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My Unit Studies {Free Printables & Hands-on Ideas}

Homeschool Unit Study Human Body. Hands-on Activity 4. Making Blood + What Are the Components of Blood Minibook

October 14, 2015 | 7 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

No unit study about the homeschool unit study human body is done right without making some blood and learning about the valuable components of it. Also, I have this Human Body Crafts page for more fun ideas.

The human body lapbook was free for a limited time.

Homeschool Unit Study Human Body. Hands-on Making Blood +  What Are the Components of Blood

What is Blood Made of?

Besides, that is the best way to learn about the four basic components of blood.

At the bottom, I shared the video that helped us to kick off this activity and also helped us to pick out the ingredients.

What is blood hands on activity and  blood components minibook for a human body homeschool unit study @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Look at the ingredients we used, again, which we had on hand at the house.

■plastic bottle
■marshmallows (we only the big ones, so we cut up a few of the big ones)
■mini box of chocolate cereal that the boys didn’t like
■raisins
■corn syrup and water
■yellow and red die
■salt

How to Make Blood 1@ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus
How to Make Blood 2 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

So after we gathered all of our supplies and a funnel and bowl or two, we started.

First Tiny poured the corn syrup in and mixed with a bit of water (not too much).

Mostly we used the corn syrup because I wanted it to look more like blood plasma in the beginning.

How to Make Blood 3 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus
How To Make Blood 4 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Homeschool Unit Study Human Body.

So he added yellow dye and some salt to represent the plasma.

We added salt to help him remember that though plasma is mostly made up of water, it also contains proteins, sugar and hormones. So adding the salt was just to help him remember some of the make up of plasma.

How to Make Blood 5 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus
How to Make Blood 6 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Next, we took our chocolate cereal and mixed in some red dye and coated it pretty good.

I liked the fact that the “red blood cells” started to give it color because they make up about 40 to 45% of the color.

Since red blood cells are round and look a little bit like a doughnut, without the hole in the middle, this round cereal was a pretty good imitation.

He started to add in the red dyed cereal to represent the red blood cells (or erythrocytes).

How to Make Blood 7 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus
How To Make Blood 8 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Next came a bite or two of marshmallows or rather he added in some of the white marshmallows to represent the white blood cells (or leukocytes), but not too many of them.

Since I had raisins, we added a few of them to represent blood platelets (or thrombocytes).

How to Make Blood 9 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus
How To Make Blood 10 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

We ended up with something nice and gross that he liked, but it sure helped him to remember the 4 basic components of blood.

Homeschool Unit Study Human Body. Hands-on Making Blood +  What Are the Components of Blood

Also, here are some free resources about blood:

  • Middle School Lesson Plan. 3 page .pdf How does the Cardiovascular system work? Actually lessons for K to 6th.
  • Another hands-on activity. Blood Cell basics for younger grades.
  • How Much Blood Do You Have? 20 page .pdf for middle and high school
  • Cool wheel template 7 page .pdf template wheel for middle and high school teaching blood type.
  • What is Blood? You Tube Really helpful to us when deciding how to color our blood, meaning we started with yellow first.
How to Make Blood 11 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus
What Are the Components of Blood

More Human Body Crafts

  • Simple and Easy Circulatory System Hands-on Activity for Kids
  • How to Turn a Pizza Into a Fun Edible Human Cell Model
  • How To Make A Fun Bones Of The Hand Labeled X-Ray Craft
  • 7 Human Skull Facts and Cool Human Skull Anatomy Activity
  • How to Make a Fun Hands-on Playdough Brain Activity
  • Major Organs of The Human Body Labeled Fun Felt Anatomy Activity
  • Fun Resources and Books About The Human Body For Preschoolers
  • 8 Eye Facts & Human Body Activities Middle School & Fun Eye Model
  • 12 Human Body Games For Middle School & High School
  • Craft a Fun Hand Straw Model to Explore Human Anatomy Muscles & Tendons
  • How to Make a Human DIY Heart Model Easy Craft for Kids
  • 8 Facts About the Respiratory System & Fun Lung Craft for Kids
  • 7 Human Body Facts and Kids Human Body T-Shirt Project
  • Fun Edible Spine
  • Making Blood + What Are the Components of Blood
  • DIY Heart Pump
  • Kids Stethoscope Activity
  • Build An Edible DNA Model
  • Edible Skin
  • Rigid versus Flexible Bone Activity.
  • Pregnancy Belly Female Study of Human Anatomy Kids Fun Craft
Homeschool Unit Study Human Body. Hands-on Making Blood +  What Are the Components of Blood

  • Dynamic and Fun Human Body Lapbook for Multiple Ages

    Dynamic and Fun Human Body Lapbook for Multiple Ages

    $5.00
    Add to cart

Grab all of hands-on activities below.

What is blood hands on activity and free blood components minibook for a human body homeschool unit study @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus featured
Making Blood + Free What Are the Components of Blood Minibook
Homeschool Unit Study Human Body. Hands-on Activity 5. Edible Skin + Skin and Major Body Systems Minibook @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus Featured
https://www.tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com/homeschool-unit-study-human-body-5/
Mega List Free Resources for Human Body Homeschool Unit Study @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus featured
https://www.tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com/human-body-homeschool-unit-study/
Body Part Labeling and Human Skeleton Quiz Free Minibooks - Free Human Body Unit Study @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus FEATURED
https://www.tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com/body-part-labeling-and-skeleton-quiz-free-minibooks/
Human Body Unit Study. Rigid versus Flexible Bones Hands-on Activity @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus featured
https://www.tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com/homeschool-unit-study-human-body-3/
Human body unit study DIY Heart Pump @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus featured
https://www.tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com/homeschool-unit-study-human-body-2/
20 Human Body Books for Middle and High School Homeschooled Kids @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus featured
https://www.tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com/human-body-books-for-middle-and-high-school-homeschooled-kids/
Human body unit study DIY Stethoscope. Hands-on Learning @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus featured
https://www.tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com/homeschool-unit-study-human-body/
Free Human Body Lapbook and Unit Study @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus featured
https://www.tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com/free-human-body-lapbook-and-unit-study/

Hope you like this as much as we enjoyed learning about it today.
Hugs and love ya,

7 CommentsFiled Under: Hands-On Activities, Lapbook, Science, Science Based Tagged With: hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolscience, human body, jp, life science, science

Ikat Weaving and Makana Shawl in Gualaceo Ecuador

October 11, 2015 | 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Ikat weaving and makana shawl in Gualaceo Ecuador was one fun adventure. Also, look at my page Free South America Printable Lapbook and Fun Hands-on Unit Study Ideas.

I couldn’t have planned a more perfect way to spend the day.

For a year now, I have been wanting to go to the La Casa de la Makana to see the ikat weaving and makana or shawls in Gualaceo Ecuador.

Ikat Weaving and Makana Shawl in Gualaceo Ecuador

We headed to Gualaceo, which is about a 40 minute drive from where we live.

Ikat Weaving and Makana Shawl in Gualaceo Ecuador

We finally got to go with some other gringos and homeschoolers we have become friends with while we have lived here in Cuenca, Ecuador.

Ikat Weaving and Makana Shawl in Gualaceo Ecuador

Ikat – Tying and Dying – Natural and Ancient Arts

What is so amazing about this cultural experience is that the ikat pattern is not only an ancient pattern and art passed down from previous generations, but this family is one of only about a handful of families that practice this ancient hand work.

Ikat Weaving and Makana Shawl in Gualaceo Ecuador
Ikat Weaving and Makana Shawl in Gualaceo Ecuador

The word ikat actually means “to tie”.

The shawls, which normally have a fringed edge has been the typical dress along with the Panama hat for the people in this region for probably close to a hundred years, but it is a dying art because a lot of the locals are getting “modernized”.

Ikat Weaving and Makana Shawl in Gualaceo Ecuador

This family though is preserving the tradition.

Ikat Weaving and Makana Shawl in Gualaceo Ecuador
Ikat Weaving and Makana Shawl in Gualaceo Ecuador

Too, this family, like a lot of families in this area who have their own businesses, both live and work in the same dwelling.

(You can see the tyed yarn in this picture before it’s dyed naturally and weaved.)

Like most homes here, this home has an outside space for working and normally an inside space or separate space for cooking and for sleeping.

Ikat Weaving and Makana Shawl in Gualaceo Ecuador
Ikat Weaving and Makana Shawl in Gualaceo Ecuador

We loved the decorations and old exterior and charm this place had.

Ikat Weaving and Makana Shawl in Gualaceo Ecuador

But first, I have to tell you about this very unique craft.

Like I mentioned, this family has been making shawls and using the ikat pattern for about 5 generations.

It has been a skilled passed down to each generation.

Also, look at some of these books for kids.

Books for Kids About South America

13 Resources for a Study of South America

Add some of these fun books and resources to your study of South America.

Image for South America (Rookie Read-About Geography: Continents)

South America (Rookie Read-About Geography: Continents)

An incredible variety of climates and biomes span the territory of South America. As a result, the continent contains some of the greatest biodiversity on Earth.

Rookie Read-About: Continents series gives the youngest reader (Ages 3-6) an introduction to the components that make each continent distinctive and exceptional. Readers will get to know each continents' geography, history, and wildlife. In this book readers learn about the continent of South America, including the geography, native animals, people and more.

Image for Ancient Civilizations: Aztecs, Maya, Incas!: With 25 Social Studies Projects for Kids (Explore Your World)

Ancient Civilizations: Aztecs, Maya, Incas!: With 25 Social Studies Projects for Kids (Explore Your World)

A full-color, compelling book for ages 7 to 10 offers a deep dive into the three sophisticated ancient civilizations of Mesoamerica―the Aztecs, Maya, and Incas― through hands-on STEAM projects, essential questions, and loads of fascinating facts!

Why were there more than 3,000 steps built at Machu Picchu? Why did the Aztecs roam Mexico for nearly 200 years before finding a place to settle? How did the Maya study the movements of the stars and the planets? Ancient Civilizations: Aztecs, Maya, Incas! With 25 Social Studies Projects for Kids takes kids ages 7 to 10 on a guided tour to experience the history, culture, economics, and daily life of the Aztecs, Maya, and Incas.

Image for Biblioburro: A True Story from Colombia

Biblioburro: A True Story from Colombia

A man, his burros, and his books bring joy to children in remote Colombian villages in this inspiring book based on a true story by celebrated picture book creator Jeanette Winter.Luis loves to read, but soon his house in Colombia is so full of books there’s barely room for the family. What to do? Then he comes up with the perfect solution—a traveling library! He buys two donkeys—Alfa and Beto—and travels with them throughout the land, bringing books and reading to the children in faraway villages.

Image for Secret of the Andes (Puffin Newberry Library)

Secret of the Andes (Puffin Newberry Library)

An Incan boy who tends llamas in a hidden valley in Peru learns the traditions and secrets of his ancestors. 

Image for My Mama's Little Ranch on the Pampas

My Mama's Little Ranch on the Pampas

In the sequel to On the Pampas, the author recalls her first year on the small Argentinian ranch purchased and managed by her mother, in an account that includes a visual dictionary of the Spanish words and geographical terms used in the text.

Image for Tales from Silver Lands

Tales from Silver Lands

Atmospheric woodcuts illustrate this Newbery Award–winning collection of 19 South American folktales. Charles J. Finger heard the tales firsthand from native storytellers, whose fables of talking animals, witches, giants, and ordinary people in supernatural settings provide remarkable insights into regional values and culture. The first of the stories, "A Tale of Three Tails," tells of an age when the rat had a tail like a horse, the rabbit had a tail like a cat, and the deer's tail was plumed like the tail of a dog. "The Magic Dog" recounts an act of kindness to a stray animal that helps overcome a witch's curse. In "The Calabash Man," the creatures of the jungle assist a suitor in winning his bride, and in "El Enano," a greedy troll's insatiable appetite leads to his downfall. Packed with adventure and full of surprises, these and other stories emphasize the importance of hard work, courage, and loyalty.

Image for Turn Right at Machu Picchu: Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time

Turn Right at Machu Picchu: Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time

In 1911, Hiram Bingham III climbed into the Andes Mountains of Peru and “discovered” Machu Picchu. While history has recast Bingham as a villain who stole both priceless artifacts and credit for finding the great archeological site, Mark Adams set out to retrace the explorer’s perilous path in search of the truth—except he’d written about adventure far more than he’d actually lived it. In fact, he’d never even slept in a tent.

Image for Journey to the River Sea

Journey to the River Sea

With the memorable characters and plot twists she brings to her best-selling fantasies, acclaimed author Eva Ibbotson has written a hair-raising novel, set in turn-of-the-last-century Brazil.Accompanied by Miss Minton, a fierce-looking, no-nonsense governess, Maia, a young orphan, sets off for the wilderness of the Amazon, expecting curtains of orchids, brightly colored macaws, and a loving family. But what she finds is an evil-tempered aunt and uncle and their spoiled daughters. It is only when she is swept up in a mystery involving a young Indian boy, a homesick child actor, and a missing inheritance that Maia lands in the middle of the Amazon adventure she's dreamed of. Readers of every generation will treasure Ibbotson's lush historical adventure that harkens back to the beloved classics of Frances Hodgson Burnett and Louisa May Alco

Image for This Place Is Wet

This Place Is Wet

Can you imagine living in a place where there is so much water some houses need to be built on stilts to protect them when the river rises? Or where it is so wet that some plants can grow on the sides of trees with their roots gathering water from the air? In This Place Is Wet, you'll find out all sorts of things about what it's like to live in the rain forest of Brazil. Try to imagine living there!

Image for Bolivar: American Liberator

Bolivar: American Liberator

It is astonishing that Simón Bolívar, the great Liberator of South America, is not better known in the United States. He freed six countries from Spanish rule, traveled more than 75,000 miles on horseback to do so, and became the greatest figure in Latin American history. His life is epic, heroic, straight out of Hollywood: he fought battle after battle in punishing terrain, forged uncertain coalitions of competing forces and races, lost his beautiful wife soon after they married and never remarried (although he did have a succession of mistresses, including one who held up the revolution and another who saved his life), and he died relatively young, uncertain whether his
achievements would endure.

Image for Ada's Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay

Ada's Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay

Ada Ríos grew up in Cateura, a small town in Paraguay built on a landfill. She dreamed of playing the violin, but with little money for anything but the bare essentials, it was never an option...until a music teacher named Favio Chávez arrived. He wanted to give the children of Cateura something special, so he made them instruments out of materials found in the trash

Image for Mayans Aztecs Incas Coloring Book: Coloring Pages of Ancient Mexico Civilizations for Adults and Teens

Mayans Aztecs Incas Coloring Book: Coloring Pages of Ancient Mexico Civilizations for Adults and Teens

Mayans Aztecs Incas Coloring Book – Fun And Education For Adults and TeensMake the perfect gift for anyone who loves coloring! Enjoy this Mayans Aztecs Incas Coloring Book for Adults and Teens. Click the cover to reveal what’s inside!About this book:

  • 40 original pages drawings of Symbols, Warriors, Masks and Mandalas.
Image for The Inca Empire (A True Book: Ancient Civilizations) (A True Book (Relaunch))

The Inca Empire (A True Book: Ancient Civilizations) (A True Book (Relaunch))

Explore the Inca empire, including how the Incas survived in the mountains, how the empire was built, and why it disappeared.

A True Book: Ancient Civilizations series allows readers to experience what makes each ancient civilization distinctive and exceptional as well look at its influence on the some of the practices of the modern world. This series includes an age appropriate (grades 3-5) introduction to curriculum-relevant subjects and a robust resource section that encourages independent study.

Do you know the beautiful and ancient pattern of ikat?

Look at these patterns to give you an idea of why I was so stoked to learn about this beautiful craftsmanship up close and personal. (Can I have one of each please?)

Ikat Weaving and Makana Shawl in Gualaceo Ecuador
Ikat Weaving and Makana Shawl in Gualaceo Ecuador

                                                                        

Ikat Weaving and Makana Shawl in Gualaceo Ecuador

More Activities About South America

  • Ikat Weaving and Makana Shawl in Gualaceo Ecuador
  • Finding a Home in Cuenca, Ecuador
  • Everyday Life in Cuenca, Ecuador
  • 5 Things I Love About Cuenca Ecuador
  • Effigies, Celebrations and Customs of Cuenca, Ecuador

Here the mother is using a warping machine to wrap the yarn. This determines the size of the shawl.

Ikat Weaving and Makana Shawl in Gualaceo Ecuador

But what is really AWESOME, is the natural method of making dye, which is still practiced today.

Each barrel makes color and from that color they make several more colors.

You can see the color that is being made inside by the barrel by the color scarf on the outside.

Orange, light walnut (guess what nut that is in that barrel soaking with water) and indigo are some of the colors being made here.

South America Family Crafts

To make these natural dyes they used walnuts, worms, rocks, plants and cochineal.

Some of the natural dyes take days to make and still others months.

Cochineal is a bug that lives in the cactus here in South America and from that bug it makes the color carmine (reddish).

But look at this video as our guide adds lime to make one color (like an brown-ish orange-ish) and then baking soda for yet another color (purple).

Also, in this video you can see at the end of the video when she grabs the long ropes of thread that actually comes before the dying process.

Ikat Weaving and Makana Shawl in Gualaceo Ecuador
Ikat Weaving and Makana Shawl in Gualaceo Ecuador

So after warping and dying, next comes the weaving.

The focus here  is to be sure the pattern stays the same and stays in sequence.

Can you see why this ancient art is being lost? It takes time and skill to make just one well-made shawl.

Ikat Weaving and Makana Shawl in Gualaceo Ecuador

The family also had a showroom upstairs. Of course I can’t wait to go upstairs to drool over all their handicrafts.

They provide the patterned material to make shoes to the local shoe maker. So you can have this beautiful pattern on a great looking set of high heels.

Ikat Weaving and Makana Shawl in Gualaceo Ecuador

Look at some of their finished products.

Of course the price here is HALF of what it is in Cuenca or other stores.

The shawls, purses, and shoes are about $25.00 to $30.00. Of course they first said $35.00, but I always ask for a “descuenta” (discount) but that is the norm here.

People expect you to negotiate.

Ikat Weaving and Makana Shawl in Gualaceo Ecuador

But one thing that hangs in their showroom that they are EXTREMELY proud of and that is not for sell is the 150 year old hand embroidered piece made the family great grandmother.

Ikat Master Weavers

They have it hanging up in their showroom to show off not only their proud heritage but the intricate quality.

It has humming birds on it and the seal of the Republic of Ecuador.

Ikat Weaving and Makana Shawl in Gualaceo Ecuador
Ikat Weaving and Makana Shawl in Gualaceo Ecuador

Too, I had to show you a close up of this one loom that is 150 years (on the left) and that is still used by this family.

Ikat Weaving and Makana Shawl in Gualaceo Ecuador

Of course, I couldn’t leave without buying an item or two.

I just drooled when I saw this wool and ikat blue bag and had to have it.

I think I will go back and grab a few more shawls and maybe even a pair of heels.

Ikat Weaving and Makana Shawl in Gualaceo Ecuador

Then, of course the day is not complete with a great fabulous meals at one of the local and CLEAN restaurants.

I went upstairs to snatch a picture real quick before we devoured our delicious meal.

Hope you learned something about the cultural of Ecuador that we are just soaking up while we are here!

I think I could decorate my whole house in the ikat pattern because I have fallen madly in love with it.

Ikat weaving and Makana shawl in Gualaceo Ecuador. The ancient art of tying and natural dying material to create the ikat pattern@ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

2 CommentsFiled Under: Geography Based, Living Abroad, Science Based

Body Part Labeling and Skeleton Quiz Human Body Unit Study

October 9, 2015 | 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

The body part labeling and skeleton quiz minibooks are part of the completed human body unit study.

The human body lapbook was free for a limited time.

Body Part Labeling and Skeleton Quiz Human Body Unit Study

Body Part Labeling and Skeleton Quiz

Be sure to grab the other activities we have done so far with our Human Body Unit Study.

Also, make an eazy peazy DIY Stethoscope and a great project for a middle school kid is the Heart Pump activity. Too, do the rigid versus flexible bone activity too.

Today, I have two more minibooks for the Human Body Lapbook.

You already have the heart minibook and the Did You Know heart facts minbook.

One minibook is titled I am Wonderfully Made and it is a labeling of general body parts.

This book  can for sure be used for a younger child and a middle school kid.

Human Body Hands-on Unit Study Ideas

Because we have only read about the human body and not really done any written work, I wanted to be sure Tiny had a good visual placement of the major body parts.

I Am Wonderfully Made

The human body minibook is a triple fold book. Triple fold and put the cover on the outside.

Human Body Unit Study

Too, remember, because I don’t like to waste paper, the cover page for this body labeling book you already downloaded with the heart minibook.

Be sure to grab it and place it on this minibook.

Skeleton System Quick Quiz

This next fun minibook is a 4 question quiz about the skeleton system.

The four questions are:

■ How many bones are in your body?
■How many bones are in your skull?
■What is the largest bone?
■What is the smallest bone?

We generally pull out our file folder at this time and start trying to place the minibooks we have so far on the lapbook. But we don’t glue them yet until we are finished.

Generally though when I have about 4 minibooks or so, I do try to start laying them. Not all the time do I chose portrait position on the lapbook.

This lapbook just feels like it might look pretty hot if we turn the lapbook landscape. But that is generally what I do right now, which is to start looking at the layout.

However, we are still undecided, which is why we also keep the minibooks in a ziploc bag until we’re done.

Completed Human Body Lapbook

  • Dynamic and Fun Human Body Lapbook for Multiple Ages

    Dynamic and Fun Human Body Lapbook for Multiple Ages

    $5.00
    Add to cart

Body Part Labeling and Skeleton Quiz Human Body Unit Study

Lastly, more human body unit study activities coming! (Update: The hands-on activities are all at the bottom of this post. Click on each one for all the fun hands-on ideas.)

Grab all of the lapbook printables and hands-on activities below.

What is blood hands on activity and free blood components minibook for a human body homeschool unit study @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus featured
Making Bloodhttps://www.tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com/homeschool-unit-study-human-body-4/
Homeschool Unit Study Human Body. Hands-on Activity 5. Edible Skin + Skin and Major Body Systems Minibook @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus Featured
Edible Skin https://www.tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com/homeschool-unit-study-human-body-5/
Mega List Free Resources for Human Body Homeschool Unit Study @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus featured
Free Resourceshttps://www.tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com/human-body-homeschool-unit-study/
Body Part Labeling and Human Skeleton Quiz Free Minibooks - Free Human Body Unit Study @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus FEATURED
Body Part Labelinghttps://www.tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com/body-part-labeling-and-skeleton-quiz-free-minibooks/
Human Body Unit Study. Rigid versus Flexible Bones Hands-on Activity @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus featured
Rigid versus Flexible Bonehttps://www.tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com/homeschool-unit-study-human-body-3/
Human body unit study DIY Heart Pump @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus featured
DIY Heart Pumphttps://www.tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com/homeschool-unit-study-human-body-2/
20 Human Body Books for Middle and High School Homeschooled Kids @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus featured
Human Body Bookshttps://www.tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com/human-body-books-for-middle-and-high-school-homeschooled-kids/
Human body unit study DIY Stethoscope. Hands-on Learning @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus featured
Stethoscope Activityhttps://www.tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com/homeschool-unit-study-human-body/
Free Human Body Lapbook and Unit Study @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus featured
Beautiful Humanhttps://www.tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com/free-human-body-lapbook-and-unit-study/ Body Lapbook and Fun Unit Study

Hugs and love ya,

Body Part Labeling and Human Skeleton Quiz Free Minibooks - Free Human Body Unit Study @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

2 CommentsFiled Under: 1. My FREE Learning Printables {Any Topic}, Free Homeschool Resources, Science, Science Based Tagged With: hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, human body, lapbook, lapbookresources, life science, science, sciencecurriculum

Homeschool Unit Study Human Body. Hands-on Activity 3. Rigid versus Flexible Bone Activity.

October 6, 2015 | 5 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, in our homeschool unit study on the human body, I have another hands-on activity to learn about the makeup of human bones. Also I have this Human Body Crafts page for more fun ideas.

Human Body Unit Study. Rigid versus Flexible Bones Hands-on Activity @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Homeschool Unit Study Human Body

By the way, this is a 24 hour activity meaning your child needs to observe it over night.

Look at these ingredients that I had on hand:

■bleach
■vinegar
■water
■three or four bones
■pot for boiling
■3 plastic cups
■masking tape and sharpie

The object of this hands-on lesson is to test how rigid or how flexible are our bones.

Bones Activity 1 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus
Bones Activity 2 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

So we started by gathering up all of our supplies. Too, try to get all the grizzle and meat off the bones so your child can observe it better.

Then we boiled the bones in water for about 25 minutes or so and took them out to cool.

Bones Activity 3 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus
Bones Activity 4 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Tiny went ahead and took a test try of the bones to see how rigid or flexible the bones were.

Tiny made an observation and then he guess how they would be after he exposed each one to water, bleach and vinegar over night.

Then we set up each glass and placed one or two bones (depending on how many you have) in each glass.

He covered each one with liquid. I poured the bleach over the one bone.

Bones Activity 5 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus
Bones Activity 6 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Then Tiny took tape and labeled each glass and set aside for the night.

More Human Body Crafts

  • Simple and Easy Circulatory System Hands-on Activity for Kids
  • How to Turn a Pizza Into a Fun Edible Human Cell Model
  • How To Make A Fun Bones Of The Hand Labeled X-Ray Craft
  • 7 Human Skull Facts and Cool Human Skull Anatomy Activity
  • How to Make a Fun Hands-on Playdough Brain Activity
  • Major Organs of The Human Body Labeled Fun Felt Anatomy Activity
  • Fun Resources and Books About The Human Body For Preschoolers
  • 8 Eye Facts & Human Body Activities Middle School & Fun Eye Model
  • 12 Human Body Games For Middle School & High School
  • Craft a Fun Hand Straw Model to Explore Human Anatomy Muscles & Tendons
  • How to Make a Human DIY Heart Model Easy Craft for Kids
  • 8 Facts About the Respiratory System & Fun Lung Craft for Kids
  • 7 Human Body Facts and Kids Human Body T-Shirt Project
  • Fun Edible Spine
  • Making Blood + What Are the Components of Blood
  • DIY Heart Pump
  • Kids Stethoscope Activity
  • Build An Edible DNA Model
  • Edible Skin
  • Rigid versus Flexible Bone Activity.
  • Pregnancy Belly Female Study of Human Anatomy Kids Fun Craft

Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones

The next morning, he took each bone out of the liquid to test the flexibility of each bone.

Bones Activity 7 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus
Bones Activity 8 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

He tested each bone by trying to move it back and forth.

Which ones bend and which ones did not is the secret for your child to find out.

Here is some information to help you.

■Bones are both stiff and flexible and can bend a bit without breaking if healthy.
■Soaking the bones in acid, which is the vinegar dissolved the calcium. What was left was collagen and they were much more flexible.
■Bleach is a strong base that breaks the collagen and the bones became brittle and broke.
■Soaking the bones in water didn’t do anything.

This was a great activity to help explain the care of bones and healthy eating habits.

Grab all of the lapbook printables and hands-on activities below.

What is blood hands on activity and free blood components minibook for a human body homeschool unit study @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus featured
Making Blood + Free What Are the Components of Blood Minibook
Homeschool Unit Study Human Body. Hands-on Activity 5. Edible Skin + Skin and Major Body Systems Minibook @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus Featured
Edible Skin + Free Minibook About Skin & Body Systems
Mega List Free Resources for Human Body Homeschool Unit Study @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus featured
Mega List Free Resources for Human Body Homeschool Unit Study.
Body Part Labeling and Human Skeleton Quiz Free Minibooks - Free Human Body Unit Study @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus FEATURED
Body Part Labeling and Skeleton Quiz Free Minibooks
Human Body Unit Study. Rigid versus Flexible Bones Hands-on Activity @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus featured
Rigid versus Flexible Bone Activity.
Human body unit study DIY Heart Pump @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus featured
DIY Heart Pump + Free Heart Mini Book
20 Human Body Books for Middle and High School Homeschooled Kids @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus featured
Human Body Books for Middle and High School Homeschooled Kids
Human body unit study DIY Stethoscope. Hands-on Learning @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus featured
DIY Stethoscope
Free Human Body Lapbook and Unit Study @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus featured
Free Human Body Lapbook and Unit Study

Hugs and love ya,

 

5 CommentsFiled Under: Hands-On Activities, Science, Science Based Tagged With: hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, human body

Homeschool Unit Study Human Body. Hands-On Activity. DIY Heart Pump

September 29, 2015 | 36 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

We are really embracing all the fun and easy hands-on ideas we are finding to do with our homeschool unit study on the human body.Also I have this Human Body Crafts page for more fun ideas.

This second project which is a model heart pump or a model of one of the heart’s chambers was a bit time consuming, but well worth it and I’ll share a few of our mistakes too.

Homeschool Unit Study Human Body. Hands-On Activity DIY Heart Pump and Human Body Lapbook

Unit Study Human Body

This is a great project for middle school kids.

Human body unit study DIY Heart Pump @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

(Note: I filled the bottle back up on the right side so you could see it in the picture, but the bottle on the right side will empty into the other bottle.)

All of these items we had on hand, though we had to change it around some.

DIY Heart Pump @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

More Human Body Crafts

  • Simple and Easy Circulatory System Hands-on Activity for Kids
  • How to Turn a Pizza Into a Fun Edible Human Cell Model
  • How To Make A Fun Bones Of The Hand Labeled X-Ray Craft
  • 7 Human Skull Facts and Cool Human Skull Anatomy Activity
  • How to Make a Fun Hands-on Playdough Brain Activity
  • Major Organs of The Human Body Labeled Fun Felt Anatomy Activity
  • Fun Resources and Books About The Human Body For Preschoolers
  • 8 Eye Facts & Human Body Activities Middle School & Fun Eye Model
  • 12 Human Body Games For Middle School & High School
  • Craft a Fun Hand Straw Model to Explore Human Anatomy Muscles & Tendons
  • How to Make a Human DIY Heart Model Easy Craft for Kids
  • 8 Facts About the Respiratory System & Fun Lung Craft for Kids
  • 7 Human Body Facts and Kids Human Body T-Shirt Project
  • Fun Edible Spine
  • Making Blood + What Are the Components of Blood
  • DIY Heart Pump
  • Kids Stethoscope Activity
  • Build An Edible DNA Model
  • Edible Skin
  • Rigid versus Flexible Bone Activity.
  • Pregnancy Belly Female Study of Human Anatomy Kids Fun Craft

Look at this list:

  • One empty plastic bottle about 16 oz.
  • Two plastic bottles the same size. (We could have used glass glasses too and it’s easier if they are shorter than the 16 oz. bottle.)
  • 3 bendy straws.
  • scissors.
  • 3 medium size balloons.
  • glue gun.
  • water.
  • red food coloring.
  • tape.
  • small dish.
  • ear syringe (too, don’t do like us and use a small one. It was hard for us to get our heart pumping. Use one of those ear syringes with the long neck. But, then we had to use what we could find here in Ecuador.)

Kids DIY Heart Pump Activity

2. DIY Heart Pump @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

(Picture 2.)

First, make two valves. Cut a small slit on one balloon, just big enough for the straw to fit through and for it to be tight.

We made the mistake of cutting the hole too big.

The balloon needs to be snug around the straw. Pull the straw through the mouth of the balloon.

One valve (top shown above) keep the bottom of the straw in the balloon.

For the second valve (second one shown above), keep the bendy part in the straw. Also cut some of the top part off the balloon to make a wider mouth.

3. DIY Heart Pump @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Next you will need to cut two holes in the plastic bottle. One hole will be half way down on one side and the other hole will be about a third of the way up on the opposite side.

Homeschool Unit Study Human Body

Cut them large enough for straws to fit through, but not too big.

If you make the holes too big, you can seal it with the hot glue gun.

4. DIY Heart Pump @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

This next part is a bit hard and our balloon came off the straw inside the bottle. So we had to use another balloon.

But first put the “bottom valve” (Picture 2 above), which has part of the balloon mouth cut off, stick it through the top hole you made on the plastic bottle.

We had to gently twist the balloon and take our time.

The other valve goes in the bottom hole on the other side of the plastic bottle.

Stick the straw end into the hole.

5. DIY Heart Pump @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Use the third straw to bend the valve (straw) inside the bottle to point down so the water will flow correctly.

6. DIY Heart Pump @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Here you can see where we made a mistake because we intended on using the measuring cup turned over to elevate the plastic bottle, but our other two bottles were too tall.

Heart Activity for Kids

We solved the problem by finding a pitcher. It worked great.

So that is what I mean when I said earlier that you could use glasses shorter than your plastic bottle.

We elevated the right side with a dish and made sure our straw was pretty good ways in.

The other bottle we stuck the balloon end from the straw in it.

Too, you will notice on this part, that we taped everything down as good as we could get it.

That also helped for the bottles to not move.

I even taped the bottle on the right side to the dish.

7. DIY Heart Pump @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Then a hot glue gun solves everything. I glued this part for Tiny.

I just glued around the straw and hole to seal any holes we had made too big.

This also helped the straws to stay in place after we bent them.

8. DIY Heart Pump @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Then fill the container up on the right side with water. Add some red food coloring.

I think Tiny added like 8 drops (5 would of done, but whatever) or so and make sure the water is well above the straw’s end.

Next, take the third balloon and cut off some of the mouth and a very small hole at the closed end, just big enough for the neck of the ear syringe to fit in.

You are making a band that will fit tight and snug over the ear syringe when it is pulled up over it when the ear syringe is in the neck of the bottle. Lay it aside for just one minute.

9. DIY Heart Pump @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Next, add water to your middle bottle and enough to cover the bottom straw about two inches over.

Hands-on Science

Next, the third balloon that you cut the mouth off and that has a small opening on the other side, place over the middle plastic bottle mouth.

Stick the syringe through the bottle and pull the balloon up over the up to make a seal between the bottle and the syringe.

Homeschool Unit Study Human Body. Hands-On Activity DIY Heart Pump and Human Body Lapbook

(Note: Tiny already took off the seal for our syringe because we had a pretty tight seal without the balloon seal.)

The pump is ready. Squeeze and release the “heart”. The heart squeezes to pump blood.

The water should be going from one side or from the filled bottle to the empty bottle. When you squeeze the ear syringe, air pushes on the water and on the balloon inside the middle bottle.

Homeschool Unit Study Human Body. Hands-On Activity DIY Heart Pump and Human Body Lapbook

The water exited through the straw on the left side and air pressure closed the balloon (valve) inside the middle bottle.

When you let go of the syringe, air pushed water on the two outside bottles.

The difference in pressure, pulled water into the balloon inside the middle bottom and closed the balloon (valve) on the right bottle.

Heart Minibook

Heart Mini Book @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

The human body lapbook was free for a limited time.

Human Body Lapbook

Human Body Lapbook

  • Dynamic and Fun Human Body Lapbook for Multiple Ages

    Dynamic and Fun Human Body Lapbook for Multiple Ages

    $5.00
    Add to cart

More Human Body Unit Study Resources

  • Homeschool Unit Study Human Body Hands-On Kids Stethoscope Activity
  • Human Body Books for Middle and High School Homeschooled Kids
  • Homeschool Unit Study Human Body. Hands-On Activity. DIY Heart Pump
  • Homeschool Unit Study Human Body. Hands-on Activity 3. Rigid versus Flexible Bone Activity.
  • Body Part Labeling and Skeleton Quiz Human Body Unit Study
  • Mega List Free Resources for Human Body Homeschool Unit Study. Crafts, Lesson Plans,Teachers Guides for Elementary, Middle and High School
  • Edible Skin Project and Free Homeschool Human Body Unit Study
What is blood hands on activity and free blood components minibook for a human body homeschool unit study @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus featured
https://www.tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com/homeschool-unit-study-human-body-4/
Homeschool Unit Study Human Body. Hands-on Activity 5. Edible Skin + Skin and Major Body Systems Minibook @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus Featured
https://www.tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com/homeschool-unit-study-human-body-5/
Mega List Free Resources for Human Body Homeschool Unit Study @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus featured
https://www.tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com/human-body-homeschool-unit-study/
Body Part Labeling and Human Skeleton Quiz Free Minibooks - Free Human Body Unit Study @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus FEATURED
https://www.tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com/body-part-labeling-and-skeleton-quiz-free-minibooks/
Human Body Unit Study. Rigid versus Flexible Bones Hands-on Activity @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus featured
https://www.tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com/homeschool-unit-study-human-body-5/
Human body unit study DIY Heart Pump @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus featured
https://www.tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com/homeschool-unit-study-human-body-2/
20 Human Body Books for Middle and High School Homeschooled Kids @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus featured
https://www.tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com/human-body-books-for-middle-and-high-school-homeschooled-kids/
Human body unit study DIY Stethoscope. Hands-on Learning @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus featured
https://www.tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com/homeschool-unit-study-human-body/
Free Human Body Lapbook and Unit Study @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus featured
https://www.tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com/free-human-body-lapbook-and-unit-study/

Hugs and love ya,

36 CommentsFiled Under: Hands-On Activities, Science, Science Based Tagged With: hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, homeschoolscience, human body, lapbook, lapbookresources, life science

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