The
Human Body
Focus
on Bones and Muscles
by
Enakshi Bose, Classroom Teacher
P.S. 98 Shorackappock
Elementary School, District 6 Manhattan, New York City
Note: This
page was designed as part of a technology institute sponsored by Bank
Street College of Education and the Center
for Improved Engineering and Science Education at the Stevens
Institute of Technology.
Mission
Statement
To provide educators
with resources (information, activities, and lesson plans) to help teach
a unit about the human body to students in grades 4-6
To highlight resources
students may use to better understand how the skeletal and muscular systems
in the body work
Author's
Statement
This
site is designed to help teachers find Internet resources, such as information
web sites, collaborative projects, and online lesson plans, that will enhance
curriculum. As a spring science unit, I will be teaching about the human
body using the FOSS
Life Science Strand hands-on inquiry kit.
This page is intended to be an additional resource, therefore it focuses
on the skeletal and muscular systems, as well as on reaction times as a
portion of the nervous system.
General
Information Sites on the Human Body
BrainPOP
A Health, Science, Technology Animation and Educational Site for Kids
Biology
4 Kids Great visuals and textual information, good for 7th graders
and older. There are also links to geography and chemistry for kids!
Human
Anatomy Online: The InnerBody Vivid visual images and animation about
human systems. Full-color. Extensive links.
A
Look Inside the Human Body Very readable descriptions of the systems
of the human body, including the skeletal and muscular systems, accompanied
by diagrams and fun facts!
Body
Quest Gives kids a chance to contribute information they learn to articles
and test their knowledge by playing games!
The
Science Spot: Health Links for Kids Links to sites concerning the human
body, including the nervous system.
...Focus
on the Human Skeleton
The
Bone Zone An introduction to the human skeleton, with facts, jokes,
and quizzes!
Radiographic
Anatomy of the Skeleton What do your bones look like on an x-ray?
Your
Gross and Cool Body - Skeletal System From the yuckiest site on the
internet, find out about our gross and cool body, including what happens
when we sprain our ankles!
Mr.
Bones Demonstrates the assembly of skeletal system. Requires
Shockwave plug-in.
Focus
on Muscles, Movement, and Reactions...
Neuroscience
for Kids This comprehensive site on neuroscience contains activities
and resources for both students and teachers, along with age-appropriate
explanations!
Newton's
Apple: Reflexes Learn about reflexes through simple activities,
and connect reflexes to their origins in the brain!
NeurOn
Express An online children's publication with articles and activities
illustrating the effect of space on the systems in the body, including
the muscular system!
Lesson
Plans
-The Body-
Making
a Future Body This Discover Channel lesson site challenges students
to create a futuristic view of the body. [Note: While the lesson plan is
geared towards 6th-8th graders, the lesson can be modified for a younger
grade, and be part of a creative writing project. What might human
bodies be like in the future?]
Teaching
with the Human Body This page has classroom activity suggestions for
units of study on the human body and human behavior. An offshoot
of the "Yuckiest Site on the Internet."
-Bones-
How
are skeletons the same? This Scholastic teacher reproducible asks students
to compare and constrast frog and human skeletons.
Give
Me a Break! A Discovery Channel lesson incorporates graphing and statistical
surveying with some understanding about how bones heal.
Investigation:
Broken Bones Another Discovery Channel lesson about how to introduce
bone function and healing.
-Muscles,
Movement, and Reactions-
Muscles
in Motion Learn about how muscles flex and extend. The lesson
plan can be modified for younger students, who would enjoy making muscle
models with balloons.
Neuroscience
Laboratory and Classroom Activities Includes activities about
reaction time!
Shazam
Pretending they are astronauts in training, kids test their reaction time
on this NASA site. Check out other lessons in this Stellar
Curriculum!
Collaborative
Projects
If you have
access to an Internet connection, check out these online projects!
Reach out to other student communities around the world!
Heartbeat
Hotel Measure and compare your heartbeat with other students
in the country! A project geared for 4th to 6th graders.
Super
Bowl How many jumping jacks can you do in a minute?
Monsters
Monsters Monsters 2000 Use your knowledge of important body parts
and functions to create an imaginary monster in your class and share it
with the world!
Global
School Net Collaborative Project Registry And if you would like
to look at other projects, let me direct you to this comprehensive collaborative
project directory!
Books
...Other
Sites For Kids
Sciman
Says Use the clues to solve the mystery game.
Fitness
and Nutrition: An Internet Field Trip Scholastic. Explore sports science!
How
Stuff Works: Body & Health Have you ever wondered why parts of
your body fall asleep? Or how your heart works? This site answers
these questions and more!
The
Heart: An Online Exploration
First published
23 February 2001. Composed at the Science and Technology Institute,
Bank Street College, 20-23 February 2001.
Comments,
questions, suggestions? Contact page author at ebose@alumni.princeton.edu.
