Human Body Systems

Considering God’s Creation has been the spine curriculum for our 6th grade human body study.  As always, I added a few things here and there to amp things up a notch.  So, besides the {wonderful} notebooking pages that come with Considering God’s Creation, we did the activities and worksheets below, too.

Sadly, I don’t have links to most of the worksheets since they came from a folder of things I began collecting years ago as a teacher in the public school system.  Likely, you can search for similar freebie worksheets online.

Skeletal System – A large skeleton put together with brads helped Caleb practice matching bones to their names.

Circulatory System – A colored chart of the heart reinforced how oxygenated blood comes from the lungs and is pumped into the arteries from the left side of the heart, and how blood carrying carbon dioxide and other wastes comes in from the veins and is pumped into the lungs in the right side of the heart.

An activity and worksheet from the R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey Preview download

strengthened his understanding of  blood contents.

A blood compatibility experiment allowed Caleb to decide what types of blood someone could safely receive if in need of a transfusion.

Nervous System – The Ectomy Game from Ellen McHenry’s Basement Workshop was a great addition to learning about the functions of various parts of the brain.

Digestive System – Along with a study of the digestive system, I had Caleb read a book on nutrition.  He also completed an experiment to see which foods contain fats, designed a day’s menu following the food pyramid guide, created a model of the teeth, and experimented with the effects of soda on tooth enamel.  (We used a cow tooth found on a nature walk.)

Respiratory System – Nothin’ special beyond Considering God’s Creation and a library book.

Muscular System – Well, the plan was to have a magnificent drawing of the major muscles.  This is what I got.  Ahem, someone was in a hurry to get outside to enjoy the unusually wonderful March temperatures.  At least he can name the muscles, right?

We also completed a muscular graphing experiment.  Caleb had to push a clothespin open as many times as possible within 20 seconds and note the results on a line graph.  He did this four times with only a moment’s rest between each trial.  The point (besides adding a little living math to the study) was to examine muscle fatigue.

Integumentary System – A stimulus response experiment showed us that nerve receptors in the skin can be fooled.

Endocrine System – Nothin’ special besides CGC and a library book.

Excretory System – Same here.

Reproductive System – And same here.

Human Body Living Books

EVERY lesson always began with a book.

 

This bingo game from The Human Body Thematic Unit was a fun review of all the body systems.

We also used The Utterly Amazing Human Body lift-the-flap book as a fun review before the final test.  And, Human Body: A Visual Encyclopedia as a a more serious review before the final test.

 

I don’t often give tests, but I have to keep Caleb on his toes, so a test fit the bill after this unit.  It was actually quite simple to put together.  I just took a ton of workbook pages from The Human Body by Frank Schaffer, stapled them together, gave him a due date and slapped a grade on the packet.

Another unit bites the dust!  Well, almost.  We spent some time studying cells and DNA, too.  Click the image below if you’re interested in those activities, too.