Read great books, exercise, sing, lapbook, dance–this My Body preschool and kindergarten science class has it all!
Using Homeschool Share’s FREE My Body Lapbook as my base, I put together a co-op class for preschool and kindergarten. I only used parts of the lapbook, but all the pages you need to print are noted in the weekly lessons.
A few notes about the lessons:
- All the songs and finger plays (except for “Skeleton Dance”) are included in a mini-book found in the lapbook file.
- Use these ABC Exercise Cards at the end of each class if you have additional time, or use during the class if kids need a moment to work out some wiggles!
- This outline includes ideas for nine weeks. You could easily add more ideas if your co-op meets for more than 9 weeks (a week for eyes, a week for the five senses, a week for germs/staying well, etc.).
Week 1: Hands
Sing “The Hokey Pokey”
Sing “Parts That Bend”
Read My Hands by Aliki
Make “My Hands” mini-book and trace student’s hands inside (pages 12-13 in the lapbook file)
Read and sing If You’re Happy and You Know It
Read Here Are My Hands by Bill Martin Jr.
Let students use their hands to make a healthy snack!
Week 2: Feet
Sing “The Hokey Pokey”
Sing “Parts That Bend”
Read My Feet by Aliki
Create a Foot Print Art Project
Sing “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes”
Make “Measuring Up” mini-book (page 8 in the lapbook file)
Read The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss
Week 3: Ears & Nose
Sing “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes”
Hide things in brown bags that have strong smells (orange, cinnamon, chocolate, etc.); play a guessing game with the kids.
Read The Ear Book by Al Perkins
Sing “Do Your Ears Hang Low?”
Cook popcorn together and listen to it pop, pop, pop!
Week 4: Teeth
Ask a dentist or a dental assistant to visit your class, if you want.
Sing “This Is the Way”
Read How Many Teeth by Paul Showers
Make “How to Brush My Teeth” mini-book (page 8 in lapbook file)
Read The Tooth Book by Dr. Seuss
Make Apple Smile snacks
Week 5: Taking Care of Me!
Sing “This Is the Way”
Sing “The Hokey Pokey”
Sing “Parts That Bend”
Make “Taking Care of Me” mini-book (pages 23-24 in lapbook file)
Read I Like Myself! by Karen Beaumont
Read Sleep is for Everyone by Paul Showers
Serve children a healthy snack
Week 6: Bones
Sing “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes”
Sing “Parts That Bend”
Read Outside In by Claire Smallman
Do the Skeleton Dance!
Make “How Many Bones?” mini-book (page 9 in lapbook file)
Assemble the Life Size Juvenile Homo sapiens puzzle (depending on your class size, you may want to have two puzzles printed on two different colors of paper)
Prepare bones (pretzel sticks with mini-marshmallows on the ends and dipped in white chocolate) and serve to the kids
Week 7: Heart
Sing “The Hokey Pokey”
Read Hear Your Heart by Paul Showers
If possible, borrow a stethoscope and listen to heart beats
Read The Busy Body Book by Lizzy Rockwell
Make “Keep Your Hearth Healthy” accordion mini-book (page 10 in lapbook)
Take a walk together to practice keeping your heart healthy!
Let the children prepare a snack by cutting watermelon, cantaloupe, or cheese with heart shaped cookie cutters.
Week 8: Brain
Sing “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes”
Review or re-read Outside In by Claire Smallman
Make “Areas of My Brain” mini-book (pages 16-17 in lapbook); discuss that different parts of the brain do different things
Serve a healthy snack.
Week 9: Review
Sing “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes”
Sing “Parts That Bend”
Make “Body Part Riddles” mini-book (pages 29-31 in the lapbook file)
Sing “This Is the Way”
Sing “The Hokey Pokey”
Play “Body Counting Game” and add to lapbook (pages 73-76 in the lapbook file)
Serve a Veggie Skeleton for a snack!
Have fun helping your students learn all about their amazing bodies!