Human Grossology

Human Grossology

The ins and outs of the gross parts of the human body

Introduction

The human body can be gross. But what is the purpose of all that oozy, gushy, mushy and crusty stuff we produce? Learn how to make bones rubbery, play games about contamination and digestion, and make fake blood, barf and scabs to explore and prompt discussion on why these “gross” things are an important part of keeping us healthy!

Objectives

• Describe the main components of bone.
• Describe the importance of blood in our body.
• Explain how easy it is for germs to be spread around from person to person, and how people can help protect themselves.
• Explain why scabs are important.
• Describe the components of vomit, and why puking can be beneficial.
• Describe the main stages of digestion.

Background

Even though things like mucus, blood and vomit can seem gross, there’s a reason that our body makes them! Blood is essential for transporting nutrients, gases and wastes around the body. Vomiting is a quick way to get rid of something in your digestive system that might be harmful. And mucus helps protect your body by trapping foreign things like dust and bacteria that might enter the nose or throat.

Although they are helpful, we often have a natural disgust of things that may prove harmful to us. For example, we don’t like the sight of someone’s vomit because it is likely that it contains something that could also make us sick! It’s important to remember that we should treat all bodily fluids as potentially dangerous, but know that they often serve a very important purpose.

Entire Lesson

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Other Resources

Science World at TELUS World of Science | School Workshop | Grossology
Science World at TELUS World of Science | Bodyworks Gallery
Science World | Online Games | Bodyworks Online Games