Presentation of Learning: Anatomy Ninjas

iLEAD Exploration learners Xavier and Elijah David spend lots of time with the Sassafras twins, Blaine and Tracy, while learning about science. If you aren’t familiar, the Sassafras Science Adventures is a seven-volume series covering zoology, anatomy, botany, earth science, geology, astronomy, and chemistry via the adventures of two magic-ziplining siblings. It’s a fun, story-based way to structure science learning and has companion activity guides and logbooks.

Last year, current 4th grader Xavier and 2nd grader Elijah learned human anatomy using volume two of the Sassafras Science Adventures. The book engaged the boys in the story with science facts dispersed naturally throughout. After reading each chapter, the family would discuss the important facts and do a supporting activity. Their favorite activities, which their mom added, were definitely the heart, brain, and eye dissections. These projects helped pique Xavier and Elijah’s interest as well as make the subject more tangible.

As a review when they finished the book, they put things all together in a vivid way. Their mom wanted them to connect each system of the body with related systems — as well as take a fresh look at all the information the book covered without overwhelming her active boys. Using their own bodies and some ninja costumes left over from Halloween, the boys drew the main body systems, taped images to the corresponding parts, and discussed relevant facts. Next, they discussed how each system interacted with other systems. For example, when they discussed the circulatory system, they spoke about its interaction with the respiratory, immune, and musculoskeletal systems.

This engaging review activity was an effective way to make the body systems more relatable and tie together each separate system. The goal was to emphasize how each body system and organ depends on another or many others, and this activity successfully did just that.

RESOURCES:

Sassafras Science Books

Home Science Tools Dissections

Biobox Labs