Many of the books in this month’s theme—the fascinating, sometimes gross human body—have fun activities you can try in the classroom. But here are a few more to get students involved and learning about human biology, how it works, and some if its quirkiest parts.
The Museum of Odd Body Leftovers: A Tour of Your Useless Parts, Flaws, and other Weird Bits
written by Rachel Poliquin, illustrated by Clayton Hanmer
A funny, wacky book, led by tour guides Wisdom Tooth and Disappearing Kidney, about our vestigial organs: our body parts that were essential to our ancestors but are no longer useful to us.
Activity
This book seems like the perfect start to some great fiction stories. Encourage students to find their favorite odd body part, use some of the facts they discovered, and then develop a fiction story from there. Imagine there’s a scientist who discovers what that body part if meant to do. Or imagine that the body part is its own character on a mission to find out why it is in the body. Tell students to weave in facts from the book, but to be as creative as they can be. And encourage them to experiment with format: maybe a graphic novel format would work best, maybe lots of dialogue is needed, or maybe a diagram would help. When students are finished, invite them to share with the class what their body part discovered in their fiction story.
It’s Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, Gender and Sexual Health
by Robie H. Harris and Michael Emberley
A book for young people who want answers to questions about their bodies, about growing up, and about new, unfamiliar feelings in their tween years.
Activity
Questions about our bodies can be hard to ask, a little scary even until you know the answers. So encourage students to do their research. Before reading this book, have them jot down any questions they might have about their changing bodies. As they read, tell them to look for answers in the book. And if those answers aren’t in the book, encourage them to research more at the library or on safe online sites. When they are done, have them write an interesting piece of information they discovered on an index card. Post a collection of body facts somewhere in the classroom for students to check out.
The Ultimate Kids’ Guide to Being Super Healthy: What You Need To Know About Nutrition, Exercise, Sleep, Hygiene, Stress, Screen Time, and More
by Dr. Nina L. Shapiro
Embark on a fact-filled journey through the human body. What happens when it gets fed? Exercised? Cleaned? Rested? Read it and find out. This in-depth book gives answers to those pressing questions between kids and parents about how to take care of yourself and why it is important.
Activity
Now students can be their own health experiment! How does reducing screen time affect how they feel? How does it feel to exercise every day? Tell them to choose a theory they want to test and make a journal to use for a week. They need to complete the activity, gather data, note how they feel each day, and then compile results at the end of the week. Encourage students to make graphs or charts to creatively show their data. Then they can present their findings to the class.
Karen Latchana Kenney is a children’s author and editor who loves creating all kinds of STEM books and classroom content. Find her at https://www.karenlatchanakenney.com/.
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