Human Organs

Human Organs

By Kristi Lew

Capstone Press, 2010

Fact Finders Series

ISBN # 978-1-4296-3339-0

Grades 3-5

Nonfiction

    “Lots of people work together to make life in a city possible. Some people work in bakeries and make food. Police and firefighter make sure the city is safe. And other people keep the city clean. Everyone has a job to do.

     Your body is sort of like a city too. Every organ in the human body has an important job to do. Your lungs help you breathe. Your heart pumps blood through your body. And your brain controls everything. In your body, your organs work together to keep you alive.”

As a third grader with a diabetic father, I decided to write a report on the pancreas when assigned to write about the body. I prepared my report and carefully taped an insulin syringe to the cover for decoration (in was in a different time!). I don’t remember what grade I received, but I was hooked. I fell in love with science, especially the body.

I would have loved to have read this book then. While introducing the different organs, it provides the facts but delivers them in a way that kids can relate to, as well as enjoy. The catchy headings like “The Liver Delivers,” “Poop Maker,” and “The Growler” make it entertaining and helps the reader remember the organs.

The cross section image of the heart provokes immediate interest. My husband even picked up the book to look at the cover image. The book begins with a table of contents and relates the body to a city. It goes on to explain systems and what makes an organ, and then traces the jobs of each organ. It ends with a description of the special relationship each organ has with the others. A labeled diagram, glossary, read more and internet section, and an index (which I used to check for pancreas) complete the back matter.

The book doesn’t address the reproductive system, making it elementary library friendly, although it should be there (in my opinion). My only concern, having taught elementary (and middle school) science is the first glimpse of the diagram on page 29. The end of the descending colon appears to be in a forward position, inviting giggles until it becomes clear it’s in the DIGESTIVE system and not the reproductive system.

Activity 1

Make a list of the body systems in this book. Now rank them according to most valuable to least. What sort of ranking did you do? Can one system with its organs be more important that others?

Activity 2

After writing the list of body systems, write the names of the organs that work in each body system by creating a chart or graphic organizer to show at a glance which organ goes with each system.

This site provides good, basic information.

Here is more detailed, extensive information for those interested in the body.

National Science Standard: structure and function in living systems

Book provided by publisher.