4-H Medical Science & the Human Body Project

Helpful Resources

Activity Ideas

Ask Dr. Universe – Washington State University

Dr. Wendy Sue Universe is a very smart cat who investigates tough questions from curious elementary and middle school students. Based out of Washington State University, Dr. Universe teams up with professors, researchers, and experts in the field to tackle big questions like: What is fire? Why does soda fizz? Why is the ocean salty? Why is liquid nitrogen so cold?

I am an Ecosystem – North Carolina State University 4-H

“We are not alone.”
Historically, this phrase has conjured up images of aliens waiting in space to descend on our unsuspecting planet. However, advances in technology over the years have meant that “we are not alone” applies to our own bodies, our own sense of self in the universe. It turns out that we are colonial creatures. For every one of our cells that is “us,” we also host ten times as many bacterial cells. Our digestive system alone is estimated to contain between 500 and 1,000 different bacterial species. Furthermore, we are learning that these bacteria and other microbes that inhabit our bodies, known collectively as our “microbiome,” are essential for our survival. Our microbiome helps to train our immune system to recognize invaders. It also helps us to better process food and nutrients. Some studies even suggest that our microbiome may affect our moods! Without our trillions of hitchhikers, we would be lost. However, despite our close relationship with our microbiome, not all bacteria are helpful to us. Many bacteria, which are fine outside of our bodies, become disease-causing pathogens once they get inside. Our bodies have many natural defenses against these invaders, including our skin, our mucous membranes, and our immune system. However, some do find their way in.

In this book, you’ll….

• Confront some of the myths and facts surrounding microbes in general and Salmonella in particular.
• Examine where microbes grow in the environment and under what conditions.
• Investigate the roles that microbes play in a healthy ecosystem as well as the roles that microbes play in our own bodies.
• Examine the negative effects of microbes as they investigate a disease outbreak.

Microbes On My Mind:  A Middle School Perspective – North Carolina State University 4-H

As you are reading this you have already come in contact with millions of microbes. Even though you cannot see them, they are all around you.

Did you know that there are tiny organisms that are all around you, on you, and inside you? These tiny organisms are called microbes. Microbiology is the study of microorganisms or microbes, which are very small organisms that cannot be seen with the human eye. In today’s society, much of the research in the microbiology field focuses around biochemistry and pathology. Many microorganisms are what are known as pathogens or disease-carrying microorganisms, BUT not all microbes are pathogens! Some microorganisms are good guys and are necessary in our world.

In this book, you’ll….

• Discover the role microbes play in our bodies, our ecosystem, and our food.
• Make connections between their existing knowledge of microorganisms, human health, and potential career paths.
• Deepen understanding of microbes in history, where they can be found, how to prevent the spread of microbes on them and in their food.
• Address of the misconceptions surrounding microbiology and gain a better understanding of how important microbes are in our ecosystem.
• Understand of the importance of food safety and the precautions that need to be taken in keeping their bodies healthy and protected.

Microbes:  The World Within – North Carolina State University 4-H

The unseen world of bacteria, the microscopic kingdom of life, has an enormous impact on our everyday lives. This book will provide a diverse look of lessons and activities that seek to provide participants with an interactive look at the microbial world from a variety of approaches.

Participants are introduced to the amazing breadth of this group as they become familiar with the distinguishing characteristics of some representative bacteria that are commonly found in association with humans.

In this book, you’ll….

• Understand the important concept of the microbiome – the populations of bacteria that inhabit all of our bodies and that contribute to health as well as disease.
• Investigate environmental factors that can affect the growth of bacterial populations.
• Practice basic lab techniques that are mainstays for anyone seeking to work in a research or lab environment.
• Investigate the mechanisms by which the human body keeps any harmful invaders at bay.
• Understand the importance of public health organizations and the surveillance of infectious disease.
• Model several tools currently available to scientists for identifying bacteria at the molecular level.

Home Demos:  Experiments you should try at home – Bill Nye

A collection of science demonstrations youth and their adult helpers can try at home in the ares of life science (human and other living things), physical science (chemistry and physics), and planetary science (earth science and space science).

Human Biology & Health STEM Activities for Kids – Science Buddies

Isn’t the human body incredible? From the complex systems that make it work to the numerous ways we’re able to cure illnesses, there are so many fascinating subjects to study when it comes to human biology and health. Are you interested in subjects like how the body works, how best to keep it working, and how to cure everything from a common cough to cancer?

Science Buddies also has a page specifically for Projects for 4-H that highlight activities that easily tie into 4-H project areas.

Green Genes: Genetics – University of Massachusetts Extension

UMass Amherst biochemistry professor Dr. Molly Fitzgerald-Hayes, Dr. Frieda Reichsman, Kim Pond of the Massachusetts 4-H Program, and Carrie Chickering-Sears, Director of Community Education in Animal Agriculture at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have joined together to create a multi-media curriculum, Green Genes: a DNA Curriculum. Designed for the non-scientist adult working in out-of-school settings, this curriculum utilizes the experiential learning model and current research on how today’s youth learn to assist adults in teaching youth science concepts that are fun, informative and thought provoking. The intended audience includes youth workers, 4-H volunteers and educators, parents providing home-school education, and science teachers working primarily with youth between the ages of 10 and 13. The curriculum is comprised of hands-on activities, supplemental Web modules/activities and PowerPoint presentations. The activities can be used in a variety of settings including camp programs. Youth can go home and replicate many of the experiences with their friends and family. The cost and necessary materials are minimal; many of the materials are already at hand.

Washington Specific Reference Material

Yakima County 4-H Foods & Nutrition Project

Washington Tracking Network Youth Science Contest

The Washington Tracking Network Youth Science Contest is an opportunity for high school students in Washington state to develop their science and communication skills by engaging with health and environmental data from their own communities.

Other Reference Material

From 4-H Programs

Handwashing, a 4-H Spark Activity – North Carolina 4-H (YouTube video)

How do you correctly wash your hands? Join in on this fun activity to find out. Presented by Kristen Bedell, a Doctoral student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the Graduate School of Education.

Materials needed: glitter, petroleum jelly, measuring spoons, and a plate. Be careful! This is messy. Talk to your caregiver first and get permission.

From the NC 4-H curriculum, I am an Ecosystem.

From Higher Education Institutions

Neuroscience for Kids – University of Washington

The smell of a flower – The memory of a walk in the park – The pain of stepping on a nail. These experiences are made possible by the 3 pounds of tissue in our heads…the BRAIN!!

Neuroscience for Kids has been created for all students and teachers who would like to learn about the nervous system.

Discover the exciting world of the brain, spinal cord, neurons and the senses. Use the experiments, activities and games to help you learn about the nervous system. There are plenty of links to other web sites for you to explore.

From Related Organizations, Journals, and Professionals

Health Science Classroom Activities – PBS Nova Teachers

Pathways – National Institutes of Health

Pathways is a collection of free educational resources about basic biomedical science and research careers, created through NIGMS’ collaboration with Scholastic, Inc. These STEM and English language arts materials are designed for grades 6 through 12, and include student magazines, educator lesson plans, interactives, videos, and quizzes. All Pathways materials are available for free online, and print copies of student magazines and teaching guides can be ordered free of charge.

STEM Teaching Resources – National Institutes of Health

The free pre-K-12 STEM education materials on this site are provided by the institutes and centers within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and NIH grantees, including Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) recipients. This site is managed by the National Institute of General Medical Science (NIGMS). Please contact us with any questions or comments.

Oral Health Resources for Teachers – North Dakota Health and Human Services

Infographics, videos, and other resources on oral health and tooth care that educators can share with their classes or groups.

What is Public Health?  Crash Course Public Health #1 (YouTube video)

We often think of health as a self-centric phenomenon that begins and ends with “me”, but as we’ll explore throughout this series our personal health is just one plot line in a rich story of evolving research and policies that make up the world of public health. So what is public health anyway? Well, public health is an approach to preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting health for literally everyone. It is a money-saving, life-extending, world-bettering cheat code for improving the world, so we’ll spend the rest of this series examining how and where it is working, where it isn’t working, and how so much of our health is influenced by the world around us.

The complete Crash Course Public Health playlist is available here.

What is Outbreak Science?  Crash Course Outbreak Science #1 (YouTube video)

Infectious disease has affected the human species for as long as we’ve existed, but in that time we’ve come a long way in understanding what they are and how they spread. In this episode of Crash Course Outbreak Science, we’ll introduce some of the core concepts that will help us throughout this series as we discover the effects of infectious disease, from the microscopic, to the societal level.

Thanks for watching this episode of Crash Course Outbreak Science, which was produced by Complexly in partnership with Operation Outbreak and the Sabeti Lab at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard—with generous support from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

The complete Crash Course Outbreak Science playlist is available here.

Introduction to Biology:  Crash Course Biology #1 (YouTube video)

Biology is the study of life—a four-letter word that connects you to 4 billion years worth of family tree. The word “life” can be tricky to define, but a shared set of characteristics helps biologists identify living things. In this episode of Crash Course Biology, you’ll learn how all of life is connected, and why studying biology can help us better understand ourselves and our relationship to all living things.

The full Crash Course Biology playlist can be found here.