#1 Digestive System Simulation
Explain to your kids how the digestive system works by conducting a simple simulation using household items. You will need the following:
- A clear plastic bag (stomach)
- A cracker (food)
- A small amount of vinegar (stomach acid)
- A piece of pantyhose or coffee filter (intestine)
- A cup (large intestine)
Place the cracker in the plastic bag, add some vinegar, and then have your child mush and squeeze the contents to simulate digestion. Next, pour the contents through the pantyhose or coffee filter to represent absorption in the intestine. Finally, transfer the remaining solid material to the cup to simulate waste passing through the large intestine.
#2 Sensory Exploration
Engage your kids’ senses to explore the human body’s sensory functions. Set up stations for them to experience different sensations:
- Touch: Fill bowls with various textured materials like sand, cotton balls, and slime.
- Sight: Use a magnifying glass to examine common objects up close.
- Hearing: Play sounds at different pitches and volumes for your child to identify.
- Taste: Blindfold your child and have them guess flavors of different foods.
- Smell: Place scented items in jars and have your child identify each scent.
#3 Lung Capacity Measurement
Teach your kids about the respiratory system by measuring their lung capacity with a simple experiment. You will need:
- A large basin or tub filled with water
- A large plastic bottle
- A drinking straw
- A marker
Have your child fill the bottle with water, then submerge it upside down in the basin. Place the straw inside the bottle without letting any water escape. When your child blows into the straw, the displaced water will show their lung capacity. Mark the water level and repeat the process to compare results.
#4 Skin Sensitivity Test
Explore the sense of touch with a skin sensitivity test to see which parts of the body are most sensitive to touch. Use common household items like feathers, cotton balls, and a fork to gently touch different areas of your child’s skin. Ask them to rate the sensitivity level from 1 to 5 (1 being least sensitive and 5 being most sensitive) for each item and body part.
#5 Heart Rate Monitoring
Demonstrate how the heart works by monitoring your child’s heart rate before and after physical activity. Have your child rest quietly for a few minutes while you count their heartbeats per minute. Then, engage them in a short physical activity like jumping jacks and monitor their heart rate immediately after. Compare the two rates and discuss why the heart beats faster during exercise.
#6 Taste Bud Mapping
Discover taste buds and how they work by conducting a taste bud mapping experiment with your kids. Prepare different tastes like sweet, sour, salty, and bitter using simple ingredients like sugar, lemon juice, salt, and dark chocolate. Have your child blindfolded and use a cotton swab to apply each taste to different areas of their tongue. Encourage them to identify the taste regions and discuss why taste buds are important for enjoying food.
