Science, Week 14, The Human Body Continued

This week we continued exploring the human body by observing our own bodies and looking for signs of the brain. Where is the brain? Can we see it? Well, if we cannot see it, how do we talk about it? We can begin to answer this question from a natural perspective by asking: "What do humans do?" The answers to this question are signs of the brain (and the Intellect which is more than the brain itself).

One thing that humans can do is draw. Scientists throughout the centuries have used their own drawings to document animal and plant life, to sketch machines and inventions, and indeed to draw the human body. This week students caste themselves into this tradition and drew a human baby as an exercise for their brain, which they cannot see, but they can train.

Older students were sent home with a Nervous System worksheet and ideas for further exploration at home. The Nervous System Crossword Puzzle to take home (Answers are at this website!).

Want to learn more about the nervous system and the brain? Here is a nice website filled with activities! Neuroscience For Kids.

(Not a Catholic Schoolhouse Science Curriculum Activity.)

From my home to yours note...
My children do prepare their own material for presentations.  I do not try to interfere or give them help.  I enjoy seeing what they can come up with on their own.  As they are about 8 and above, they are responsible enouph to prepare their presentations more on thier own - with few reminders and little assistance.  In fact the more responsible they are able to be regarding the preparation of the prestentations, and the less that I do as a parent, the better.  For  most of the class talking about thier experiences comes naturally.  The less talkative are the ones who may need notes and drawings to help them along.   Hope you all have a blessed and relaxing school week!

Art and Science, week 13

Art: Snowmen and Winslow Homer

In art this week, students were finally allowed to pull out their water colors! They drew snowmen with pencils and colored them in with white crayons (a popular trick among children's art programs). Lastly, students painted with their water colors and behold! the snowmen were still white.

Painting is certainly a favorite activity for little ones and an activity that is harder to do at home sometimes, since it takes much work to cover the table, put on the aprons, etc. I am glad this is included in the CSH art curriculum!

Science: Review and Introduction of the Human Person

This week students reviewed the classification of animals that they had learned the first 6 weeks of Science. We added "Human" as way of introducing the third quarter to our students. The Bible verse in the CSH memory work "works" nicely for this poster along with the animal memory work from the first quarter. The cutting should be done by the tutor before the class for children ages 5-8. In retrospect I would recommend ONE poster PER FAMILY, since not all little ones can read. My 5 year-old would ask, what does "reptile" start with? Then, she looked for a word that started with "R" to put the lizard underneath it.

Please note that the activities this quarter are not part of the CSH Science curriculum.