Since students are often motivated by technology, online exploration can be a fun and informative way to learn how the body works. Discovery Kids shares interesting facts about body processes through online games and activities that will naturally appeal to children who enjoy the "gross" factor. The Jefferson County school board website houses nearly seventy online games that relate to the human body.
In the classroom, movement can grab and maintain the attention of some learners. To teach the five senses, play a blindfolded guessing game. While learning about the organ system, students race against classmates to correctly place organs on a model. Discussions about the muscles could occur while playing sports and cooperative games during physical education class.
Traditional classroom activities and worksheets can help students learn important vocabulary words and facts about the human body. Teachers can download, from Teachnology, connect-the-dots, word scrambles, crossword puzzles, definition matching and many similar worksheets related to the human body.
Many commercial games are available to teach about the human body, but they can be costly. How about a culminating project in which students design a game themselves, perhaps a "Jeopardy"-style quiz game or something modeled after their favorite board game. Possibilities are endless. Learning continues as they pull together the facts and ideas they have gathered from videos, online exploration, classroom activities and teacher-led games. Many students enjoy the creative process, and by teaching others to play, they will increase their own expertise.