Whether you're inside or outside, this month's lessons are about movement. How does your body sense that you are moving? How do you move? What happens to your blood pressure when you move?
Here is what's coming up
To extend the lessons being added this month, help your learners notice ways that they are moving when you're doing normal activities.
Are they spinning? Swinging? Leaning forward? Going around a corner? How is their vestibular system able to know? Your head moves in three planes (nodding yes, shaking no, and ear to shoulder) so ask your learner which places a particular movement is in.
How are their muscles moving their bones? What kind of movements? What kind of joints? For example, when pumping their legs on a swing, they are using a hinge joint (their knees, help them notice flexing and extending their legs) and also a ball and socket joint (their shoulders, help them notice how their arms have to move to keep holding on as they swing).
Notice how the muscles and bones of animals are similar or different from our own. There are lots of reasons we can't fly (see the video on YouTube for more about this.) [Edit in 2022: We're redoing all our old Quick Answer videos so this link goes to an updated version.]
While your family is relaxed, have everyone stop and check their pulse. Right after coming in from playing outside, have everyone stop and check their pulse. Why does your heart beat slower when you're less active? (Hint: Because your muscles don't need as much oxygen and blood sugar.)
Talking about these things throughout your day helps create a lifestyle of learning and build awareness of their own bodies.
What if my learners have a question I can't answer?
Please contact us! Dr. Robin can usually provide a brief answer or resource right then and the question will likely show up again in a Quick Questions video or full lesson.