is traveling through the vas deferens, it is mixed with some other
liquids that are produced by glands in the reproductive system and becomes a fluid called semen.

When a male is ready to ejaculate (release semen from the body) is released through the urethra.
You've heard of the urethra when you learned about the excretory system because it's the tube that
transports urine out of the body. But the urethra also transports semen out, however, it can only
transport one fluid at one time. Meaning that if a male is ejaculating, urine cannot be released at the
same time.
Complete the following:

1. What is the name of the skin sac that protects the testes?
_______________
2. A male gamete is called a_______________
3. How many sperm does a biological male produce each day?
_____________
4. What does the epididymis do?
__________________________________________________________
5. Where is sperm mixed with other fluids to create semen?
__________________
6. The journey of sperm: Correctly order the journey of sperm from
creation, to ejaculation.
The Female Reproductive System
Unlike a male's reproductive system, a females reproductive system is only on the inside of the body. All
of the organs in this system can be found in the pelvic region, which is around the lower belly. Let's
learn about these organs.

The vagina is a tube that connects the uterus to the outside of the body. The entrance to the vagina is
on the outside of the body. It's called the vaginal opening. The vagina is muscular, which means it can
contract and relax. This is important when it comes to childbirth because the vagina must expand in
order to allow the baby to come out. The vagina connects to the uterus through the cervix (which is just
the lower part of the uterus, narrower than the rest of the uterus)

The uterus (also known as the womb) is shaped like an upside-down pear, with a thick lining and
muscular walls. Did you know that the uterus contains some of the strongest muscles in the female
body? These muscles are able to expand and contract to accommodate a growing fetus (baby) and then
help push the baby out during labor.

A female has 2 fallopian tubes, one on each side of the uterus. Fallopian tubes go from the uterus to the
ovaries. During ovulation, an ovary releases an egg into the fallopian tube that connects it to the
uterus.

There are two ovaries, one on either side of the uterus. Ovaries make eggs and hormones like
estrogen. The ovaries release an egg as part of a woman's cycle. When an egg is released, it's
called ovulation. Each egg is tiny about one-tenth the size of a poppy seed. That's really tiny!
Complete the following:

1. What region of the body can all of the female reproductive organs be
found in?
__________________________________________________________
2. What connects the uterus to the outside of the body?
____________________
3. What is the uterus also known as? ____________________
4. Fill in the blanks: Fallopian tubes go from the _______________ to
the _______________
5. What happens during ovulation?
__________________________________________________________
6. What is it called when an egg is released?
__________________________

Menstruation
Menstruation occurs when a biological female goes through puberty, it is also knowns as getting a
period. This is the body's way of preparing for reproduction in the future.

Check out this video to see how a female’s menstrual cycle works, and why it occurs:
https://youtu.be/vXrQ_FhZmos

Video: The Menstrual Cycle

Watch the video “The Menstrual Cycle” to answer the following questions:

1) Where does a baby grow when a woman Is pregnant?

________________
2) How long can a period last?
__________________________________________________________
3) What’s a menstrual cycle?
__________________________________________________________
4) What lead from each ovary to the uterus?
_________________________
5) Will a woman who is pregnant have her period? ______________

Offspring
Offspring is just a fancy word for babies. So how exactly does a female body begin to grow a baby?
While the female reproductive system does most of the work, the male reproductive system is needed
in order to fertilize a female’s egg. Without fertilization, a baby would not be able to form.

If a male ejaculates into a females vagina during unprotected sex, sperm cells travel through
the vagina to the uterus then up the fallopian tubes in search of an egg. If successful, the sperm will
meet the egg that was released from the ovary during ovulation. What is ovulation? Simply put, this is
when an egg is released during menstruation.

If a sperm cell fertilizes the woman's egg, it's the first step in reproduction (getting pregnant), and if all
goes well, in 9 months, a baby will be born!
 So how does a baby survive in the mother's womb all that time? Check out this video to
see how your belly button was your lifeline as a fetus (unborn baby)!
https://youtu.be/d9R7EQCL1qA

Video: Science for Kids- Where do babies come from?

Watch the video “Science for Kids- Where do babies come from? ” to answer the following questions:

1) What is the placenta’s job?

__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

2) Amelia’s baby is 29 weeks, are his organs developed yet?

___________

3) How does Amelia’s baby breathe? ____________________________

Review
Label the male and female reproductive systems.
Explain the process of fertilization. What happens if an egg is
successfully fertilized?