Library Kits/Kristin Bugnitz/Spring 2014

HAVE YOU EVER

WONDERED
!

WHAT HAPPENS TO
THE FOOD YOU EAT?
!

WHY DO YOU
SNEEZE?
!

WHY IS BLOOD
RED?
!

HOW DO WE
BREATHE?

WHY DOES MY
BODY DO
THAT?

WHY DO WE NEED
BONES?

A"library"kit"for"children"in"grades"K52"

PUBLIC LIBRARY

This!kit!provides!library!materials,!web!resources,!and!age9
appropriate!activities!introducing!children!to!basic!body!systems!
and!their!functions.!

123!Street!Lane!
Columbus,!Ohio!
43204!
www.publiclibrary.com!
(614)!55595555!

!
!

Library Kits/Kristin Bugnitz/Spring 2014

Why does my body do that?

A Library Kit for children in grades K-2
By early elementary school, most children are familiar with the parts of the body visible from the
outside. Curious in nature, children at this age begin to ask why? questions about how the
body work. The goal of this kit is to introduce children to basic internal body systems and their
functions. After working through the age-appropriate materials and activities in this kit, children
will be able to answer these and many more questions about the human body:
What happens to the food I eat?
Why do I sneeze?
Why is my blood red?
How do I breathe?
Why do I need bones?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Bibliography
Aliki. My Five Senses. HarperCollins. 1989. 31 pp.
Our five senses allow us to experience the world. Sometime we use more than one sense at a
time, and sometimes we use them separately. This simply written picture book introduces
children to their five senses through the experiences of a young narrator. Colorful drawings
directly illustrate the text to help children identify specific times when each sense is used. This
book would make a great readaloud for younger children learning about how their body works.
Arnold, Tedd. Parts. Dial. 1997. 32 pp.
This funny, rhyming picture book features a little boy worried that his body is falling apart.
Belly button lint, stray hairs, and loose teeth all plague the poor narrator. Watercolor and pencil
illustrations perfectly capture the boys dismay at all of the gross and unexpected things his body
sheds. Young children experiencing some of the same worries will be put at ease to learn that
their amazing bodies renew and grow constantly. Children who like this book might also enjoy
its sequels, More Parts, and Even More Parts which address some of the body-themed idioms
such as laugh your head off that confuse many young children.
Berger, Melvin. Why I Sneeze, Shiver, Hiccup, & Yawn (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2).
(Paul Meisel, ill.). HarperCollins. 2000. 40 pp.
In this new edition of the popular Lets-Read-and-Find-Out series, common body actions and
reflexes are explained through approachable text and appealing pencil and watercolor drawings.
Answering common questions such as why do I sneezeeven when I dont want to? this book
explains the body systems at work in basic involuntary actions, in age-appropriate detail. Perfect
for young children at an inquisitive age, this book sheds light on the purpose of reflexes in the
human body.
Dauer, Marc. The Body Rocks [audio CD]. Rounder. 2010. 1 disc.
This collection of educational songs teaches kids about some of the parts and functions of the
human body. Each track is introduced by a specific body part (such as the heart or brain) with a
young childs voice chiming in and asking questions. Though songs like Pee keeps my insides
clean may evoke giggles, the catchy lyrics and informational rhythms of this collection make it
a fun choice for younger children.

Library Kits/Kristin Bugnitz/Spring 2014

Dauvois, Sophie. Head to Toe: My Body and How It Works. (Okido Studio, ill.). Thames &
Hudson. 2012. 64 pp.
What happens to the food you eat? How do you breathe? Where do babies come from? Three
tiny explorers help a young girl named Koko answer these and many other questions in this
interactive book. Informational text, poems, activities, and games are used to explain and
demonstrate how different parts of the body work. Children will love reading about a girl who
asks the same questions they do and will enjoy the Eye Spy and Body Noises board game
included in this book. Bright full-page illustrations provide age-appropriate visuals for eager
young learners.
Daynes, Katie & King, Colin. See Inside Your Body. Usborne Books. 2006. 16 pp.
This short, informative board book offers easy-to-understand descriptions of human anatomy
through colorful illustrations and informational text. Sturdy flaps will stand up to wear and tear
from younger children while the explanations make it the perfect choice for early readers. The
flaps also help children localize new knowledge about the body to its correct location and see the
big picture of the human body.
McCormick, Rosie. Arty Facts: Our Bodies and Art Activities. Crabtree Publishing
Company. 2002. 48 pp.
Part of the Arty Facts series, this book combines informational text on the topic of the human
body with fun and unique crafts designed to extend the learning experience. Topics such as
joints and levers explain the different mechanisms that allow our bodies to move and lead the
reader through a related craft fashioning a moving person out of poster board cutouts and paper
fasteners. Photographs and medical images compliment the information presented, while stepby-step directions and illustrations demonstrate how to complete each craft. A Glossary and
Materials Guide offer more information about the various topics and craft materials referenced in
the text. This guide would be perfect for parents or teachers looking for ways to use art to teach
about this human body.
Rabe, Tish. Inside Your Outside. Random House Childrens Books. (Aristides Ruiz, ill.).
Random House. 2003. 45 pp.
The Cat in the Hat leads young Sally and Nick on an adventure through the human body from
brain to blood cell in the Inside-Your-Outside Machine. The Cat in the Hats Learning
Library series bridges the gap between preschool concept books and nonfiction for older readers,
using familiar rhymes and brightly colored cartoon illustrations. Thing One and Thing Two
interject often to offer bits of trivia about each body part covered and a Glossary, Index, and
Bibliography encourage understanding and exploration of the topic.
Randall, Tony, & Daly, Tony. The Magic School Bus: Human Body. [DVD]. Scholastic. 2012.
78 min.
In this collection based on the The Magic School Bus book series, Ms. Frizzles class explores
topics related to the human body in three episodes. For Lunch explores digestion when hungry
Arnold accidentally swallows his miniaturized class. Inside Ralphie finds poor Ralphie at
home with a fever on his day to host the Frizzle New Network health TV broadcast. In Flexes
Its Muscles, the class uses bones, muscles, and joints to fix Ralphiebot robot at R. U. Humerus

Library Kits/Kristin Bugnitz/Spring 2014

Body Shop. This educational show brings the books to life and would make a great resource for
a younger audience exploring how the different parts of the body work.
Showers, Paul. A Drop of Blood (Lets-Read-and-Find-Out Series). (Edward Miller, ill.).
HarperCollins. 2004. 32 pp.
In this illustration update to an earlier version, a Dracula-like vampire provides an introduction
to blood and its role in the human body for younger readers. Through a series of at-home
experiments, photographs and informative illustrations, this book helps children learn about the
sometimes-scary red liquid that comes out of their cuts. The colorful artwork is visually
appealing, making this a fun and informative read.
Webliography
Crayola. Human Body Coloring Pages. Crayola Coloring Pages. 2014. Retrieved from
http://www.crayola.com/free-coloring-pages/science/human-body-coloring-pages/
This webpage for parents and caregivers offers age-appropriate printable coloring pages for
children learning about cells, the human eye, the human heart, organs, and skeleton. Each
activity page offers a diagram for coloring and blanks for labeling by more advanced learners. A
What I Look Like, body with a blank face can be customized and colored, allowing each child
to express creativity in self-portrait form.
May, Jennifer & Van Loon, Paul. Inside the Human Body: The Respiratory System, Grades 13. Saskatchewan Lung Association. 2014. www.lung.ca/children/grades1_3/index.html
Using colorful cartoon animations, younger children can explore the different components of the
respiratory system, completing at-home breathing experiments along the way. An interactive
storybook provides factual information, a coloring book discouraging smoking, and several
online games are available to help students interact with the material in fun and engaging
formats. Links for older readers in grades 4-6 and 7-12 as well as teachers are also provided.
PBS Kids. Sully Shorts: Sullys Guide to the Human Body. PBS Kids Go! (2014).
www.pbskids.org/lunchlab/#/videos
This collection of short clips from the PBSKids TV program Fizzys Lunch Lab features Sully
the cell and his taxicab travels through the human body. Sully learns about healthy fats role in
brain development, listens to jokes from a humerus bone, and learns about how different
nutrients are used by the human body. These short videos provide interesting introductions to
food and macronutrients in an age-appropriate format. Links to other nutrition-based activities
and games from Fizzys Lunch Lab are provided at the top of the page.
ScienceWithMe. The Human Body. ScienceWithMe! (2014).
www.sciencewithme.com/category/learn-about/human-body/
This collection for parents and teachers offers age-appropriate lessons and activities to teach
children about the body parts and systems. Lessons such as Learn About Dem Bones prompt
children to tap different parts of their body and find examples of different types of bones.
Instruction is provided on a variety of academic levels making these plans adaptable for both
younger children and older learners. Free printable worksheets and activities are also available
to support homeschooling parents.

Library Kits/Kristin Bugnitz/Spring 2014

The Human Body ebook: Elementary Human Body Lesson Plans for Kids. 2014.
www.apples4theteacher.com/elibrary/bodybook.html
Created by an elementary school class from Colchester, Vermont, this ebook presentation
introduces children to the human body through a series of photo quiz questions. Each question
and answer is read aloud by a student in predictable, kid-friendly language while the reader
follows along as each word is highlighted. An Activities page is included at the end with links
to other books and materials on the human body. This site makes a great quiz activity for the
early reader learning about the different parts of the body.

Library Kits/Kristin Bugnitz/Spring 2014

Extension Activities
The following activities and games can help children demonstrate knowledge of human body
concepts in fun and engaging ways.
Human Body Apron Puzzle-included in kit
This child-sized apron teaches children where different organs are located in their bodies.
To Play:
Match the different felt organs to their outlines on the apron and attach to the Velcro.
--------------------------------------------My Five Senses-Listening
Children can practice using their sense of hearing using at-home objects.
To Play:
Have your child close her eyes and guess the sounds you make. Be creative using objects from
home such as ice in an empty glass, coins, pots, and keys. Then switch places and have your
child make the sounds while you guess.
--------------------------------------------Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes Revisited
Children familiar with the song Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes can lead their parents and
caregivers in singing the original version, or rewrite it using the medical terms for the bones of
the body.
To Play:
Together with your child, sing the popular song, Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes using the
lyrics below.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes
Eyes and ears and mouth and nose,
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.
Advanced learners can use the books included in this kit to rewrite the lyrics with the medical
names of the bones. (Ex. Skull, clavicle, patella, tarsals, patella tarsals, patella, tarsals)
Other popular songs such as The Hokey Pokey can also be rewritten to include bone names.
("You put your right phalanges in...)
---------------------------------------------

Library Kits/Kristin Bugnitz/Spring 2014

X-Ray Craft
Children learning about the skeletal system can create a mock x-ray of their hands.
How to:
1. Using the white crayon, have the child trace his or her forearm and hand onto the black
construction paper.
2. Using one Q-tip for each finger and 1-2 pairs for the radius and ulna, glue the Q-tips in place
and let dry.
3. To practice research skills, advanced learners can locate a diagram of the human hand in one
of the books included in the kit and label the radius (thumb side), ulna (pinky side), and
phalanges (fingers).

Supplies and Budget

Child sized apron
Fabric Markers
Crayons
Q Tips
Black Construction Paper
Felt for Organs (7 colors)
White Glue

2.00 (Amazon)
6.30 (Amazon)
1.00 (Dollar Tree)
2.99 (Target)
1.00 (Dollar Tree)
2.80 (Michaels)
1.00 (Dollar Tree)

Budget

17.09

Library Kits/Kristin Bugnitz/Spring 2014

Contents
Items to Remain in Kit:
8 Books included in annotated bibliography
My Five Senses. Aliki.
Parts, by Tedd Arnold.
Why I Sneeze, Shiver, Hiccup, & Yawn (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2), by
Melvin Berger.
Head to Toe: My Body and How It Works, by Sophie Dauvois.
See Inside Your Body, by Katie Daynes & Colin King.
Arty Facts: Our Bodies and Art Activities, by Rosie McCormick.
Inside Your Outside, by Tish Rabe.
A Drop of Blood (Lets-Read-and-Find-Out Series), by Paul Showers.
Audio CD: The Body Rocks
DVD: The Magic School Bus: Human Body
Web Resource Sheet
Extension Activities Sheet
White crayon
Glue Bottle
Human Body Apron Puzzle
Child Sized Apron with organ outlines and Velcro
8 Felt Organs: esophagus, stomach, liver, small intestine, large intestine, heart, and 2
lungs
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Items to Remain at Home:
X-Ray Craft Items
Black construction paper
Q-tips

Library Kits/Kristin Bugnitz/Spring 2014

HAVE YOU EVER

WONDERED
!

WHAT HAPPENS TO
THE FOOD YOU EAT?
!

WHY DO YOU LAUGH

WHEN TICKLED?
!

WHY DO YOU NEED

BLOOD?
!

HOW YOUR
BODY WORKS

HOW DO WE
BREATHE?
!

HOW DO YOU HEAR?

A"library"kit"for"children"in"grades"355"
This!kit!provides!library!materials,!web!resources,!and!age9
appropriate!activities!to!help!older!children!learn!about!5!major!
body!systems:!circulatory,!musculoskeletal,!nervous,!respiratory,!
and!digestive.!!

PUBLIC LIBRARY
123!Street!Lane!
Columbus,!Ohio!
43204!
www.publiclibrary.com!
(614)!55595555!

!
!

Library Kits/Kristin Bugnitz/Spring 2014

10

How Your Body Works

A Library Kit for children in grades 3-5
This kit provides an introduction and overview of the body systems for older children, with an
emphasis on the circulatory, musculoskeletal, digestive, respiratory, and nervous systems.
Reading to learn is a crucial skill developing at this age and the materials and suggested websites
support students learning to read informational text. Special attention is paid to infographics, a
common presentation of online content blending text, interesting fonts, and graphics to create
visually appealing informational texts.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Bibliography
Green, Dan. Human Body: A Book with Guts! Kingfisher. 2011. 128 pp.
Small in size but large in information, this Basher series informational text offers detailed, direct
explanations of body parts and functions. Clever divisions including Body Building Blocks,
Musculoskeletal Meatheads, Wheezing Windbags and Bloody Busybodies, group related
information together, illustration how each part functions in the whole of the body. Two page
spreads offer a left hand description of the topic from a personified body part and several bullet
points offer additional facts. The right page is a cute and appropriately themed drawing of each
part, such as the ear playing a drum. Also included is a fold out poster of the circulatory system
illustrating the different blood pathways.
Gomodori, Co. Survive! Inside the Human Body, Vol. 1. The Digestive System. (Hyun-dong
Han, ill.). No Starch Press. 2013. 184 pp.
In this look at the digestive system, Phoebe accidentally swallows a microscopic ship containing
her friend, Geo, and Dr. Brain. As Geo and Dr. Brain travel through the treacherous digestive
tract they must avoid parasites, crushing muscles, and stomach acid. In this The Magic School
Bus-style story for older readers, fact and fiction are combined in a manhwa, or Korean comic,
format. The books twelve chapters address digestive parts, functions, and nutrition with a great
deal of humor. Graphic novel fans will surely enjoy this unique presentation of the digestive
system.
Hynes, Margaret. Picture This: Human Body. (Andy Crisp, ill.). Kingfisher. 2013. 64 pp.
In a collection of colorful infographics, Picture This: Human Body offers facts and trivia about
the composition and workings of the human body. Clever titles such as Mind control, The
skin youre in, and Sleepyheads, introduce two page spreads comprised of a paragraph
summary and multiple graphic organizers of body-related data. Older readers will enjoy this
eye-catching format engaging fun and interesting body trivia.
Jenkins, Steven. Bones. Scholastic Press. 2010. 48 pp.
This unique take on the bones of the body features paper collage illustrations from Caldecott
Award winner, Steven Jenkins. Helpful labels and text boxes offer details and insight into
human and animal bones for the inquisitive older reader. A simple background color palette
allows the collages to stand out and scaled illustrations give the young reader a sense of how
human bones compare to the bones of animals. Fold out pages make the paper cut bones all the

Library Kits/Kristin Bugnitz/Spring 2014

11

more impressive, particularly the 206-bone skeleton waving to the reader. Additional facts are
included in a More About Bones section, encouraging further exploration of this important body
system.
Nye, Bill. Bill Nye the Science Guy: Blood and Circulation. Disney Educational. 2011. 1 disc.
Opening with an exciting dream sequence, Bill Nye travels through the circulatory system before
waking to record this lesson on circulation. Through a series of explanations, visuals, and
experiments, Nye teaches children about the parts and functions of the circulatory system. Nyes
humorous presentation resonates with older children and would make a great supplement to
classroom or home study of the heart and blood.
Smith, Penny. ed. First Human Body Encyclopedia. DK Publishing, Inc. 2005. 128 pp.
This introductory text is an excellent reference book for children looking to learn more about the
human body. Categorized by body system, each two-page spread is packed full of photos,
diagrams, and age-appropriate text teaching the reader about a particular body system or part.
For example, Look out! introduces children to the parts of the eye and muscles controlling it,
with close ups illustrating changes in pupil size. A related trivia question is printed upside down
at the bottom of each page to further challenge the young reader. This text provides a great
overview of the body and would be a useful teaching aid in the classroom.
Stewart, Melissa. Youve Got Nerve: The Secrets of the Brain and Nerves (The Gross and
Goofy Body). (Janet Hamlin, ill.). Marshall Cavendish. 2011. 48 pp.
One of the more complicated systems, the nervous system and brain are responsible for the
growth and function of the entire human body. This complex system is broken down into
accessible parts in this informative and interesting book. Through a series of illustrations and
photographs, summaries and key terms are introduced to the older reader looking to learn about
the nervous system. Interesting facts concerning human and animal nervous systems are
included to provide comparisons.
Taylor-Butler, Christine. The Respiratory System (A True Book). Childrens Press. 2008. 48 pp.
Combining photographs, medical images, and diagrams, this informational text offers an
overview of the respiratory systems role in the human body. Each chapter answers a specific
question, such as What do you breathe faster when you exercise? addresses multiple factors
such as air supply, exercise conditions, and lung capacity. Colorful spreads and photographs are
visually appealing, helping readers understand the respiratory in context. The end of the book
holds a variety of additional resources such as a glossary, index, statistics, and recommended
reading.
Walker, Richard. Dr. Frankensteins Human Body Book. 2008. DK Publishing. 96 pp.
Promising the experience of a lifetime, Dr. Frankenstein leads the reader through the creation
of human person named Boris from atom to bone to tissue to organ. Colorful and detailed
drawings, photos, and real medical scans illustrate the information text and asides and journal
entries in gothic fonts offer humor and reflection on the thirty day process of creation. A
Glossary and Index aid the reader in understanding new concepts and the cardboard pages and
padded red cover add heft to this mad scientists book. Older children with a taste for science
fiction will enjoy this creative and detailed take on the human body.

Library Kits/Kristin Bugnitz/Spring 2014

12

Wolf, Allan. The Blood-hungry Spleen and Other Poems About Our Parts. (Greg Clark, ill.).
Candlewick Press. 2003. 53 pp.
This collection of poems written by a sixth grade life science teacher brings both fun and facts to
learning about the human body. Personified body parts tell of their jobs from the spleen who
consumes worn out red blood cells to the shy silent rivers passing blood through the body.
Covering all the parts of the human anatomy from the brain to reproductive organs, Wolfs funto-read poems are perfect for older children ready to learn more about human anatomy. Clarkes
colorful illustrations further compliment each poems unique theme and imagery. Also included
are extra facts and a bibliography for further exploration of the human body.

Webliography
Freeman, Sally & Choudhry, Bipasha. The Body and Medicines. The Childrens University of
Manchester. 2012.
www.childrensuniversity.manchester.ac.uk/interactives/science/bodyandmedicine/
Created by two pharmacy faculty members at the University of Manchester, this childrens
website provides an overview of major body systems, with special attention to the skeletal and
digestive system, using interactive slides and graphics. Learners click on elements of each slide
to navigate or learn more about the different body parts presented. A large portion of this site is
devoted to learning about diagnosis and treating illnesses found in some of the body systems
covered, through slide presentations and games. Older readers interested in learning more about
the body can also navigate to some of the other health topics offered by The Childrens
University of Manchester, including The Brain and Senses, Teeth and Eating, and
Exercise to learn more about the human body.
I Heart Guts. About Your Guts. I Heart Guts Website. 2014. www.iheartguts.com/about-yourguts/
Plush organ toy company and non-profit, I Heart Guts, offers a colorful, clickable cartoon
human body for older children interested learning about the different organs. Each smiling part,
organ, or gland provides a short summary of its function. Though some links advertising the
plush organs appear, the informative videos and unique presentation make this interactive page a
fun resource for older children.
KidsHealth. How the Body Works. KidsHealth from Nemours. (2013).
http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/
This website offers a wealth of videos, age-appropriate articles, activities, and quizzes
concerning different body parts, from eyes to skin to kidneys to immune cells. Each clickable
body part link provides a short informational video introducing key ideas, as well as links to a
related article, quiz, at home activity, and word find. Links to other childhood health topics such
as puberty, feelings, and illnesses are provided on the left menu for further exploration of the
body and overall health.

Library Kits/Kristin Bugnitz/Spring 2014

13

Scholastic. The Human Body: 14 StudyJams! Interactive Science Activities. Scholastic

Science. (2014). https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/activity/human-body-14studyjams-interactive-science-activities
This website collection of fourteen clickable presentations provides information and assessments
on a range of human anatomy topics. Major body systems such as skeletal, digestive, and
nervous systems are included as well as the immune system, the five senses, and heredity
through multimedia slides integrating music, text and photographs. Designed with the
elementary science teacher in mind, these slides are perfect for the classroom or the individual
learner.
Science Museum of Minnesota. Habits of the Heart: The Heart. Habits of the Heart. (2000).
www.smm.org/heart/heart/top.html
Created to supplement an exhibit at the Science Museum of Minnesota, this website provides
animations and videos of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems in action. Labeled diagrams
and summaries help children identify parts of these two important systems and lesson plans and
activities are available for parents or teachers looking to supplement child learning. The
animations provided on this site are useful for children beginning to understand how the systems
of the body work together to keep us alive.

Library Kits/Kristin Bugnitz/Spring 2014

14

Extension Activities
Play the Circulation Game (adapted from ellenjmchenry.com)
This board game encourages students to interact with the circulatory system by using red blood
cells to move different substances around a life-size human body game board.
To Play: (2-6 players, 45 min)
-Set up the human body game board and the sugar, waste, oxygen, and carbon dioxide tokens on
the floor or a large table according to the directions provided in the table below.
-Divide the red blood cells between the two teams (Orange team and Purple team) and start them
in the femur.
-Using the Heart Spinner to determine how many beats (spaces to move), teams will move the
blood cells around the board to carry the carbon dioxide, oxygen, sugar, and waste tokens and
deliver them to the appropriate location in the body.
Start
Carbon Dioxide: Head, Hand, or Foot
Oxygen:
Lungs
Sugar:
Intestines
Waste:
Hand, Head, or Foot

Finish
Lungs
Head, Hand, or Foot
Head, Hand or Foot
Kidneys

The team moving all tokens from their starting place to the correct finishing place wins the
game.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Body Magnet Puzzle
In this human anatomy, learning puzzle, older children can stack, mix, and match different parts
and systems of the human body. Seventy-six magnets, eighteen informational cards are labeled
in nine languages making it perfect for ELL students or language instruction.
To Play:
Use the instructional cards to match different body parts, organs, and systems. The included
pointer stick can be used in an identification game where students point to a designated body part
appearing on the card.

Library Kits/Kristin Bugnitz/Spring 2014

15

Craft:
Human Ear Model and Experiment (adapted from scholastic.com)
Children learning about human anatomy can make a foldable model of the ear and complete a
short experiment pertaining to the eardrum.
How to:
1. Identify the different parts of the ear located on the Im All Ears, worksheet and discuss
their functions.
Pinnathe outer portion of the external ear; sound travels through the outer ear to the
ear canal.
Auditory Canalthe open passage through which sound waves travel to the middle ear.
Eardruma taut, circular piece of skin that vibrates when hit by sound waves.
Malleus (Hammer), Incus (Anvil), Stapes (Stirrup)tiny bones that vibrate to amplify
sound waves; the smallest bones in the body.
Eustachian Tubethe passageway that connects the ear to the back of the nose to
maintain equal air pressure on both sides of the eardrum.
Cochleacoiled, fluid-filled structure of the inner ear that contains hair cells called cilia.
Cilia sway in response to sound waves, transmitting signals toward the brain.
Semicircular Canalsfluid-filled structures in the inner ear that detect movement and
function as balance organs.
Auditory Nervebundle of nerve cells that carry signals from the sensory fibers to the
brain.
2. Using the directions at the top of the Im All Ears worksheet, cut out the model pieces and
fold along the dotted lines. The model may be colored using supplies from home if the child
chooses.
3. Use the provided glue stick to attach the pieces into one long strip, folded accordion style.
Experiment
1. Use the enclosed plastic wrap to tightly wrap the opening of a large pot or bowl from home.
Drop the rice in the center of the plastic wrap.
2. Have your child clap his or her hands close to the plastic wrap and note what happens. Have
them try to make louder and quieter noises using other kitchen objects (such as banging two pot
lids together) and note what happens.
3. Explain that sounds travel in waves. Sound waves made the plastic wrap vibrate, similar to the
way an eardrum vibrates in response to sound. The rice "jumps" when the plastic wrap vibrates.
Like the rice, the tiny bones of the middle ear move in response to vibrations in the eardrum.

Library Kits/Kristin Bugnitz/Spring 2014

Craft Example

Supplies and Budget

Printout of Circulation Game Board Parts and Tokens
Tape (in library)
Laminator/Film (in library)
Paper Fasters
Body Magnet Puzzle
Im All Ears Worksheet Print out
Rice & Plastic Baggie
Plastic Wrap
Glue Stick
Scissors
Total

Free
$1.00/roll (Dollar Tree)
Free
$3.00/box (Office Max)
$28.81 (Amazon)
Free
$.99 (Giant Eagle)
$2.99/roll (Giant Eagle)
$.99
$.99
$38.77

16

Library Kits/Kristin Bugnitz/Spring 2014

Contents
Items to Remain in Kit:
8 Books included in annotated bibliography
Human Body: A Book with Guts!, by Dan Green
Survive! Inside the Human Body, Vol. 1. The Digestive System, by Co Gomodori.
Picture This: Human Body, by Margaret Hynes.
Bones, by Steven Jenkins.
First Human Body Encyclopedia, Penny Smith, editor.
Youve Got Nerve: The Secrets of the Brain and Nerves (The Gross and Goofy
Body), by Melissa Stewart.
The Respiratory System (A True Book), by Christine Taylor-Butler.
Dr. Frankensteins Human Body Book, by Richard Walker.
The Blood-hungry Spleen and Other Poems About Our Parts, by Allan Wolf.
DVD: Bill Nye the Science Guy: Blood and Circulation.
Web Resource Sheet
Extension Activities Sheet
Body Magnet Puzzle and pointer stick
Circulation Game board
Circulation Game Rule Sheet
Game Tokens and Pouch
10 Oxygen
10 Carbon Dioxide
10 Red Blood Cells
10 Sugar & Protein Cards
10 Waste Cards
Heart Spinner
Resealable bag of rice
Glue Stick
Scissors
Items to Remain at Home:
Im All Ears worksheet

17