The Beginning Of Life Webquest

Part 1: The Reproductive Systems

Please Note: You’re going to be answering questions on the sexual and reproductive systems. You’ll
notice that I’ll call one system ‘Path A’ and it has parts of what you may have heard as ‘female’
before (and what our source will call it). The other system will be called ‘Path B’ and shows inside and
outside parts of what you may have heard as ‘male’ before. I’m calling them Path A and Path B since
these are what’s typically expected for bodies to look like. Although it’s not often talked about, there’s
actually a third path (or Path C), which we call ‘intersex’. Someone who’s intersex has sexual or
reproductive characteristics that are variations of Path A and Path B and are unique and specific to
them. These variations are perfectly natural.

We’re going to look at the specific internal and external body parts in the sexual and reproductive
system, but before we do, I want to explain what I mean when I say ‘sex assigned at birth.’ A
person’s biological sex is usually made up of their chromosomes, hormones, and the genitals, and is
often declared by a healthcare provider right when the baby is born. The health care provider will
often look down at the genitals and say ‘It’s a boy!’ or ‘It’s a girl!’ But people delivering babies can’t
tell what chromosomes or internal body parts look like just by looking at the outside of a baby’s body,
so we often don’t know the whole story about a baby’s biological sex just by looking between their
legs. That’s why we say ‘sex assigned at birth.’

Path A: To complete this section of the webquest, please use the following webpage:
https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/female-repro.html

1. Define the term reproduction.

2. What are the two kinds of sex cells or gametes that are required for human reproduction? I just posted it in a
different post!

Sperm and ovum.

3. Use the slideshow (at the bottom of the page) and reading to label (double click on the image to
move the text boxes in Google Drawing) the five listed structures and describe their function.
Jessica Matheson (Chanhassen, MN) - [email protected] - Twitter: @CoachMatheson - Venmo: @MrsJessicaMatheson
 Uterus Fallopian tubes

Ovaries

Cervix

Vagina

Structure Function

Uterus Where the baby is born when you get pregnant.

Ovaries Have the eggs in them so they’re fertilized

Fallopian
Make the eggs travel
Tubes

Cervix Is the opening to the uterus is at the end of the vagina

Vagina Where the penis is inserted during sexual intercourse

4. What are the two primary Path A, ‘female’, sex hormones?

Estrogen , progesterone

5. What are the functions of the Path A, ‘female’, reproductive system?

1 Sex

2 Baby

3 Period

4 Ovulation

6. Define the following terms:

Jessica Matheson (Chanhassen, MN) - [email protected] - Twitter: @CoachMatheson - Venmo: @MrsJessicaMatheson
 Menstruation When you get your period

Menarche

Premenstrual
Syndrome

Path B: To complete this section of the webquest, please use the following webpage:
https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/male-repro.html

7. What is the Path B, ‘male’, hormone produced in the testicles that plays an important role in sexual
development and the production of sperm?

8. Use the slideshow (in the middle of the page) and reading to label (double click on the image to move the
text boxes in Google Drawing) the eight listed structures and describe their function.

Structure Function
Seminal
Vesicles

Jessica Matheson (Chanhassen, MN) - [email protected] - Twitter: @CoachMatheson - Venmo: @MrsJessicaMatheson

 Prostate
Gland
Vas
Deferens

Urethra

Scrotum

Penis

Testicle

Epididymis

9. What are the functions of the Path B, ‘male’, reproductive system?

1
2
3

Embarrassingly Important Questions: Choose at least one (1) question to explore that you might not feel
comfortable asking your parents, you don’t want in your search history, or is just awkward to ask your friends.
Watch the video and respond to the question.

Q: What is intersex? A:

Q: How many holes do people with A:

vulvas (Path A) have down there?
Q: Can anyone get an erection? A:

Q: Is it normal to watch porn? A:

Q: What is vaginal discharge? A:

Jessica Matheson (Chanhassen, MN) - [email protected] - Twitter: @CoachMatheson - Venmo: @MrsJessicaMatheson

 Q: Can you break a boner? A:

Q: Is it OK to shave your vulva? A:

Q: What is circumcision? A:

Q: What is asexuality? A:

Part 2: Conception, Pregnancy (and Options), and Birth

Conception: To complete this section of the webquest, please watch the following video:
Pregnancy and Reproduction Explained (AMAZE Org)

10. Explain three (3) ways how pregnancy can occur using the following terms: Artificial Insemination, Sexual
Intercourse, and In Vitro Fertilization.

A penis is inserted into a vagina. Semen is ejaculated, and the sperm can
swim up through the cervix and uterus and travel to the fallopian tubes
where they may find an egg. The sperm and egg unite and, together,
implant in the uterine wall.
Semen is injected into the cervix or uterus by a healthcare provider. The
sperm must travel up to the fallopian tube and unite with an egg and,
together, implant in the uterine wall.
Doctors bring a sperm and egg together completely outside of the body in a
laboratory and then later insert the fertilized egg into the uterus.

The Menstrual Cycle Related to Conception

Being aware of your menstrual cycle and how it relates to conception can help a couple get
pregnant by having sexual intercourse during the time that they are most likely to conceive.
Fertility awareness is also a way to prevent pregnancy by not having sex around the time of
ovulation. If a couple doesn't have sexual intercourse around the time of ovulation, they are less
likely to get pregnant.

Jessica Matheson (Chanhassen, MN) - [email protected] - Twitter: @CoachMatheson - Venmo: @MrsJessicaMatheson

 Days 1-7: Chances of conceiving are low
Days 8-10: Chances of conceiving are medium
Days 11-13: Chances of conceiving are high
Day 14: Ovulation happens
Days 14-15: Chances of conceiving are high
Days 16-19: Chances of conceiving are medium
Days 20-28: Chances of conceiving are low

The “trick” is knowing when ovulation happens.

Fertility awareness is not a reliable way to prevent
pregnancy for most teens. It is often very difficult
to tell when someone is fertile. Because teens
often have irregular menstrual cycles, it makes
predicting ovulation much more difficult. Even people
who have previously had regular cycles can have
irregular timing of ovulation when factors such as
stress or illness are involved.
Fertility awareness also requires a commitment to monitoring body changes, keeping daily records,
and above all not having sex during the fertile period. Over the course of 1 year, as many as
25 out of 100 typical couples who rely on fertility awareness to prevent pregnancy will have an
unintended pregnancy.

Pregnancy: To complete this section of the webquest, please watch the following video:
What Are The Stages of Pregnancy? (AMAZE Org)
and read the following article:
Having a Healthy Pregnancy (TeensHealth)

11. A typical human pregnancy lasts approximately: from the first day of the pregnant
person's last menstrual period.

12. Identify common symptoms and milestones one may experience in each of the three trimesters of
pregnancy.

Trimester 1
Weeks 1-12

Trimester 2
Weeks 13-26

Jessica Matheson (Chanhassen, MN) - [email protected] - Twitter: @CoachMatheson - Venmo: @MrsJessicaMatheson

 Trimester 3
Weeks 27-40

13. Identify a minimum of three (3) things one should avoid when pregnant and a minimum of three (3) ways to
take care of oneself when pregnant.

Things to Avoid when Pregnant Ways to Take Care of Oneself When Pregnant

Pregnancy Options: To complete this section of the webquest, please read the following article:
Pregnancy Options (Planned Parenthood)
and review the following state law:
Minnesota § 145.4242

14. Explain the following three options one has when they become pregnant: Parenting, Abortion, Adoption

Parenting

Abortion

Adoption

15. Identify pros and cons of each of the three options one has when they become pregnant. Try to dig deep
and look beyond your beliefs and values, and truly examine the three legal options one may have. There are
pros and there are cons to each option; be open-minded by identifying these factors.

Pros Cons

Parenting

Abortion

Jessica Matheson (Chanhassen, MN) - [email protected] - Twitter: @CoachMatheson - Venmo: @MrsJessicaMatheson

 Adoption

Did You Know? In Minnesota, we have a “Give Life a Chance Law” (MN § 145.902) which
states that you can leave your baby, or another baby (with the approval of the mother), up to
7 days old, at any licensed hospital, a health care provider who provides urgent care medical
services, or an ambulance service dispatched in response to a 911 call.

16. Each year in the United States, there are approximately 3 million unintended pregnancies. Identify two (2)
people you could talk to about pregnancy options if you or your partner becomes pregnant. Then, identify two
(2) questions you would want to ensure you have answered by the end of your conversation.

People to talk to about pregnancy options Questions I’d want answered

→
→
→
→

Birth: To complete this section of the webquest, please watch the following two (2) videos:
Labor and Delivery | Childbirth (Nucleus Medical Media) and C-section (Nucleus Medical Media)

17. Match the following terms with their definition: Crowning, Epidural, Cesarean Section, Labor

physiological process by which the mother’s body expels the baby

during birth
when the top of the head appears at the opening of the birth
canal
the surgical delivery of the infant through the abdominal wall

a small catheter placed in the spine, through which pain medication

can be administered

Jessica Matheson (Chanhassen, MN) - [email protected] - Twitter: @CoachMatheson - Venmo: @MrsJessicaMatheson