First graders recently completed their Body Projects, life-sized models of their own bodies - built from the inside out.

Throughout the year, first graders explore the human body, life cycles, culture and tradition, and find their own voices through music and language as part of the first grade theme, who am I? In December, they began their study of the human body in earnest learning about the major systems of the human body - respiratory, nervous, skeletal, circulatory, muscular, and digestive. As they discover the complexity and function of each system, students demonstrate their understanding of the human body on a life-sized internal self-portrait.

“First, they drew the skeletal system with white colored pencil. This was probably the most impressive part!  The detail that some of the students drew was pretty amazing. We gave them stencils for the muscles and they colored in with the color they chose and then cut and pasted yarn for the veins and arteries.  They used bubble wrap for the lungs to signify the oxygen inside.  Everyone chose to make the brain in their own way, some with crumpled tissue paper and some with a detailed sketch.  Major organs were cut and pasted out of construction paper or foam board.  Nerves were drawn on.” - Amy Billings, first grade teacher

The creation of the body helps solidify the connection students make to where these systems, organs, and body parts exist in the body, and encourages them to visualize the complexities of who they are as human beings.