Are your science lessons tedious and boring? Use these four easy homeshool science ideas to enhance ANY human biology curriculum!
Reviewing the lesson plan for the day, I overheard him moaning. Peering around the corner, I saw him pull out his textbook and the disgust on his face said it all. My son does not like science. Actually, he doesn’t like school at all. Well, he loves PE, but as a homeschooler, does playing basketball in the driveway really count as school?
Do you have a kid like mine, who would rather go to the dentist if it means not having to do any schoolwork for the whole day?
Moms like us (with kids like that) have to stick together! When we find something that works, we’re obligated to help out our fellow homeschool mom and share, right? Right!
Easy Homeschool Science Ideas
I constantly find myself searching for ways to help my son enjoy school more. And when it comes to science, I’m determined to show him that learning about human anatomy is fun!
So, I’ve got four simple ways to enhance ANY human biology science curriculum.
1) Don’t rely on the textbook – use the right books
If your kid isn’t fond of school, a big ole science textbook is probably not going bring a smile to their face. Now, I’m not suggesting we ditch the textbook. Instead, we need to incorporate other books – the right books.
What are the right books? Interactive books that delight and spark curiosity. Comical books that entertain and excite. Engaging books that keep them reading long after you’ve told them to go to bed for the hundredth time.
2) Watch videos – because reading can be boring
Yes, reading through a textbook can be tedious. That’s why incorporating the right books to supplement with is key. But, when reading in general is chore for your child, videos come in handy.
Now, I’m not talking about the videos we watched in high school on the TV strapped to a rolling cart. You know the ones – with the monotone voice explaining the respiratory system in painstaking detail. (I’m definitely dating myself here!)
I’m talking about online videos that are actually interesting. Engaging. And even entertaining. Videos that your kid will actually enjoy and learn from – and don’t require the use of a rolling cart!
Online Video Library: Dr. Robin’s School of Pre-Medicine is a login-and-go human biology resource that includes TONS of live video lessons, plus worksheets (with answer keys), curated external links and videos to extend learning and much more! Dr. Robin regularly adds new video lessons to the growing collection, providing hours and hours of exciting, hassle-free learning material about the human body.
If you’re looking for more than just awesome supplemental science videos for your current human biology curriculum and you want a more structured learning approach, grab one of her science unit studies.
More About Dr. Robin: Dr. Robin Dickinson, MD is a board-certified family physician and adjunct faculty at a medical school. And she’s a homeschooling mom, so she gets it! Her website, Dr. Robin’s School of Pre-Medicine is a treasure trove full of resources to complement any human biology curriculum!
Be sure to sign up for her newsletter to get a free unit study about the 8 senses. (Nope, that’s not a typo – go see what the other three senses are!) Also, check out her podcast (especially if you have a child who wants to pursue a medical profession). And, don’t miss her special list of science supplies. You’re bound to find something that will appeal to even the most science-averse child!
3) Encourage them to explore – with their hands
“Don’t touch anything!” Those words roll off my tongue on a regular basis. But, when it comes to science, kids need to explore. They need to use their hands. It’s how kid’s like my son learn best.
Hands-on activities are a great way to not only engage students, but keep them busy while they are learning.
Coloring Books: Use this super-detailed anatomy coloring book to learn the parts and systems of the human body. Can you name all the bones in the foot? Me neither!
Paper Dolls: Learn basic human anatomy by creating paper dolls showing the following body parts: the skeletal system, brain, kidneys & bladder, digestive system, the heart & it’s major blood vessels and the lungs.
Easy-to-Make Models: Use The Body Book along with it’s reproducible patterns and easy step-by-step instructions to create more in-depth, larger scale paper models of the major organs and systems of the human body.
4) Make it real – or at least realistic
Gazing at a two-dimensional diagram of a heart is okay, but holding a life size human heart model in your hand is way better. And dissecting a heart – jackpot!
Oh, and if dissection isn’t your thing, your kid can watch Dr. Robin perform the dissections instead! Because of her extensive experience in the medical field and her involvement as a homeschool parent, she is excellent at providing real-life correlation to what she’s teaching!
Whenever possible, make science real to the child. Bring it to life. And when you don’t have the real thing, models and simulations are the next best tools for learning.
Supplement ANY Homeschool Human Biology Curriculum
When science is a drag, utilize these four simple ideas that can supplement and enhance any human biology curriculum you’re currently using:
- Don’t rely on the textbook but instead, use the right books.
- Encourage your child to explore by incorporating hands-on activities.
- Watch videos because reading can be boring.
- And, last but not least, make it real!
Learning about the human body truly can be fun – maybe even more fun than going to the dentist.
GIVEAWAY – Dr. Robin’s School of Pre-Medicine
Enter to win a 1-year subscription to Dr. Robin’s School of Pre-Medicine! Plus, every entrant will get free access to lessons from Dr. Robin’s most popular unit, The Eight Senses.
This post was originally published on February 17, 2022.
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