Welcome!
We're wrapping up our central nervous system/brain study and
We're wrapping up our central nervous system/brain study and
I'd love to share some of the highlights of our unit.
I don't use a science "spine" or text in general, as I've found none that appeal to me,
over the ten years that we've been homeschooling.
Either I'm waaaaaay too picky or
science textbook publishers leave a tremendous amount to be desired?
Actually, it's a little of both!
So enjoy a peek into our recent science unit...
perhaps you'll find a resource that grabs you...
maybe you can even share one of your own in the combox for all who stop by!
We'd all appreciate if you did so!
~ 1 ~
The Brain~ by Seymour Simon
What a fantastic journey our the human brain!

Simon is pretty much our favorite non fiction author and
I'm sure you have a plethora of his books on your shelves too.
Just terrific fun and loads of facts.
We'd read about a few areas of the brain in Seymour Simon's book and then
moved on to the following website.........>
The Brain~ by Seymour Simon
What a fantastic journey our the human brain!

Simon is pretty much our favorite non fiction author and
I'm sure you have a plethora of his books on your shelves too.
Just terrific fun and loads of facts.
We'd read about a few areas of the brain in Seymour Simon's book and then
moved on to the following website.........>

~ 2 ~
Inner Body
This interactive website is simply perfect for ongoing investigation of the
brain and nervous system study.
Of course in depth activities around all the body systems can be found here too
and we're anticipating returning when we study
the digestive and muscular systems over the next few months.
Go check it out..but I want you.....
it's addicting and an hour, minimally, will pass before you know it.....!
Inner Body
This interactive website is simply perfect for ongoing investigation of the
brain and nervous system study.
Of course in depth activities around all the body systems can be found here too
and we're anticipating returning when we study
the digestive and muscular systems over the next few months.
Go check it out..but I want you.....
it's addicting and an hour, minimally, will pass before you know it.....!

~ 3 ~
The Dover Human Anatomy Coloring Book
plus the resource, below in 4,were The Best
books we could have used for our brain/nervous system study,
In particular the Anatomy Coloring Book is beautiful
for its simple yet detailed description of neurons, each part and function.
This resource has been one of a few that have proven
invaluable for not only our nervous system/brain study,
but also our recent skeletal system unit.
The content is rather extensive, but why not introduce some weighty concepts?
Our kids are capable of soooooo much more than we assume.
If they internalize the basics, great and if they learn even more in depth info, even better.
plus the resource, below in 4,were The Best
books we could have used for our brain/nervous system study,
In particular the Anatomy Coloring Book is beautiful
for its simple yet detailed description of neurons, each part and function.
This resource has been one of a few that have proven
invaluable for not only our nervous system/brain study,
but also our recent skeletal system unit.
The content is rather extensive, but why not introduce some weighty concepts?
Our kids are capable of soooooo much more than we assume.
If they internalize the basics, great and if they learn even more in depth info, even better.

~ 4 ~
The Human Body
100 Reproducible Activities for Grades 5-8
Unlike the anatomy coloring book, above, the pages in this resource are minimally detailed
and wonderful for culminating a lesson and even for testing:
Yep, I'm the queen of drill and kill. so while the unit was undoubtedly fun,
my son had to know all the parts and functions of the brain, nervous system and neurons.
This good old fashioned fill-in-the-blank book helped a lot.
We also used flash cards before his unit test.
The Human Body
100 Reproducible Activities for Grades 5-8
Unlike the anatomy coloring book, above, the pages in this resource are minimally detailed
and wonderful for culminating a lesson and even for testing:
Yep, I'm the queen of drill and kill. so while the unit was undoubtedly fun,
my son had to know all the parts and functions of the brain, nervous system and neurons.
This good old fashioned fill-in-the-blank book helped a lot.
We also used flash cards before his unit test.

~ 5 ~

~ 6 ~
~Create a Clay Brain~
My son's super crafty and enjoys developing his own creations,
whether for "fun," or to correlate with a topic of study.
We started with a lump of clay from this 25 pound package that I bought on amazon.
It's the Amaco brand of air dry, moist clay and even though it's a massive box,
it only cost about $18.
We go through craft supplies like crazy; so it's perfect for us.
My son just created away, using a few of the books described above to guide him.
My son's super crafty and enjoys developing his own creations,
whether for "fun," or to correlate with a topic of study.
We started with a lump of clay from this 25 pound package that I bought on amazon.
It's the Amaco brand of air dry, moist clay and even though it's a massive box,
it only cost about $18.
We go through craft supplies like crazy; so it's perfect for us.
My son just created away, using a few of the books described above to guide him.
you can also use this diagram from WebMD too.
use and enjoy it with my son.
Looks pretty cool doesn't it?
Looks pretty cool doesn't it?

~ 7 ~
Nervous System Sugar Cookies
Eating the nervous system?
Sounds kinda gross...but really,
" drawing" the central nervous system in icing was tons of fun and reinforcement!
Here's what we used--
this page from The Human Body as a guideline,
icing, food color, sugar cookie dough.
Sounds kinda gross...but really,
" drawing" the central nervous system in icing was tons of fun and reinforcement!
Here's what we used--
this page from The Human Body as a guideline,
icing, food color, sugar cookie dough.
Just bake, decorate and enjoy!
I'm happy to linkwith Jessica'sWhat We're Reading Wednesdayand
Please visit Kelly and Jessica for tons of wonderful posts!

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