Virtual Science

Elementary Grades 3-5

The Human Body

Bones, Them Bones

• Common Bones. Uses the scientific name and the common name. Ex pelvis (hip bone). From Science Bob.com
• Label the Bones. Online drop down labeling of 19 major bones. Uses complex terminology. Drop down labeling makes it easier because they just have to choose. Not for beginners. Reading level grade 5+

Brain

• 3-D Brain Anatomy. Run your mouse over the brain to identify the parts and their functions. Zoom in and out on brain. Works well with a paper for students write what they see & read.. Students find this site fascinating. A PBS site. Grade 4+
• Brain Zone Good simple discription of parts of the brain. Colorful diagram. Interesting optical illusion link. Reading level 3+
• Dialogue for Kids. One kid friendly page with lots of information. Colorful and easy to use. Reading level 4+
• Welcome to the Nervous System. Central includes the brain and spinal cord. Good diagram of spinal cord. Peripheral includes neurons good diagram and diagram of how the synapses work. Endocrine system and pituitary gland are not very clear. A Thinkquest site. Reading level 3+
• Interactive Brain Parts. Very interactive lessons with pop up windows for students to explore. Neuron Explosion explains how Neurons actually work. Brain Attack explains how strokes affect different parts of the brain. Neuron Laboratory includes a Frankenstein castle. Students have to find the code to make it work. Ecstasy Invaders is a spaceship game about the Neurons. Brain-o-coaster and Neuron Navigator are the least effective lessons. Grade 4+
• Neuroscience for kids. Everything you could possibly want to learn about the brain. Great details. Not very child friendly, but an excellent teacher resource. Includes some good games that follow. Reading level high 4+
• Probe the brain Stick a virtual pin in the brain and see what parts of the body move. Comic style.
• Online Comic Book & Brainy Games. Online comic book about the brain that is about 25 pages, but its fun and is very informative. Sometimes the pages don't load and you have to go back and try again. Brainy games includes build a neuron, visual illusions, build a brain (just the 4 parts), and brain fly through. Teachers may want to go over some terminology before having kids do it. Grade 4+ From Neuroscience for kids.
• Brain Drain Challenge Put all the functions on the right place on the brain. Can be timed or untimed. Very easy.
• Stroop Test. A well known experiment showing how the brain works.Try it. From Neuroscience for Kids
• Color on line Neuron, Lobes of the brain, Spinal Cord, The Brain, The Skull, Neurons, and Synapses. Scroll down to get to the color on line. Other brain games also. From Neuroscience for Kids
• Droodles. Visual brain riddles. Exploritorium. Illustrates how the brain works.
• Brain Benders. Use your brain. A national geographic site.

Digestive System

• Digestive Zone Presents the system in 9 simple steps. Very direct but easy to follow. Reading level 3+
• Real Deal on the Digestive System. Kid Friendly. Good diagram. Also in Spanish. Lots of information. Have to hear the burp. Will need some vacabulary work before reading. Reading level high 3+
• Digest Quest Take a fun trip down the digestive system just like the magic school bus. If you make a mistake you have to start over. A question for each section. Lots of reading but fun. Great review for end of digestive unit. Reading level Grade 3+
• Interactive Diagram. Click on the word and the digestive organ on the body is colored. Good to examine the exact location of organs. Complex diagram. Grade 4+
• Online labeling of digestive system. Each part has a number. Student has to find the correct label for each numbered part.
• Arnolds Organs. Move the organs to the body. It starts with digestive then goes through the other body systems. Little reading required. It takes a minute to load as it changes systems. Grade 2+
• Move the Organs. Very simple digestive system only. Grade 2+

Human Anatomy

• Amazing Human Body Includes brain drain. Digestive system (not great), but an uncomplicated skeleton to build. Harcourt preview site. Grade 3+
• Circulatory System. Simple diagram shows how the blood travels all over the body from legs to heart to lungs. Grade 4+
• Body for kids Articles on parts of the body. A lot of reading, but the student can switch from English to Spanish. Excellent diagram of the brain from the top and sides. Also includes a game site on health called the Game Closet. Reading level 4+
• Heart for Kids Lets learn about the heart. Very interactive and fun. Includes the food pyramid and tobacco prevention use. Reading level grade 3+
• Human Anatomy at Enchanted Learning. Print outs of diagrams for labeling with answers. Excellent source.
• Heart, Skeleton, Brain, Digestive Tract Virtual body. Move body parts to the correct location. Skeleton is fun. Digestive system organs can be moved to the correct location.
• Healthy Body Systems Diagrams How the body works. No reading. Voice over. Very good information. Colorful, cartoon format. Very entertaining for young students and even grownups. Grade 2+
• Label the Major Organs. Very simple colorful diagram. Drag the name to the part to be labeled. Eight major organs including the liver, bladder, and kidneys. Grade 2 + if they have been working with the organs and can read the words.
• So You Think You Want to be a DOCTOR Try this virtual knee surgery. Done in cartoon format. Very very interactive. You pick the tools and take it to the right place. The surgery actually takes a long time. Very detailed. Also a virtual hip replacement. Reading level Grade 4+

Respiratory System

• Anatomy of the lungs. Simple diagram of the human respiratory system. Comparison of lungs of various animals is easy to read and understand. Answers questions of why we breathe and how we breathe. Has an anti-smoking section but it's not as good as Heart for Kids. Reading level 3+ Game section weak. Saskatchewan Lung Association
• Detailed Respiratory System. Very clear diagram. From Childrens Hospital in Boston.
• Lungs and Breathing. Simple half page explaination of how the lungs bring in oxygen and expells carbon dioxide. Large print. Students will need some work on terminology before reading. Reading level 3+
• Welcome to the Respiratory System. Diagram is simple and child friendly. Print is large with key words accented with color. Includes the nose and throat. Windpipe and bronchial tree diagram is excellent. Shows the side of the lung. A Thinkquest site. Reading level 3+
• Working Respiratory sytem. Shows how the diaphram moves and the lungs bring in and expell the air. No reading. Grade 2+

Nutrition

• Dole 5 a Day Very kid friendly. Games, activity sheets, and some very good songs. The songs include the tunes and the lyrics. Grade 3 +
• Nutrition Explorations Games for kids. Quintricious is good for grouping the foods according to the food pyramid. Use the arrow keys to move the blocks. Games are targeted for young students but can be good practice for older students. Works well as a followup to lessons identifying foods and their food group. Reading level 2+
• My Pyramid Blast off . Pick the right food to get enough fuel to blast off. Difficult for some 3rd graders. But with practice and review of the amounts need for the various food groups many can figure it out. Reading level 2+

©2007: Sharon Chambers, MLIS
Last Modified Feb 2007