CURRICULUM GUIDE FOR S.C. TEACHER CADET COURSE | EXPERIENCING EDUCATION, TENTH EDITION
Physical Development
Theme I: Experiencing Learning
Unit 3: Growth and Development
Principles of Growth for All Stages of Development
Human growth and development is based on a combination of genetics and environment.
Environmental factors, such as maternal nutrition, stress, diseases, age, and use (or nonuse)
of cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs, affect development and birth size.
In all stages of development, humans follow four main principles of growth
Four Main Principles of Growth
From Birth to Age Two
Zygote (from conception to two weeks)
This new life has inherited 23 chromosomes from each parent, 46 in all, creating the complex
genetic blueprint for every detail of human developmentâsex, hair and eye color, height, and
skin tone.
Embryo (from two to eight weeks)
Foundations of the brain, spinal cord, and nervous system are already established. The heart
begins to beat; backbone and muscles are forming; and arms, legs, eyes, and ears have
begun to show.
Fetus (from eight to thirty-eight weeks)
Everything is now present that will be found in a fully deve