Human Body Learning Lab – watercress words by Dr Aletha

HUMAN BODY

Learning Lab

Take an Inside Tour of How Your Body Works

By Betty Choi, MD

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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

exploring the HEART of health through books

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