Anatomy Ins & Outlines
Use body outlines to learn about what’s inside of you.
There are three versions of this project:
Body Tracings
Body Booklet
Body Cut-outs
For all versions, take a photo of your child and print it out. Cut out the photo.
Body Tracings
Take the photo cut-out and trace around it onto a blank sheet of paper. You can probably fit 3 tracings onto the paper.
Draw different body systems in each outline.
Fit the photo back onto each outline to illustrate that skin & clothes cover up our insides.
Body Booket
Cut some rectangular pages out of card stock and trace the photo cut-out onto each page.
Have your child draw and color a body system in each outline.
Glue the photo onto the first page and staple together.
Body Cut-outs
The first two steps for this version are the same. For the third step you will cut out each outline and staple them together.
Project #2: Circulation Outline
Use this project to teach how and why the circulatory and respiratory systems are connected.
You will need:
Clear flexible straws (amazon.com)
Bright red pipe cleaners
Body outline print-out
Clear tape
Two-sided tape
Dark marker (purple, blue, or brown)
Before starting the activity, cut four clear flexible straws so that they are equally long on either side of the bend. Cut four identical lengths from red pipe cleaners.
Present your child with a body outline (it shouldn’t be too big). Have him draw a heart and lungs in the correct positions. You might want to display a diagram, like the following:
While he is drawing, show him a red pipe cleaner and explain how it is the color of blood with plenty of oxygen. As blood travels further and further from the heart, it turns darker because it loses oxygen. The blood returns to the heart and lungs to pick up more oxygen.
Give your child the straw and pipe cleaner segments. Instruct him to color half of each pipe cleaner with a dark marker.
He can then push the pipe cleaner through the straw and bend it. Help him tape the straw into this position. Repeat with the remaining straws and pipe cleaners.
Now you can help your child place strips of two-sided tape onto the limbs of the body outline.
Stick the vessel straws onto the tape strips, with open ends pointing toward the heart and lungs.
Why We Like It:
This craft is an excellent representation of blood and blood vessels.
The clear straws are a lot like actual blood vessels, which are translucent and tubular.
It helps your child see and understand why blood circulates back to the heart and lungs.
Younger children really enjoy pushing the pipe cleaners through the straws – a great fine motor activity!
