This Smart Art science project has evolved over the years, often with input from my students. We’ve had fun thinking of arts and crafts supplies we could use to represent different parts of the human body. I think we’ve been pretty clever, using straws for windpipes, balloons for stomachs, and sponges for lungs. The project requires some prep and does take a little time to build, but it’s easy to manage if you spread it out. The results are definitely worth it! Take a look at some of our samples.
WARNING: Glitter ahead.
The Circulatory System
We use red and blue yarn to represent the arteries and veins, and red glitter to remind us of the electrical nature of the heart. I’m a glitter kind of girl (so are most of my students), but given all the moaning and groaning I hear from my teammates and custodians every time I pull it out, I realize I might be in the minority.😂 A red marker would work just as well, I guess. But understand, you’ll be missing out on the beauty of sparkly carpet.
The Respiratory System
Healthy lungs are described as pink and spongy, so really only one thing made sense for us to use. It can be a challenge for little hands to cut sponges, but they like trying.😉 You may need to help with this part. TIP: Wet sponges are easier to cut. Precut the sponge-lungs the day before you need them so they’re dry when your students are ready to glue them down.
The Skeletal System
We use precut Q-Tips to represent bones. Why precut? Because Q-Tips tend to flick a few feet when snipped, which is fun, but potentially chaotic.😬 If you have a volunteer who can cut your swabs before the lesson, you and your kids can focus on building the skeletons instead of prepping the materials. Other bone options include white straws, pasta noodles (like thick spaghetti), or rolled paper.
You get the idea. You can easily make these (or something similar) using items you have in your own home or classroom, but if you’d like to use the same patterns and labels we have, you can grab them HERE.👇 The gingerbread-man-shape gives us plenty of room to add in our details. We’ve tried more realistic human body templates, but they’re narrow and don’t provide a lot of workspace.
Happy teaching!
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