How a New Life Begins

Science · Organisms & Life Processes · ages 12-13

Name ______________________ Date ____________

Which organ makes eggs in the female reproductive system?
- Uterus
- Ovaries
- Vagina
Which organ makes sperm in the male reproductive system?
- Testes
- Bladder
- Stomach
A gamete is a special reproductive cell, like a sperm or an egg.
Circle one: True False
What happens when a sperm and an egg join together during fertilisation?
- They combine into one new fertilised cell
- They both dissolve and disappear
- They swap places without joining
Where does fertilisation usually take place?
- In the stomach
- In the testes
- In a fallopian tube
What is the main job of the placenta during pregnancy?
- Making the baby's bones harder
- Passing oxygen and nutrients to the baby and removing waste
- Storing extra sperm cells
Which lists the correct order of human development?
- Fertilisation, embryo, fetus, birth
- Embryo, fertilisation, birth, fetus
- Birth, fetus, embryo, fertilisation
Amir says nothing the mother eats or drinks can ever reach the baby. Is he correct?
- Yes, the placenta blocks everything the mother eats or drinks
- Yes, only water can cross the placenta
- No, harmful substances like alcohol can cross the placenta and affect the baby

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Ovaries · The ovaries are the organs that make eggs. The uterus is where a baby later grows.
Testes · The testes are the organs that produce sperm cells.
True · Sperm and eggs are both gametes, the cells needed for sexual reproduction.
They combine into one new fertilised cell · Fertilisation happens when the sperm and egg combine into a single new cell, the very first cell of a new life.
In a fallopian tube · The sperm meets the egg inside a fallopian tube, where the two cells join.
Passing oxygen and nutrients to the baby and removing waste · The placenta connects mother and baby, delivering oxygen and nutrients and removing waste through the umbilical cord.
Fertilisation, embryo, fetus, birth · Development always starts with fertilisation, then the embryo stage, then the fetus stage, ending in birth.
No, harmful substances like alcohol can cross the placenta and affect the baby · Substances the mother consumes can cross the placenta, so a mother's lifestyle during pregnancy can affect the developing baby.