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Maryville, Mo. —
Students at the Horace Mann Laboratory School took a unique journey through the human body last week.
A "Walk Through the Body" lesson gave fifth and sixth-graders an opportunity to become experts in the various systems of our bodies.
The students spent three weeks learning all of the different systems, starting with the basics.
Fifth and sixth grade teacher Linda Heeler said that projects like this help the students learn holistically. Heeler's five Northwest practicum students helped design the lesson.
"They read it, they write it, speak it and act it," Heeler said. "It adds a visual, physical and cooperative aspect."
Heeler said that project-based learning is a teaching strategy that Horace Mann uses frequently, though the subjects change from year to year.
All research into the systems was conducted by the students, who were split into groups and assigned systems.
Each group had to give presentations on their systems to all of the other fifth and sixth graders, along with students from fourth grade.
Heeler said that lessons like this get the children excited and instill a desire to learn more.
"You could teach this lesson with a worksheet," she said. "This helps them get excited. They want to know more, and go for unique facts about the body. It's a motivator because they see themselves as experts and want to be one."
Learning to manage research projects is only part of the lesson. As each group cycled through the different presentations, students took notes for a follow-up test.
The presentations included an actual walk through the circulatory system, a rap song about the respiratory system and physical demonstrations of the skeletal system.
Big projects dot the curriculum for Heeler and her students, and she believes that the projects not only teach those that give the presentations, but also the other groups involved.
"We are able to take in many different forms of learning," Heeler said. "This personalizes the lesson, but at the same time raises the achievement of all of the students."
Students at the Horace Mann Laboratory School took a unique journey through the human body last week.
A "Walk Through the Body" lesson gave fifth and sixth-graders an opportunity to become experts in the various systems of our bodies.
The students spent three weeks learning all of the different systems, starting with the basics.
Fifth and sixth grade teacher Linda Heeler said that projects like this help the students learn holistically. Heeler's five Northwest practicum students helped design the lesson.
"They read it, they write it, speak it and act it," Heeler said. "It adds a visual, physical and cooperative aspect."
Heeler said that project-based learning is a teaching strategy that Horace Mann uses frequently, though the subjects change from year to year.
All research into the systems was conducted by the students, who were split into groups and assigned systems.
Each group had to give presentations on their systems to all of the other fifth and sixth graders, along with students from fourth grade.
Heeler said that lessons like this get the children excited and instill a desire to learn more.
"You could teach this lesson with a worksheet," she said. "This helps them get excited. They want to know more, and go for unique facts about the body. It's a motivator because they see themselves as experts and want to be one."
Learning to manage research projects is only part of the lesson. As each group cycled through the different presentations, students took notes for a follow-up test.
The presentations included an actual walk through the circulatory system, a rap song about the respiratory system and physical demonstrations of the skeletal system.
Big projects dot the curriculum for Heeler and her students, and she believes that the projects not only teach those that give the presentations, but also the other groups involved.
"We are able to take in many different forms of learning," Heeler said. "This personalizes the lesson, but at the same time raises the achievement of all of the students."
