THIS IS A TWO-SEMESTER COURSE.

Children are naturally curious about their bodies. Examining the biological principles underlying familiar experiences is a great way to demonstrate the importance of science in our lives. For some students, an interest in human physiology may be the beginning of a career in healthcare.

Imagine an airplane that can take on fuel, repair itself, learn the flight plan, and reproduce itself—all while flying. That is essentially what our bodies do every day. The students in this course will come to appreciate their own awesomeness by exploring the 20 trillion cells and different organ systems, such as the digestive system or circulatory system, that make up human bodies. They’ll learn about how we see, why we need oxygen, how muscles contract, and the importance of the microbiome.

One of the main themes of this course is homeostasis. Although our external environment is constantly changing, the body’s internal environment must be kept in a delicate balance. Slipping out of balance inevitably results in disease. A second theme of the course is the choices we make—choices that affect our health and wellness, such as eating a good diet, getting plenty of exercise, and not smoking.

Class Meetings: Wednesdays, 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Fall Semester: September 11 – December 4, 2024
Spring Semester: January 15 – April 9, 2025
Note that there will be a one-week break during each semester, making the duration of this course 12 weeks each semester, 24 weeks for the full year.

Student Expectations: Students will do some reading, watch some videos, and participate in a few wet labs that they can do at home with common kitchen items. In addition, there will be three optional dissections: a pig heart, a sheep brain, and a cow eye. Most students love dissections, but squeamish children can just watch the video instead.

Student Support: The instructor is available by email.

Feedback/Assessment: Feedback will be provided on all assignments.

Materials/Supplies: Students will conduct experiments using basic kitchen materials such as eggs, vinegar, and fruit. Pig hearts, sheep brains, and cow eyes for dissection can be purchased online at www.carolina.com for a minimal cost. Carolina offers specimens in “perfect solution,” a nontoxic alternative to formaldehyde.

Prerequisites: The only prerequisite is curiosity! This is an introductory course, and students are not expected to have any background in biology or chemistry, but they should be able to read and engage with scientific material and participate in course activities.