Ideas
The Human Body is a fascinating subject to study for children and adults alike. All of us are curious about who we are and how we are made. The scope for study is endless - so it is likely that primary children will be encouraged to look at the main body systems rather than go into finer detail more suitable for secondary biology lessons.
Children can find out about The Human Body from a range of resources, including stories, information books, television and film and now by using a computer to look at CD-ROMs and the World Wide Web.
The Resources section lists useful examples of books and software and the Links section points to valuable World Wide Web sites.
Starting from questions.
Below are many questions which could used as the starting point for children's enquiries into how the human body works.
Some of the issues raised here are covered in the Hands-on section.
Skeleton
How many bones are there in your skeleton?
What are some of those bones called?
What do different parts of the skeleton do?
What does the skull do?
How do the bones of a new born baby differ from those of an elderly person?
What problems can arise from the difference?
How are bones joined together?
Why do we need calcium?
Heart and circulation
What does the heart do?
How big is the heart?
Why does the heart beat faster and harder when a person is exercising?
How many times per minute does the heart of a young child or an adult beat when sitting still?
How can a heart be kept healthy?
What does a doctor use a stethoscope for?
Why does a doctor check a patient's pulse?
How does blood travel around a body?
What does the blood carry around the body?
What if the difference between veins and arteries?
What are capillaries?
Muscles
How many muscles are there in the human body?
What are the three main types of muscle?
What does each type do?
What is the biggest muscle?
What is the difference between voluntary and involuntary muscles?
Where can they be found and what do they do?
How do muscles work?
How are muscles attached to bones?
Nutrition
Why does a body need food?
What are the main food groups?
Which foods do we get them from?
What happens if we do not get enough of a particular group?
Does everybody need the same diet, e.g. a professional athlete compared to a person who works in an office?
What happens if we don't get enough food?
What happens if we eat more food than our body needs?
Why do we need water?
How long could we survive without it?
What are vitamins and minerals?
Where do we get them from?
What is fibre and why do we need it?
Where do we get it from?
Where do vegetarians get their protein from?
Teeth
What is a baby's first set of teeth called?
How many are there?
How many teeth are there in an adult set?
What are different teeth called?
What jobs do different shaped teeth do?
What foods are good for the growth of strong teeth?
What foods are bad for teeth?
How do teeth go bad?
Senses
What are the five main senses?
What job does each of these sense do?
How does each of these sense help us?
How does each of the senses work?
What are the parts of the eye called?
Why do some people need glasses and how do they help?
What are the parts of the ear called?
Why do some people need a hearing aid and how does it help?
What are the important parts of the skin and what are they called?
How do we keep warm or cool down?
How do messages get from the senses to the brain?
