Fifth grade students will delve into the study of the human body. Our microbiologists will compare and contrast animal and plant cells using a microscope. Cell are the building blocks of all life. All body systems began with one cell that multiplied into tissues, organs, and organ systems. Students will then study the nervous, respiratory, circulatory, and digestive systems in the human body. Following our biology unit, students will engage in a Webquest studying the characteristics of different biomes throughout the world.
What You Can Do at Home
Activities
1. Take four bowls of hot vanilla pudding. With food coloring tint one bowl red, one bowl orange, one bowl extra yellow and leave one bowl plain. Now ask someone to taste the pudding from each bowl and guess what flavor it is. How many senses are at work here? Which one of our senses is telling our brain what the flavor is? Take any simple task and discuss how many messages your brain is processing through your senses during that task.
2. 10 Fun Conservation Activities for Parents, Teachers and Kids
Visit Ecohearth's website listed below for information and activities for the whole family. Pick one or more activities focused on wildlife conservation, energy conservation, water conservation, or recycling and support your child as he or she participates in the activity. Ask your child which activity was selected and why? How will participating in this activity help the environment?
http://ecohearth.com/eco-zine/kids-and-family/1309-10-fun-conservation-activities-for-parents-teachers-kids.html
Websites
Human Body Facts
Read some fun human body facts for kids and find out more about bones, skeletons, eyes, blood, muscles, the brain, heart and much more.
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/humanbody.html
Discovery Kids: Tell Me About Your Digestive System
Read about all that happens in the Digestive System by visiting this site.
http://discoverykids.com/articles/your-digestive-system/
Scholastic Studyjams: The Human Body
Learn about how the body is a complex system made up of cells, tissues, and organs.
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/human-body/human-body.htm
Suggested Reading
Enjoy Your Cells by Fran Balkwill & Mic Rolph - Learn more about the importance of cells.
Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas by Cheryl Bardoe- The author tells the story of Gregor Mendel and his discovery of genetics.
Big Head: A Book About Your Brain and Your Head by Peter Rowan - Relates various structures and functions of the brain and nervous system.
For a list of science nonfiction books, please click on the link titled Favorite Links and Books to Read. Click on the sublink Grades 3-5 Science Nonfiction Books, where you will find a detailed list of books related to many different topics in science.
What You Can Do at Home
Activities
1. Take four bowls of hot vanilla pudding. With food coloring tint one bowl red, one bowl orange, one bowl extra yellow and leave one bowl plain. Now ask someone to taste the pudding from each bowl and guess what flavor it is. How many senses are at work here? Which one of our senses is telling our brain what the flavor is? Take any simple task and discuss how many messages your brain is processing through your senses during that task.
2. 10 Fun Conservation Activities for Parents, Teachers and Kids
Visit Ecohearth's website listed below for information and activities for the whole family. Pick one or more activities focused on wildlife conservation, energy conservation, water conservation, or recycling and support your child as he or she participates in the activity. Ask your child which activity was selected and why? How will participating in this activity help the environment?
http://ecohearth.com/eco-zine/kids-and-family/1309-10-fun-conservation-activities-for-parents-teachers-kids.html
Websites
Human Body Facts
Read some fun human body facts for kids and find out more about bones, skeletons, eyes, blood, muscles, the brain, heart and much more.
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/humanbody.html
Discovery Kids: Tell Me About Your Digestive System
Read about all that happens in the Digestive System by visiting this site.
http://discoverykids.com/articles/your-digestive-system/
Scholastic Studyjams: The Human Body
Learn about how the body is a complex system made up of cells, tissues, and organs.
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/human-body/human-body.htm
Suggested Reading
Enjoy Your Cells by Fran Balkwill & Mic Rolph - Learn more about the importance of cells.
Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas by Cheryl Bardoe- The author tells the story of Gregor Mendel and his discovery of genetics.
Big Head: A Book About Your Brain and Your Head by Peter Rowan - Relates various structures and functions of the brain and nervous system.
For a list of science nonfiction books, please click on the link titled Favorite Links and Books to Read. Click on the sublink Grades 3-5 Science Nonfiction Books, where you will find a detailed list of books related to many different topics in science.