Skin is not actually a system but an organ. It is actually the largest organ in the body. Because skin protects and covers our entire body, it is important that we know how to take care of it. The skin is made up of two layers. These are the dermis and the epidermis. The epidermis is a smaller outer layer. This part is different colors on different people. The larger, inner layer is the dermis. This is the same on everyone. Have students look at the skin on their arms and hands and compare and contrast them. Talk about hair, the different types we have, and how it also helps protect us.
Help the students make a list of the ways that we can take care of our skin. Here are a few more activities that focus on the skin:
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· Have the students examine and peel an orange to understand how skin works. Have students compare orange skin to our own.
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· Have students make fingerprints and examine them. Have them make designs around them and display them.
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· Make a cut out paper doll of someone else in the class showing the clothes they could wear to protect themselves during a particular season.
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· Examine hair and skin cells under a microscope.