Description

You know that the human body is a wonderful system of interrelationships, but have you wondered just how your body works? Through various activities, students learn that cells are the basic unit of life. Cells work together to form tissue. Tissues work together to form organs. Organs work together to form systems. The various parts and functions of our body systems are unveiled as students learn the relationships between our systems and how these relationships keeps us alive and well. Reading in the content area and study skills such as note taking, outlining, graphic organizers, and illustrating are learned as students gather and organize facts about the human body. Although the overall size of the unit appears overwhelming, a user friendly routine is quickly established. This routine allows for progression to higher order thinking skills while remaining student and teacher friendly as the unit is taught.

Duration

The planned duration of this activity is 14 days.

Lesson Plans

Cells, Building Blocks of Life
What is the basic unit of all living things? Through reading and hands-on activities, students learn about cells, and their function in carrying out processes for life. Study skills are taught and modeled as students make entries in science notebooks.

Cells in the Making
How do cells keep us alive? Through reading and hands-on activities, students learn about parts of a cell, and their functions in carrying out processes for life. Study skills are taught and modeled as students make entries in science notebooks.

The Making of an Organ
How do cells make up our organs? Using a science reading, the study skills of outlining, note writing, and using a graphic organizer are taught. Students make a model of a tongue showing cells, tissues and the organ.

Feed Your Cells
What happens to the food we eat? How does it help our bodies? In this lesson, students learn about the human digestive system through reading and activities. Study skills are taught and modeled.

I Need Air
Our cells need oxygen to live, but how do they get the oxygen? In this lesson, students learn about the organs of the respiratory system as they read articles and participate in activities. Study skills are taught and modeled.

Moving to the Beat of the Heart
Are you familiar with the thump of your heartbeat? In this lesson, students learn about the organs of the circulatory systems as they practice various study skills. Students learn how to establish their resting heart rates.

On the Move
Can you wiggle your ears? It takes control of the face muscles to wiggle your ears. In this lesson, students learn about the muscular system of the human body as they read articles and participate in activities. Study skills are stressed.

The Skeleton Within
We know that dancing skeletons aren’t real, but are our bones alive? Through an article read and various activities, students learn about the bones, joints, and other attributes of the skeletal system. Students create outlines and graphic organizers.

What a Waste!
How does the body keep its cells clean? Through reading in the content area, study skills, and various activities, students learn about the kidney, bladder, and function of the excretory (urinary) system.

You Have Nerve!
How do you know when your nose itches or when you are hurt? Did you know that body parts communicate using the nervous system to send messages to and from our brain? Students learn about the nervous system as they participate in a variety of activities.

Systems Working Together
How do the systems of the human body work together to carry out the processes needed for life? Through various activities, students become aware of the interdependence of our body systems. Students also practice reading in the content area.

Human Body Quiz
Are your neurons alive? Does your larynx vibrate? Students review the various functions and organs of the human body systems as they participate in “The Human Body Quiz” in preparation for the summative assessment of the body systems.