We had just a couple weeks before we began learning about cultures around the world so we decided to spend some time learning about the human body! As it is with all of our units of study, we didn't just learn surface level content--we went deep. Bone deep!
We began our study by learning about our skeleton. We learned that our skeleton, made up of 206 bones, is the framework that gives our bodies shape and allows us to move.
Mrs. Hoy even brought in real bones from the butcher for us to examine! She boiled most of the bones to kill off the germs so the students could look closely at them.
However, she kept the biggest bone as-is so the students could really see and feel the layers (Don't worry, it was sealed in a bag!)
We talked about the well-known bones (i.e. skull, ribs, pelvis, spine, femur, etc.) and students cut out, put together, and labeled their own skeletons.
Next, we talked a little bit about joints and muscles. We learned that our bones are able to move because muscles are attached to them and our different bones connect to one another through joints.
We moved onto the circulatory system. We learned that blood flows through veins and arteries to take important nutrients and oxygen to every part of our bodies. We learned that the heart has four chambers--right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium, left ventricle. Blood returns to the heart and gets pumped to the lungs for more oxygen and then back out to the body.
The students got to experiment using stethoscopes to hear each other's heartbeats before and after exercise! We got our hearts a-pumpin'!
Next up, the rest of the organs! Well, not all of them! We aren't in medical school after all! But we learned the major ones--brain, lungs, liver, stomach, large intestine, and small intestine. We also talked about the parts of the brain called the cerebrum, cerebellum, and medulla oblongata. We discussed how the brain stem connects the brain to the spinal cord and brings the messages from the brain to the body.
To understand how the lungs work, each student received a water bottle with the bottom cut off. We stretched a balloon across the opening to simulate the diaphragm. Then, students put another balloon on the end of a straw and stuck it down into the bottle and sealed the opening with clay. By pulling on the bottom balloon (diaphragm), it pulls in air through the straw (trachea) and into the inside balloon (lungs).
Then, onto the digestive system! What better way to learn about the digestive system than by recreating it from start to finish?! Yes, that's right, we made poop! :)
First, our we mashed up food to mimic our teeth, saliva, and tongue breaking up our food.
Then, our "chewed" food went down the esophagus and into the stomach.
While in the "stomach", the food mixed with acid (vinegar).
The students helped the acid get to work breaking down the food.
The food was very liquidy at this point and it transferred to the small intestine (a stocking).
Since much of the nutrient absorption happens in the large intestine, we wrapped the stocking in a large towel to soak up as much liquid as possible.
Last, its time for the food to exit the body in the form of POOP!
Their reactions were priceless!!
To wrap up our human body unit, we addressed an important part of keeping our bodies healthy: nutrition!
The bodies the students were putting together in the beginning of this post will be on display for our May 4th performance so be sure to take a look!
