The Human Body

The Human Body module consists of four activities that engage students in thoughtful activities about the form and function of a most remarkable machine, their own body. Students discover how bones, joints, and muscles work together. They build model skeleton parts, study their stimulus/response systems, and see what it's like to perform routine tasks with certain joints immobilized. Integrated multimedia materials explain how we use food, air, and our senses.

In activity 1, Bones, students observe how the body moves while jumping rope and discuss the body systems that come into action, including the skeleton. Students focus on the skeleton and try to determine how many bones are in their bodies. Their initial counts are compared and refined as they study life-size photograps and posters of the human skeleton. Finally, the students work in pairs to assemble a 19-piece articulated model skeleton.

In activity 2, Joints, students investigate where bones meet and study the advantages of an articulated skeleton. They systematically perform everyday tasks while certain joints in their hands are immobilized. Through this fun and frustrating experience, students become aware of the versatility of movement afforded by joints. They organize the major joints by type and compare the movement of mechanical devices to the types of joints in the body.

In activity 3, Muscles, students investigate the power source for human movement, muscles. Students are provided with basic information about muscles: that they contract when they work, that muscles attach to bones with tissues called tendons, that muscles attach across joints to move bones, and that ligaments attach from bone to bone. Students work in pairs to build a model leg and foot that simulates the actions of jumping rope. They build a thumb that models the actions of the human thumb.

In activity 4, Stimulus/Response, students investigate coordinated movement in hand and foot response to visual stimuli. The students work in pairs with a falling cup device; one student holds the cup poised to fall, and the other student places his hand under the cup. When the responding student sees the cup start to fall, he pulls his hand out of the way. Hits and misses are recorded in a bar graph for the right hand, left hand, right foot, and left foot. Students compare the coordinated responses and investigate the effect of practice on response time.