Human Body for Every Kid

What makes the heart beat faster or slower? How do tightrope walkers keep their balance? Why does spinning fast cause dizziness? Explore the mysteries and the workings of the human body through this fascinating collection of ideas, projects, and activities. Have fun while you learn about everything from the body's basic building blocks to how the brain receives messages from other parts of the body. Make a model of a human cell that you can eat for dessert. Make a working model of a human lung from a soda bottle, a balloon, and a garbage bag. Through these and other activities, you'll find out how your lungs supply air to your blood and your heart pumps blood throughout your body; how your body sees, hears, feels, smells, and tastes the world around it; how you lose and regain up to five pounds of skin every year; and much more. Most of the materials you need are already part of you; the rest you will easily find around the house or classroom. Every activity has been "child tested" and can be performed safely and cheaply in the classroom, at a science fair, or at home. Also available in the series from Janice VanCleave: Astronomy for Every Kid Biology for Every Kid Chemistry for Every Kid Dinosaurs for Every Kid Earth Science for Every Kid Geography for Every Kid Geometry for Every Kid Math for Every Kid Physics for Every Kid Kids.

Of all the world's wonders, none is more fascinating than the human body. In this latest addition to the bestselling Science for Every Kid Series, everybody's favorite science teacher, Janice VanCleave, offers kids intriguing, easy-to-do activities that take the mystery out of how the body works--like making a model of the human skeleton. Line drawings.

What makes the heart beat faster or slower? How do tightrope walkers keep their balance? Why does spinning fast cause dizziness? Explore the mysteries and the workings of the human body through this fascinating collection of ideas, projects, and activities. Have fun while you learn about everything from the body's basic building blocks to how the brain receives messages from other parts of the body. Make a model of a human cell that you can eat for dessert. Make a working model of a human lung from a soda bottle, a balloon, and a garbage bag. Through these and other activities, you'll find out how your lungs supply air to your blood and your heart pumps blood throughout your body; how your body sees, hears, feels, smells, and tastes the world around it; how you lose and regain up to five pounds of skin every year; and much more. Most of the materials you need are already part of you; the rest you will easily find around the house or classroom. Every activity has been "child tested" and can be performed safely and cheaply in the classroom, at a science fair, or at home. Also available in the series from Janice VanCleave: Astronomy for Every Kid Biology for Every Kid Chemistry for Every Kid Dinosaurs for Every Kid Earth Science for Every Kid Geography for Every Kid Geometry for Every Kid Math for Every Kid Physics for Every Kid Kids.

School Library Journal

Gr 5-7This science activity book not only provides simple, easy-to-follow demonstrations, but also is a solid resource for learning about the workings of the human body. Projects utilize readily available materials, but an additional person is often neededas an assistant or a guinea pig. The basics of cell structure; the senses; the respiratory, circulation, digestive, and skeletal systems; and genetics are covered. Each section provides a careful explanation of the activity, background information needed to understand the concepts involved, step-by-step instructions, and an analysis of the solution. The text is clearly written; simple, black line drawings and diagrams are used throughout. Robert Gardner's Science Projects About the Human Body (Enslow, 1993) contains similar material, but Van Cleave's book is more thorough in explaining concepts and getting students involved. A useful addition to science-experiment sections.Cynthia M. Sturgis, Ledding Library, Milwaukee, OR

JANICE VANCLEAVE is a former school science teacher and a captivating presenter at museums, schools, and bookstores nationwide. She is the author of twenty-three other science books for children.