Human Body Lesson Plans

George has decided he wants to study the Human Body so I'm deviating from my planned science.  Luckily I already have many many resources to use for this study.  We did the human body once before when the kids were younger, some things we are doing are the same, some are different.  I will link to both the old activities, and the new (once they are completed).

I have quite a few Science encyclopedias.   Any encyclopedia with information on the body systems can be used instead.   The other book suggestions are ones I have or particularly like.  Other selections can be substituted.

Please check any of the links prior to giving them to children.  I've watched/played most of them but just in case I missed something.


HUMAN BODY

Each section/day - start with video (usually Magic School Bus or Beakman's World), pick one book from book basket for read aloud, do experiment, pick one or more books for independent reading (do 30 minutes), finish with computer games/videos.

BB – Berenstein Bears Big Book of Science and Nature
SS – Scholastic Kid’s Encyclopedia - Science
UCE – Usborne Internet-Linked Children’s Encyclopedia
GSRB – Evan Moor Giant Science Resource Book
RSO – Real Science Odyssey – Life
Scholastic Easy Make and Learn Projects – Human Body

MARK PAGES IN ENCYCLOPEDIAS FOR BOOK BASKET

Starting Book Basket (can remain for whole study):
Magic School Bus Inside the Human Body - Cole
My First Body Book – Melanie and Chris Rice
What's Inside You - Meredith
Cat in the Hat – Inside your Outside
DK Eyewitness Human Body
BB – pg 79 – Are you an animal?
SS – pg 88
Scholastic First Big Book of Why – pg 8-32


Book Basket:  Greg's Microscope
DVD/Video:  MSB Goes Cellular

-Read RSO pg 31
-Do Cell Lab #1 – Supplies:  lab sheet, colored pencils, egg, magnifying glass
-Discuss the differences between animal and plant cell
-Build models of plant and animal cells – Supplies:  styrofoam ball cut in ½, pipe cleaners, clay, toothpicks, post-it markers, cardboard box(I'm using worksheets showing the parts of the cell from Enchanted Learning as a guide, the styrofoam ball will be the base for an animal cell, the cardboard box the base for a plant cell).
-Print cell mobile page from Scholastic Human Body Projects, color and glue to cardstock for notebook

Computer Link:

Cells Alive interactive animated cells



BOOK BASKET:
The Skeleton Inside You - Balestrino
Dem Bones
MSB Search for the Missing Bones (chapter book)
Science Encyclopedia pg 156-157
SS – pg 153
UCE – pg 102
WY1NTK – pg 286
DVD/Video:  None

- RSO pg 45 (skeletal system portion only)
-Color skeletal system pages from GSRB and add to body poster
(Our previous time using this can be seen here.)
-Look at pg 120  from Giant Science Resource Book and name some of the bones (can color if desired)
-Try to make a tent using just blankets and pillows.  Then use chairs and tables.  Point out how it was easier with something firm to help support and compare to skeleton.
-Feel arm from shoulder to wrist.  How many bones can you feel?
-Make model of bone: paper towel tube cover with clay for compact bone, plastic wrap for outer membrane (attach red strings for blood vessels), pieces of pink sponge for spongy bone, clay for marrow, with a red string through the middle for blood vessel
-Break chicken bone in half, examine inside with magnifying glass

Computer Link:
The Skeleton System movie from kidshealth.org




MUSCULAR SYSTEM  (here is the blog post showing what we actually did)

Book Basket:
How Do You Move? - Catala
Bend and Stretch: Learning About Bones and Muscles - Nettleton
What's Inside Me - Rau
MSB Activity Guide pg 8-9
S
cience Encyclopedia pg 158-159
SS pg 118
UCE pg 103
DVD /Video:
The Magic School Bus Flexes Its Muscles

- RSO pg 45
-Do RSO Muscle Lab #1 – Supplies:  lab sheet, cardstock or foam board, scissors, hole punch, metal fastener, string, tape, ruler
-
Feel arm while bending elbow back and forth.  Feel the muscle move.
-pg 121 Giant Science Resource Book, discuss and examine muscles

Computer Link:
Muscle Hustle game
Muscle system video from KidsBiology.com
Muscular system video from KidsHealth.org




Book Basket:
Read: Science Encyclopedia pg 162-163
SS – pg 86
Your Blood and It's Cargo - Kalina
A Drop of Blood - Cargo
DVD/Video:
The Magic School Bus Works Out (circulation)

- RSO pg 57
-Use marshmallow and toothpick to see pulse in wrist before and after exercise  (from here)
- Color heart and circulatory system pages from GSRB and add to body poster
-RSO Circulatory Lab #2 - Make model of blood, Supplies:  lab sheet, tan, blue, red, yellow crayons, large jar, karo syrup (or yellow water), red hot candies, dry lima beans (or mini marshmallows), dry lentils (or purple pompoms)
-Discuss how blood looks red but the liquid part is actual yellow (plasma), it is the many red blood cells that make the blood look red.  Pour in many red hot candies (and red food coloring if needed).  Next is white blood cells and last is platelets which help blood to clot.
-pg 122 & 123 Giant Science Resource Book

Computer Links:
Circulatory System video at kidshealth.org
  Beating Heart video at KidsBiology.com



Book Basket:
Science Encyclopedia pg 160-161 (respiration)
SS – pg 100
DVD/Video:  none

-RSO - pg 67, and color Respiratory system picture.
-Color Heart/Lungs from GSRB and add to body poster
-Hold a paper bag over your mouth as you breathe in and out.  Observe how the bag expands and empties.  Discuss how your chest rises and falls (lungs fill and empty).
-Make model of lung – Supplies:  2 liter bottle, straw, rubber bands, scissors, play-doh, 2 balloons  (from here)
-pg 124 GSRB
-See how much air your lungs hold, UCE pg 100 – Supplies – 2 liter bottle, large bowl, bendy straw, water

Computer Links:
Respiratory system video at KidsHealth.org
Book Basket:
Good Enough to Eat - Rockwell
Where Does Your Food Go - Blevins

SS- pg 48
MSB Science Explorations pg 50-51
 Science Encyclopedia pg 164-165
UCE pg 104-105
WY1NTK – pg 288
DVD/Video:
The Magic School Bus For Lunch (digestion)

-RSO pg 77.
-Open a tape measure to 15ft long.  This is the length of the small intestine.  Show how it curls up to fit in the stomach.
-Digestion poster from Scholastic Human Body Projects-Add digestive system to human body poster
-pg 126 GSRB

Computer Links:
Digestive system video at kidshealth.org
Chewed up food race game at Scholastic Play!

NERVOUS SYSTEM
Book Basket:
How Does Your Brain Work - Curry
Why I Sneeze, Shiver, Hiccup and Yawn - Berger
Science Encyclopedia pg 172-173
SS – pg 30 – Brain
UCE pg 106-107
DVD/VIDEO:
Nova scienceNOW: How Does the Brain Work (available on Netflix Instant Watch)

-
RSO pg 87
-Color Nervous System GSRB
-Make spinal cord with egg carton, (see here)
-Discuss how nervous system controls body and senses
-Make Brain hat from Scholastic Human Body Projects  or Brain Hemisphere hat  (I prefer this one from Ellen J. McHenry
-Make nerve necklace from Scholastic Human Body Projects
-pg 125 GSRB

Computer Links
The Brain interactive video from Children's University of Manchester
Nervous system video from kidshealth.org

CONCLUSION/REVIEW:

5 Senses
:

*Our previous 5 senses activities can be seen here.  We will be repeating most of them.

Book Basket:
The Magic School Bus Explores the Senses
MSB Comes to it’s Senses
My Five Senses by Aliki



SIGHT
Book Basket
BB pg 74-78
Science Encyclopedia pg 168
SS pg 152


-Use magnifying glass to look at various things
-Do experiment with M&M’s in blue tissue paper
-Make Sliding Eye from Scholastic Human Body Projects
-pg 115 from Giant Science Resource Book

SMELL
Book Basket

What’s that Awful Smell (library)
Science Encyclopedia pg 170-171
SS pg 154

DVD/Video:
 MSB Makes a Stink

-Experiment: Science Experiments for Young Learners – place cinnamon, garlic, chocolate syrup, Italian dressing, coffee in unmarked cups.  Smell each one, and discuss if it smelled good or bad.  Try to identify.
-Take a Whiff from Scholastic Human Body Projects
-pg 116 from Giant Science Resource Book


SOUND
Book Basket
Sound All Around
SS – pg 85
Sense of Hearing from The Learning Page
 MSB Science Explorations pg 42-45
MSB In the Haunted Mansion: A book about sound
Science Encyclopedia pg 169

DVD/Video:
MSB In the Haunted House

-Hold a rubber band near a sheet of paper and pluck it so it hits the paper.  The paper vibration shows how sound waves move.
-Make Ear Accordion from Scholastic Human Body Projects
-pg 114 from Giant Science Resource Book
Computer Links:
How Does Sound Work video at Kidsbiology.com

TOUCH
Book Basket:

Touching and Feeling
Science Encyclopedia pg 170-171
SS pg 169

-Play in sensory tub – hide pompoms, emery board, rocks, Velcro dots, buttons, feathers in rice – Use Experiment sheet from Science Experiments for Young Learners to classify as something – soft, scratchy, hard, fuzzy, smooth, rough
-pg 117 from Giant Science Resource Book



TASTE
Book Basket:
Tasting and Smelling
Sense of Taste
page from Learning Page
Science Encyclopedia pg 170-171
SS – pg 167
-pg 118 from Giant Science Resource Book

REVIEW
-Play 5 Senses Lotto game (from Scholastic 15 Fun and Easy Games for Young Learners: Favorite Themes)


NUTRITION/HEALTH
Book Basket:
MSB The Giant Germ
SS pg 119
UCE – pg 110
The Adventures of the Magic School Bus – inside Ralphie
How Many Teeth
DVD/Video:
-MSB Inside Ralphie

GROWTH AND GENETICS/REPRODUCTION
Book Basket:
When an Animal Grows - Selsam
I"m Growing - Aliki
SS – pg 76
SS – pg 138
UCE pg 108-109
Amazing You: Getting Smart About Private Parts

2 comments:

  1. Oooh, thank you for this! I have a four year old who is enthralled by the body and its individual systems. This provides me with a lot of material to do now and revisit later!

    ReplyDelete
  2. i am teaching a & p to my 7th grade son, suggestions?

    ReplyDelete