Tag: human body

HUMAN BODY Learning Lab-book review

“Human Body Learning Lab” by Dr. Betty Choi offers an engaging exploration of the human body for curious kids. Dr. Choi, a pediatrician and mom, provides an easy-to-understand guide, complete with hands-on activities. The book also includes important disclaimers for parents. Written for kids aged 5 to 9, it’s a valuable resource for parents and teachers.

HUMAN BODY

Learning Lab

Take an Inside Tour of How Your Body Works

By Betty Choi, MD

https://bookshop.org/widgets.js

Human Body Learning Lab is not only a book for parents to read to their kids but an adventure they can explore with their kids.

I can identify with author Dr. Betty Choi. She is a pediatrician and mom who became intrigued with the human body and how it works from reading The Human Body book in her family’s encyclopedia set. So did I. Like me, she went on to become a physician and explained that she wrote this book for all the curious kids who ask her questions. (Similarly, I started writing this blog.)

Head-to-toe teaching

Dr. Choi has produced an easy-to-understand, biologically accurate, visually appealing guide to the human body. From the colorful table of contents to the ending invitation to “Learn More” on the website, Dr. Choi covers the human body from head to toe, and from inside out.

the table of contents

The Learning Lab explains in text and colorful, detailed, clearly labeled drawings the structure and function of the body’s organ systems. The author explains genetics, DNA, the five senses, and the immune system.

how to build a model of DNA

Hands-on learning

Perhaps unique to this book are the hands-on activities that help kids understand what they’ve read. There are 27 of these learning activities, ranging from making models of DNA and a lung, testing the sun’s power, understanding the power of soap, and “How fast can you catch this?”.

Using two plastic bottles and flexible straws, a funnel, and an assortment of craft supplies, kids can make a model illustrating the kidneys. In a partner activity, they try challenging each other, blindfolded, to identify unknown foods by taste and smell only.

how to form sign language letters
examples of the 5 senses

I even learned something. Did you know there are 5 tastes, not just 4? They are sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami. Umami is a Japanese term meaning “savory deliciousness.”

What parents should know

There is a disclaimer that the activities be done with adult supervision. Asses the potential for allergic reactions from the materials used. There is also a general medical disclaimer not to use the book’s information for diagnosis or treatment, rather consult a healthcare professional.

Content Alert: The book addresses reproduction by stating “to make a new baby, male and female reproductive organs work together. A sperm from the testicles combines with an egg from the ovaries.” One of the activities involves making a Play-Dough Embryo. Parents are left to explain how the egg and sperm get together in the first place.

I enjoyed this book and recommend it as a valuable resource for parents and teachers.

According to Amazon, this book is written at a third to seventh-grade level, and parents say this book is appropriate for kids 5 to 9 years old.


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Betty Choi, MD

Dr. Choi also founded the Chalk Academy. She credits many people with helping create this book. Her physician husband worked overtime and children, Isabel and Noah tested each activity. Physician colleagues provided feedback.

The art direction and book design was done by Alethea Morrison. ( I love finding someone whose name is so similar to mine.)

About the project, Dr. Choi wrote

It truly took a village to bring this passion project to life, and I thank God for bringing together many wonderful people.

The book is published by Storey Publishing whose mission is

To serve our customers by publishing practical information that encourages personal independence in harmony with the environment.

“Thank you NetGalley and publisher for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.”

Professional Reader 25 Book Reviews

Learn more at the book’s website Human Body Learning.

exploring the HEART of health through books

HUMAN BODY is available from Amazon and Bookshop.org at these affiliate links and you can probably find it at your local library or your child’s school. If they don’t have it, ask them to obtain it.

Bookshop.org is an online bookstore that financially supports local, independent bookstores.

We believe bookstores are essential to a healthy culture and they are dedicated to the common good.

Bookshop.org donates a portion of every sale to independent bookstores.

Please review these affiliate links that make your life easier. Thanks for considering.

Thanks,

Dr. Aletha

A Visit to Wow! Children’s Museum

I talk about my visit to WOW! Children’s Museum dedicated to engaging children and families in creative learning experiences. This bright, colorful interactive museum is in Lafayette, Colorado, near Denver .

“We specialize in highly interactive programs for small groups that give each child an opportunity to explore art, science, and culture.”

updated November 12, 2025

I’ve cover some heavy topics here, but this post is lighter, something fun.

On a visit to my son’s home in Colorado, we had fun exploring a children’s museum.

If you live near or visit the area, I recommend it for young kids- and their parents and grandparents, too.

WOW! World of Wonder Children’s Museum

The fun starts even before you go inside; look what greeted us on the outside wall- a carrot garden with a bunny, robin, and mice.

  • a white rabbit painted on a brick wall
  • a red and black bird painted on a brick building
  • 2 mice eating carrots in a garden-painted on a brick wall

“We specialize in highly interactive programs for small groups that give each child an opportunity to explore art, science, and culture. “

SIGN-WOW!WORLD OF WONDER CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
entering the WOW WORLD OF WONDER CHILDREN’S MUSEUM Lafayette, Colorado

WOW, WORLD OF HEALTH

Of course, my favorite part was the Kids Clinic, sponsored by the Children’s Hospital of Colorado . Signs describing the various rooms and activities are written in English and Spanish.

“How tall are you?”

Exhibits to show kids the bones and other body parts.

Even some real xrays-with fractures!

Visit WOW! Children’s Museum

WOW! Children’s Museum is dedicated to engaging children and families in creative learning experiences. This bright, colorful, interactive museum is in Lafayette, Colorado, near Denver.

My grandson and I are exploring movement.

WOW! plays a critical role in our community by providing informal play experiences in a safe and educational environment.

We offer a variety of program formats to meet the diverse needs of our community – from drop-in programs for children as young as 2 years old to outreach programs at local schools.

Within our Museum walls, children explore exhibits about a variety of subjects, including STREAM, art, music, dance, theater and practical life.

We connect children to caregivers, families to families, and people to the place we live. By working with local musicians, artists, educators, and storytellers, we’re connecting children with the rich resources available in our community, and helping teach them about their world.

WOW!’s mission is to serve the entire community by providing a quality Museum experience for children and families of all backgrounds and abilities.
a play workbench for kids with miniature tools-kids interactive museum
“What will you build? at this workbench, complete with tools.

Our Sensory Friendly Playtime is designed especially for children with autism or sensory processing disorders and their families. The Museum turns down sounds and lights on exhibits, provides special adaptive equipment like weighted vests and headphones, and has an occupational therapist at the event as a resource for families.”

Mom, Dad, and their son are creating a design with colored cylinder pegs.

I’ve enjoyed sharing some of the fun I had with my grandchild and his parents on a much-anticipated visit. We had planned a trip several months ago, but it was cancelled due to COVID.

Thank God they all recovered; his parents were vaccinated but he was not. We are thankful that the vaccine is now approved for kids his age.

Post Images

I took all of the photos in this post. The captions are quotes from the museum’s website. This is not a sponsored post.

a balloon suspended in the air

Dr Aletha

Your Museum Memories

When was the last time you visited a museum? What did you enjoy about it? What did you learn? What was the worst part?

Maybe it’s time to visit a museum again. There are so many options as far as subject, location, cost, time, and formats. You can even visit some museums online.

Visiting a museum with an objective in mind may help you get more from it. On the other hand, going without preconceived ideas may reveal surprises and unexpected benefits.

The National Endowment for the Humanities gives these suggestions for

How to Visit a Museum

Exploring the HEART of health, fun, and learning

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Dr. Aletha