Studying the human body with our children is a great way to point them toward the wonder of God’s intricate design. As we learn about the loving care and attention to detail with which our bodies are purposefully put together, our hearts are drawn to worship our incredible Creator. Here are a few of our favorite ways to explore the human body in your homeschool!
1. Hands-On Learning
Nothing beats hands-on learning for discovering the way the body works. These are some great resources that allow your children to interact with the parts of the body in a kinesthetic way.
Gross Anatomy Make-Your-Own Squishy Human Body
If your kids love play dough, slime, or kinetic sand, they will definitely enjoy making their own squishy human body with this hands-on kit. They’ll get to mix and mold squishy (non-edible) organs out of slime and putty, and arrange them in a transparent human body (designed for ages 8 and up).
Human Skeleton Model
Assemble the bones of the human body piece by piece to learn all about the skeletal system. This lifelike model stands 9 inches tall when assembled and allows your child to interact with the different bones of the body in a hands-on way (designed for ages 8 and up).
Human Body Anatomy Model
Take a peek under the skin! Using the photo-illustrated instructions, students assemble this realistic, 31-piece model and gain a hands-on understanding of how organs and systems interact (designed for ages 8 and up).
Anatomy & Physiology Kit
This lab kit is designed to accompany Apologia’s best-selling science program, Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and Physiology. This kit will equip you to perform numerous hands-on activities and experiments including making an edible cell, testing food for vitamin C, creating a working diaphragm, and much more! Items are packaged in individual lesson bags for easy use.
2. Use a Game or Song
Here are two of our favorite silly ways to learn about the human body!
Simon Says Game (Anatomy Edition)
You can play this fun, movement-oriented game with virtually no preparation. Practice what you’ve learned about the human body by playing a game of Simon Says with your kids. For example, to study the skeletal system, say, “Simon says touch your fibula.” Then each kid has to point to the correct bone on their body. You can repeat with bones, muscles, and organs.
Sing the Bones Song
Learn the bones of the body with this silly song from Amy at Humility + Doxology.
3. Read a Book About the Human Body
Reading a book together is a great way to experience wonders of the human body with your child. These are some of our favorite titles for introducing the human body and exploring some of the major body systems.
Introducing the Human Body
The Magic School Bus: Inside the Human Body
Learn more about the human body with Miss Frizzle and her class as they take an interesting field trip to learn about the human body—inside of Arnold!
Inside Your Outside: All About the Human Body by Tish Rabe
The Cat in the Hat takes Sally and Dick for a ride through the human body where they visit the right and left sides of the brain, scuba dive through the blood system, follow food and water through the digestive tract, and a whole lot more!
The Everything KIDS’ Human Body Book
Find everything you need to know about the human body in one easy-to-use guide!
The Way We Work: Getting to Know the Amazing Human Body
This resource is a must for gradually introducing your children to biology and anatomy; elementary students will be drawn in by the detailed illustrations, while middle school and high school students can gain a fantastic introduction through the text. An excellent reference book to have on hand throughout your homeschool days.
The Skeletal System
Caldecott Honor winner Steve Jenkins presents a fascinating look at the bones of the human body as compared to the bones of animals. You’ll learn the differences between a man’s hand and that of a spider monkey; the great weight of an elephant’s leg, paired with the feather-light femur of a stork; and much more!
The Dr. Bonyfide Presents Series
These four books teach kids about the 206 bones that make up the body in an engaging way. Activities like crosswords, cartoons, and coloring pages bridge the gap between basic introductory books for your youngest learners and textbooks for teenagers and college students. Perfect for your upper elementary and middle school students.
The Muscular System
Muscles: Our Muscular System by Seymour Simon
This book is a great introduction to the different kinds of muscles in the body using vivid images and award-winning text.
The Circulatory System
Hear Your Heart by Paul Showers
Perfect for ages 5 to 7, this gentle introduction to the circulatory system explains how the heart works in a way that is sure to appeal to your littlest learners.
The Heart: Our Circulatory System by Seymour Simon
In this book, Seymour Simon tackles the circulatory system with stunning full- color photographs and easy-to-understand text.
The Respiratory System
The Respiratory System by Christine Taylor-Butler
Great for upper elementary learners, this book’s colorful pages and age-appropriate text are the perfect introduction to the respiratory system.
The Nervous System
Your Fantastic, Elastic Brain by Joann Deak
This book covers all the awesome things the brain can do, including how it can grow and adapt when faced with challenges. A perfect way to introduce your child to the importance of a growth mindset.
Why I Sneeze, Shiver, Hiccup and Yawn by Melvin Berger
From the wonderful Let’s-Read-And-Find-Out Science series, this engaging picture book answers some of your elementary students most common questions about the brain and how it works. Great as a read-aloud or for budding readers who want a science book they can read all by themselves!
The Digestive System
Guts: All About Your Digestive System by Seymour Simon
In this book, your kids will learn all about digestion, from the moment you chew your food to when it moves throughout your major organs, such as the stomach and intestines, and how waste is eventually eliminated.
4. Learn Through Videos
Videos are a great way to see God’s awesome handiwork close up and in amazing detail. Here are two of our favorite video resources.
Body of Evidence 8-DVD Set
Explore the amazing evidence for design in human anatomy and physiology! Dr. David Menton’s humorous and insightful talks will take students through the major systems of the body while employing anatomical props, models, microscopic images, and more.
The Human Body: Musculoskeletal DVD
With commentary from medical experts and specialists in sports medicine, The Human Body — The Musculoskeletal System offers viewers a unique perspective on the body system which allows us to walk, run, dance and move through life.
5. Check Out Our Free Printables
Our free Human Anatomy Printable Pack is a great resource to use as you study the human body. Through colorful flashcards, fill-in-the-blank worksheets, and summary pages covering the functions of various organs and body systems, you’ll be off to a great start in learning all about the human body.
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