We’re doing some fun anatomy activities for high school, including an easy skin layer model that will have your teen digging below the surface ( of skin that is). And look at my page How to Choose the Right Homeschool High School Science for more fun teen ideas.
Also, look at my Human Body Lapbook and Fun Unit Study and Human Body Crafts for Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning for more fun ideas.
Anatomy may include memorizing long vocabulary lists and labeling diagrams, but it can also be a lot more fun than that.
In fact, when high school students get hands-on with the human body’s structures and functions, they not only remember the details better, but they also enjoy the process of learning.
Besides, high school students learn best when they’re actively involved.
Anatomy is a subject filled with detail like layers, systems, and complex interactions.
MORE HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT HOMESCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE
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- A Beginner’s Guide To 1st Year High School Science Subject
- How To Build High School Environmental Science Homeschool Curriculum
- Online High School Science Courses For Homeschoolers Who Love Choices
- Fun Anatomy Activities For High School & How To Make An Easy Skin Layer Model
- Fun and Easy High School DNA Model Project
- How To Create A Botany High School Curriculum & Career Ideas
- Biology Kits for High School & How to Do a Shark Dissection
HUMAN BODY GAMES
Next, look at some resources for high school.
12 Human Body Games for Middle & High School Students
Middle and high school kids need a break from reading and playing games to learn science is the perfect supplement and break.
This game takes place inside of a human cell, you must race to build enzymes, hormones, and receptors and play with proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and DNA. It also comes with a fact-filled booklet that explains every concept in the game.
If they enjoy doctor/human body games this one is ideal. It’s a fun and silly game that is great for kids to adults where the main objective is to remove your opponent’s organs before they can remove yours
A cooperative board game using your characters' strengths and skills to stop diseases and epidemics before they go global. Everyone starts at the Atlanta Center for disease control and then builds research stations all over the world. What I love about this game is that it is a good source for discussion on pandemics, diseases, symptoms, immune systems, and more.
There are many versions of Fluxx available but this one is perfect for an anatomy unit study. It is a card game for 2-6 players and was designed by an ER doctor. It contains anatomical trivia, and twists, and makes a great way to learn about the different systems of the body.
Fast-paced and solid way to learn about virus structure and viral components like helical, icosahedral, and genomes. In this game, players take on the role of the virus trying to infect a host cell rather than trying to eradicate the virus.
For ages 7+, with 3 levels of play this is another game that I think is still very applicable for younger teens and preteens to play. It incorporates trivia, true or false questions, as well as multiple choice.
This one says 6+ but I truly think that 6th and 7th graders will still enjoy it and be able to learn from it. It is a quick play with real anatomy science facts and images.
A biology game perfect for high school review. It comes with 25 sets of 30 illustrated and self-correcting review cards for use, and 12 different game boards. While it covers all of biology beyond the human body I think, though expensive, it gives you a lot of bang for your buck.
While this one seems a bit young, a teen that needs a refresher in things like what two muscles do we use in our arm when lifting and down will find this a fun review. It has 150 questions and covers a wide variety of human body topics, great for car rides or waiting in lines.
I think this one would be a treat for the teen who plans to go into any direction in the medical field. It is a strategy game where you work to build your own clinic just the way you like it- caring for patients and maintaining staff while you expand.
Next, this one is not medical or anatomy themed but I’m adding it because it is a base game that has an open-ended theme. The object is to pull a card that gives you a theme and then take turns calling out words in that theme that begin with each letter of the alphabet. When you call it you tap that letter down and it's out of play, continue until someone can't think of one. You can play this anatomy themed in general, bones, organs, body systems, etc.… We have played this game as a compliment to multiple unit study themes.
Simply just an anatomy-themed deck of cards but a fantastic way to familiarize your student with the human body using illustrations from Netter’s Atlas of Human Anatomy. You can pick your favorite game like solitaire, garbage, or even 52 card pick up with this.
Next, look at each of the 3 skins layers. You learn what they are made up of, and what their function is.
SKIN LAYERS 101
THE EPIDERMIS
The epidermis is the thinnest layer of the skin, but it’s packed with important functions.
It is made up of stratified squamous epithelial cells arranged in several sub-layers.
The most important is the stratum basale (where new skin cells are produced). The stratum spinosum and stratum granulosum (where cells begin to harden), and the stratum corneum (the tough outer layer of dead cells that eventually flake off).
This constant cycle of cell turnover takes about 28 days in healthy skin.
The epidermis is also home to melanocytes, cells that produce melanin to protect against UV radiation, and Langerhans cells, which are part of the immune system and help defend against pathogens.
Even though the epidermis has no blood vessels, it gets oxygen and nutrients via diffusion from the dermis below.
THE DERMIS
Beneath the epidermis lies the thicker dermis. It is divided into two regions. There is the papillary dermis (upper layer) and the reticular dermis (deeper layer).
The papillary dermis contains small blood vessels and capillaries that feed the epidermis, as well as nerve endings that sense touch, pain, and temperature.
This layer also forms dermal papillae — tiny ridges that create fingerprints. The reticular dermis is made of dense connective tissue that provides skin with strength and elasticity.
It contains larger blood vessels, sweat glands (eccrine and apocrine), sebaceous (oil) glands, hair follicles, lymphatic vessels, and the deeper nerve receptors. Collagen and elastin fibers in this layer allow the skin to stretch and return to shape, which is why the dermis plays a key role in wound healing.
THE HYPODERMIS
The hypodermis, or subcutaneous tissue, lies beneath the dermis and anchors the skin to underlying muscles and bones. It is made mostly of adipose (fat) tissue and loose connective tissue.
The fat in the hypodermis serves as insulation to regulate body temperature, energy storage for metabolism, and shock absorption to protect vital organs.
This layer is also rich in larger blood vessels and lymphatic vessels, which connect the skin to the rest of the body’s circulatory and immune systems.
Because of its fat content, the hypodermis thickness can vary greatly between individuals and different areas of the body.
Now, here are some fun and educational anatomy activities for high school students
MORE FUN ANATOMY ACTIVITIES FOR HIGH SCHOOL
- Human Body Books for Middle and High School Homeschooled Kids
- The Muscular System: Part 1 of 5
- Muscle Groups Activity for High School Science
- Homeschool Unit Study Human Body. Hands-On Activity. DIY Heart Pump
- Easy Human Digestive System Model with this easy activity using tights!
Next, here is a step-by-step project for making a skin layer model out of craft felt as a highlight.
HOW TO MAKE AN EASY SKIN LAYER MODEL
One of the most fascinating anatomy topics is the body’s largest organ: the skin. The skin protects, regulates, and senses the world around us.
This project helps students understand the three main skin layers (epidermis, dermis, hypodermis) as well as their structures, like glands, follicles, and nerves.
You will need:
- Craft felt in various colors
- Scissors
- Hot glue gun or fabric glue
- Cardboard base for stability
- Cardstock or 3×5 for labeling
First, start by cutting a cardboard base the size you would like your model.
Cut 3 different colors of felt the same size as the cardboard base for each of the 3 layers, we chose yellow, pink, and tan.
Use the yellow felt section for the hypodermis, which provides insulation and energy storage.
You can cut 2 or 3 to stack and make it thicker if you like to more closely emulate the thickness of this layer compared to others, and then hot glue onto the cardboard base.
HUMAN SKIN LAYER MODEL FOR TEENS
Hot glue pink or red felt on top of the hypodermis to create the dermis which contains blood vessels, nerves, and hair follicles.
Run the hot glue just along the edge of one side so that you can fold it back and see each layer beneath.
Use beige felt for the epidermis, the thin outermost layer, and glue it down just along the same side you glued your last layer.
Cut a couple of small holes in this layer.
Thread your “hairs” through them and glue them into place in the middle, dermis layer, where hair follicles would be.
Cut very thin, small details for your felt, or you can use string or pipe cleaners to create blood vessels, nerve endings, and sweat glands using different colors.
Secure your blood vessels, sweat glands, and nerves on the dermis layer as well with hot glue.
Next, create labels and add a little color or drawing to help identify them if you like.
Once everything dries, you can flip those layers back and forth.
Finally, place the layers in the correct spot on the model.
