What is Increase in Height?
It is the sudden growth spurt that happens during puberty .
- Long bones of legs and arms elongate during puberty.
Students compare their heights against a wall
measurement chart in a classroom, showing growth
during adolescence.
- Girls grow faster than boys initially during puberty.
Students compare their heights against a measurement
chart in the classroom, showing growth during
adolescence.
- Height is largely determined by genes from parents.
- Adequate nutrition is necessary for reaching full height .
Activity 2.1: Height Measurement (Page 2)
What you need:
- Measuring tape or scale
- Record sheet for data
- Calculator
What to do:
- Step 1: Take the height of each student in the class
- Step 2: Calculate the average height of boys and of girls separately
- Step 3: Then find out the average of boys and girls separately for each age group
Observations
What you see:
- Girls in younger age groups are often taller
- Boys in older age groups catch up in height
- Individual variations exist within same age group
- Growth patterns differ between boys and girls
Why this happens:
We have studied that
girls grow faster
than
boys
initially during
puberty
. This is why younger girls appear taller in measurements.
- Growth hormones activate earlier in girls
- Boys experience growth spurts slightly later