Janice Vancleave's the Human Body for Every Kid: Easy Activities That Make Learning Science Fun

by Janice VanCleave

Book Overview

What makes the heart beat faster or slower? How do tightrope walkers keep their balance? Why does spinning fast cause dizziness? Explore the mysteries and the workings of the human body through this fascinating collection of ideas, projects, and activities. Have fun while you learn about everything from the body's basic building blocks to how the brain receives messages from other parts of the body. Make a model of a human cell that you can eat for...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0471024082
• ISBN13: 9780471024088
• Release Date: February 1995
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

Homeschooling Science

This is the first time I've used a book from Janice VanCleave's series of science books, and I have been very satisfied. We used "The Human Body" as the main textbook for a homeschool science unit that lasted about 6 weeks. I have three kids, two in 4th grade an one in 5th. They have loved the chapters' format--general information with defined key words in bold, along with exercises and activities. What I like most is that the book helps kids THINK about how the body works as a group of systems rather than just inundating them with information. The kids have enjoyed the activities/experiments that correspond to each chapter, and I like them because if materials are necessary (and not all activities require materials) they are household items (like cottonballs, a flashlight, bowls, hot water, etc.) that are on-hand. In addition to the book, we use a notebook to compile the vocabulary words, diagrams, exercises and results from experiments/activities. I am planning to use more of her books in the future.

Great Resource!

I love the Janice VanCleave's Play & Find out series & this book is no exception. It is written for 4-7 year olds. It has great, simple enough activities to do with your kids to make science & nature come alive. It has great information and is VERY user friendly. Make today's play day a day they will not only enjoy, but will remember and learn from!

Excellent for young children!

I bought this book to get ideas for my kindergardener's science fair project. The various projects/experiments were easy for my 5-year old to understand. Looks like fun, and will be used as my 2-year old grows up as well! It can definitely be used as an easy way to teach every-day science/nature.

WONDERFUL science activity books for PreK and Kindergarten

I am a science teacher and I absolutely adore the Janice VanCleave science series. It is HIGHLY appropriate for the early childhood set. Every topic starts out with a question: i.e. I wonder why hair is curly and straight... And then it leads you through a very age appropriate/simple experiment and a few enrichment activities... Each topic then ends in a very short explanation... The book has illustrations and each question is maybe 3 pages long total, before it goes on to another question. I HIGHLY reccomend it as the BEST science series that I know of for young children. Experiences are the best science learning tools for this age.. more than reading non-fiction and such, although that has benefits as well.. Buy these books!!

TRUELY a book for any kid, any age

A great teaching tool. This informative and well illustrated book is a great homeschool tool. We homeschool 4 children ages 5 to 12 and this book is adaptable to all levels of learning. Exercises and activities will keep your kids wanting to move to the next chapter. Each of the major systems of the human body are presented in a clear and understandable way. Janice VanCleave takes you and your child from human cell division all the way to reproduction.(no explicit graphics used). We particularly enjoyed the chapters on the human brain where there are many hands on activities to give the kids a better understanding of how the brain works. If you have kids and your trying to teach them something about human anatomy, THIS IS THE BOOK TO GET.