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Human Body An Interactive Website

Integration of Online Human Anatomy Resources in Science Curriculum

© David R. Wetzel

Heart, MS Office
An award winning science website provides graphical views of human systems though the use of animations and cut away views for integration in science curricula.

This is a website which allows students to explore human anatomy. Each human body system is presented with animations, 100’s of graphics, and many descriptive links. This website allows a student to study the anatomy of the human body and all of its systems in great detail.

It is fun, interactive, and an ideal reference site for students and teachers who want to integrate an interactive website within their science curriculum.

Human Anatomy Systems

This section of the website allows students to view all the systems of the human body in graphic detail, along with definitions and animations. Example human body systems include:

  • Skeletal – this section allows students to view all the bones and ligaments contained in the body.
  • Digestive – this section allows students to view organs such as; spleen, intestines, liver, colon, and more.
  • Muscular – students view major muscle groups, muscle and nerve connections, muscle cell types, and more.
  • Nervous – students view facial nerves, nerve cells, brain, spinal column, and more. Cardiovascular – students view the heart, lungs, kidney filtering, arteries, and more.

Human Body Animations

This section of the website allows students to view animations of specific body organs and systems in action. Along with each animation, a description is provided to explain what is happening in the animation. The description includes all the major components, for example the three parts of the inner ear. Example human body animations, which also provide cut away views, include:

  • Capillary – how the arterial system provides oxygenated blood throughout the body.
  • Heart – an animation of how the heart pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs and then pumps oxygenated blood throughout the body.
  • Ear – how sound waves interact with the outer, middle, and inner ear. Fields of vision allows students to observe different focal lengths of the eye with the field of vision.
  • Nasal Passage – shows how air passes through the nasal passages to the lungs and involves the sense of smell in identifying objects.
  • Nerve and Muscle Connection – shows the interaction between the brain, nerves, and muscles to control movement.

Science Curriculum Integration

There are several strategies for integration of this interactive science website in a science curriculum. Examples include:

  • Web-Based Learning Centers – these can be used to rotate students through to learn about specific parts of the human body as part of a human anatomy lesson. See Web-Based Science Inquiry for more information on this strategy.
  • WebQuests – these are strategies in which teachers develop learning online activities that support research, the affective domain, conceptual and constructivist learning.
  • Human Anatomy Presentations – students integrate specific aspects of the website in their multimedia presentations of projects.
  • Teacher Presentation – teacher integrates specific portions of this website in their classroom lectures and discussions with students.

The old saying that a picture is worth a thousand words is a appropriate for this interactive science website. The use of this interactive website is unlimited in the science curriculum. The Human Anatomy website has received numerous awards from organizations such as, Top 100 Websites by HomeSchool.com, 50 Best Science Websites by Popular Science, and the Academic Excellence Award by Study Web. It is also a recommended website by the National Science Teachers Association.


The copyright of the article Human Body An Interactive Website in Curricula/Lesson Plans is owned by David R. Wetzel. Permission to republish Human Body An Interactive Website in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.


Heart, MS Office
       



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