Getting together...

After completing my PGCE I returned to Canada and was offered a position teaching grade 2.  I taught that grade for 4 years.  Although there are many subject areas I enjoy teaching, the one subject that makes me smile is family life.  The details of how babies are made are limited in grade 2 but there is enough information to turn those little ones into inquiring minds!

Now, I am a strong believer that if a child asks a question then they deserve an answer.  However, the content of family life is always a little controversial and so it is best that a teacher doesn't go too far beyond the grade level curriculum.

During the third or fourth lesson on the parts of our bodies we began to talk about how the sperm and ovum meet in the uterus to create a baby.  Some of the students were very interested others were more interested in the snow that started falling outside.  As I looked out at the sea of innocent faces one little girl raised her hand and asked, "Um, how does the sperm get into the mommy's uterus if it is from the daddy?" For some reason this question got the attention of the snow watchers.

This wasn't part of the curriculum for a number of years!  I attempted to explain that there are some things that they will have questions about that I was not really able to answer but they should ask their parents that question when they get home.

Now, every class has a creative mind who always wants to discover the answer to everything, in this class it was JJ.  As the lesson proceeded to the growth of the baby, JJ was still thinking about how the sperm and the ovum get together.  His hand shot up like a bullet, his eyes popped out and his expression was like he had discovered water on mars!

"Mrs. C!  I know, I know how they get together!" he almost screamed, "The mommy and daddy go to bed at night and lie very close to each other; they have to touch sides."  I wanted to stop him just in case but I was very curious.  "So, when they both fall asleep the mommy's and daddy's sides split open like a zipper or something and then the sperm jump across like dolphins into the mommy's uterus!"

I would have breathed a sigh of relief but I was too busy holding back a giggle!  "Very creative thinking JJ.  You should ask you parents if that is how they made you."