The Human Body
Week 6
I am different than birds
The Human Body: We begin discovering the preciousness of our humanity by enjoying that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. In this block we explore how we were made in contrast to the grass, plants and trees. God has created us in ways that are unique to other living things.
Points to emphasize
God made birds with wonderful things like wings and beaks, but you are different than birds and God made you in a special way. (Discover how differences in physical appearance and anatomy can affect locomotion and function.)
References
Genesis 1:20b; Matthew 6:26
Sample content and conversation with children
Start with a video of birds flying, pictures of different kinds of birds, or by taking the children outside to observe birds. You can also start by asking general questions about birds (Ex: Do all birds fly? No, all birds do not fly. Kiwis, a kind of bird living only in New Zealand, do not fly; penguins only swim)
- Birds have wings with feathers, but I have arms with hands and fingers. Ask the children what birds do with their wings. They will say fly; ask if they can do anything else with them. Wings don’t do much else. Ask what they can do with their arms and hands. Ex: With my arms I can hug my mommy and daddy. With my hands I can build sandcastles, and with my fingers I can scratch my ear.
- Birds have hard beaks, and I have a mouth. I can use a straw and give a kiss to my mommy and daddy. I can use my teeth to eat hamburgers. Yum!
- God made birds with thin, hollow bones to help them fly. But God made me with thick, strong bones that hold up and protect my body. Because of my bones I can do many things, such as swing a baseball bat or kick a ball. What are some things your bones help you to do?
- Most birds live and take care of their babies in a nest. They build nests from things such as leaves, grass, dirt and trash, sometimes even their own feathers. We, however, live and care for our family and friends in a house. Aren’t you glad you live in a house and not a nest? Why?
Suggested activities/games
- Draw a bird with their different body parts and actions (flying in the air, wings, beak). Then next to the bird draw a self-portrait with how we are different and can do different things (arms, face, throwing a ball.) [Or use provided cutout templates.]
- Let’s appreciate using our mouth by blowing bubbles or drinking a homemade smoothie from a straw.
- We can use our hands with their many special bones to make a paper airplane.
- Build a nest using supplies from your yard or a nearby park.
Suggested songs
God made me
Look at all the flowers
Pictures
Bird parts cutout
