First grade Investigates the Human Body

The second phase of first grade’s human body study is in full force! This investigative phase includes visits from guest experts, many of whom are Shorecrest parents. Prior to each expert’s visit, the children express their wonderings and generate interview questions which the experts so graciously and thoughtfully answer.

Last Friday, Samantha Nevins, health educator and former professor at USF, visited to help our first grade scientists learn how good nutrition and exercise help keep our bodies healthy and strong. As a follow-up to her presentation, the children were able to show what they learned by using markers to draw a nutritious meal on a paper plate, being sure to represent each food group. In addition, she loaned us a fun and active dice game to help us practice healthy exercise habits. It has provided great brain breaks!

On Tuesday, Certified Registered Nurse Jennifer Casanta helped the first graders learn all about the largest organ of our body – our skin! She took us on an amazing journey deep into the layers of our skin. We now know the importance of our skin, and how to take care of it.

Then Wednesday, the children excitedly engaged with orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Drew Warnick, to learn about the bones in our body. The children were able to actually break bones and watch as Dr. Warnick demonstrated how surgery to insert a rod helps to stabilize the broken bone in the healing process. He also casted a broken bone! The children were able to see the tools used in surgeries such as a hip replacement and were amazed to see that a drill and a hammer are actually tools used. Do you know where the biggest bone of the body is? Or where the smallest bone is? Ask a first grader!

We are so lucky to have such a wealth of guest experts among our parent community! Thank you for taking the time to teach us.

Mrs. Peck from the Upper School Center for Medical Sciences came down to show us the inside of a heart. (Photos from that day here.)

More photos here.