The following is a list of recommended books and videos that provide a wide range of reading and research resources for this unit. Collect as many as you can for your classroom science library, or provide the list to your school librarian.

Cells

This list includes books about cells and microscopy.

Cells Are Us

By Frances R. Balkwill, Mic Rolph, and Fran Balkwill. (1994, First Avenue Editions)

This informative yet humorous book explains the functions of various cells in the human body.

Cells (Science Concepts)

By Alvin Silverstein, Virginia B. Silverstein, and Laura Silverstein Nunn. (2002, 21st Century Books)

A comprehensive introduction to all things cellular, this book is an ideal reference for students interested in learning more.

Enjoy Your Cells

By Frances R. Balkwill, Mic Rolph, and Fran Balkwill. (2001, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)

This book makes children’s introduction to the many types of cells in the human body fun.

Hidden Beauty: Microworlds Revealed

By France Bour ély. (2002, Harry N. Abrams)

A beautiful and wide-ranging collection of scanning electron microscopic images from France Bourély’ s research into these realms.

Hidden Worlds: Looking Through a Scientist's Microscope

By Stephen Kramer. (2001, Houghton Mifflin Company)

These extraordinary images of the microscopic world, including some of human cells, provide a glimpse into the work of microscopists.

 

The Muscular and Skeletal Systems

The list below includes recommendations for books and videos for children to use as they study the muscular and skeletal systems.

Bones and Muscles (Bill Nye the Science Guy Series)

Produced by Disney Educational Productions; narrated by Bill Nye. (Released 1995)

In this video, Bill Nye covers the skeletal and muscular systems, including x-rays, how broken bones heal, and how the body’s joints work.

Bones: Our Skeletal System

By Seymour Simon. (2000, Harper Trophy)

This excellent book contains amazing facts about the 206 bones that make up the skeleton. It blends exceptional full-color photographs with clear, concise text.

Eyewitness: Skeleton

By Steve Parker and Philip Dowell. (2000, DK Publishing)

In this age-appropriate book, the structure and function of the human skeleton are described in detail. Comparisons are also made between the human skeleton and skeletons of other animals.

Muscles: Our Muscular System

By Seymour Simon. (2000, HarperTrophy)

This book details the three kinds of muscles, their functions, and the effects of exercise on them. The text is supported by spectacular photographs and detailed drawings of muscle tissue.

The Musculoskeletal System and the Skin

By Susan Dudley Gold. (2003, Enslow Publishers, Inc.)

Beginning with a comparison of the skeleton to the frame of a house, the author describes the structure and composition of bone, muscle, and skin. Informative trivia, full-color illustrations and diagrams add interest.

Skeleton and Muscular System

By Steve Parker and Carol Ballard. (1997, Raintree Publishers)

This book explains how the skeleton and muscles work together to allow a person to move around, and lift everything from tiny objects to heavy weights.

The Circulatory, Respiratory, and Nervous Systems

The list below includes books and videos recommended for children to use as resources on the circulatory, respiratory, and nervous systems.

Blood and Circulation (Bill Nye the Science Guy Series)

Produced by Disney Educational Productions; narrated by Bill Nye. (Released 1995)

This video shows how the parts of the circulatory system work together to pump blood throughout the body.

Brain (Bill Nye the Science Guy Series)

Produced by Disney Educational Productions; narrated by Bill Nye. (Released 1995)

In this thought-provoking video, some tricky optical illusions show that the brain does not always correctly interpret what it sees.

The Brain: Our Nervous System

By Seymour Simon. (2001, William Morrow)

This age-appropriate book uses stunningly detailed photographs to present the brain and nervous system.

Circulatory System and Respiratory System

By Alvin Silverstein, Robert Silverstein, and Virginia B. Silverstein. (1997, Millbrook Press)

These full-color illustrated books explain the structure and function of the circulatory and respiratory systems. Each book contains a one-page timeline of important medical discoveries related to the system it covers. The authors also focus on ways in which students can use their understanding of the human body to maintain good health.

The Circulatory System (True Book Series)

By Darlene R. Stille, Linda Cornwell, and Ronald W. Schwizer. (1998, Scholastic Library Publishing)

This book describes the parts of the human circulatory system and explains how and why blood is circulated throughout the body.

The Heart

By Seymour Simon. (1999, Harper Trophy)

Easy-to-read text is combined with beautiful illustrations to give children a detailed look at how the heart and circulatory system function.

I Wonder Why I Blink: And Other Questions About My Body

By Brigid Avison. (1993, Kingfisher Books)

This book for early elementary readers addresses basic physiology, such as why we have bones, why we need food, and how the body grows , in a simple question-and-answer format.

Respiration (Bill Nye the Science Guy Series)

Produced by Disney Educational Productions; narrated by Bill Nye. (Released 1995)

In this video, Bill Nye explains the importance of the respiratory system as he jogs, bikes, swims, and scuba dives.

Respiratory System

By Darlene R. Stille and Patricia J. Murphy. (1997, Scholastic Library Publishing)

This book describes the parts of the human respiratory system and explains how it brings fresh oxygen into the body and carries carbon dioxide to the lungs to be expelled.

What Makes You Cough, Sneeze, Burp, Hiccup, Blink, Yawn, Sweat, and Shiver? (My Health)

By Jean Stangl. (2000, Franklin Watts, Inc.)

This age-appropriate book explains why reflexes occur, with illustrations to help show what is happening internally when these bodily actions take place.

Why I Cough, Sneeze, Shiver, Hiccup, and Yawn

By Melvin Berger and Paul Meisel. (1999, HarperCollins Children’s Books)

Simple explanations for some of the reflexes of the human body are provided in this book for elementary readers.

The Human Body

The books listed below offer comprehensive information on the entire human body and not just the systems involved in movement.

Discovery Plus: Bodyworks

By Dr. Nick Graham and Richard Walker. (2000, Silver Dolphin)

This 48-page book captures the interest of young students with color photographs, pull tabs, and flaps as it introduces them to the complex functions of the human body.

Encyclopedia of the Human Body

By Richard Walker. (2002, DK Publishing)

Almost 900 clearly labeled and captioned full-color illustrations, photographs, models, diagrams, and electron micrographs are included in this book. It is divided into five sections: “Working Parts,” “Moving Framework,” “Control and Sensation,” “Supply and Maintenance,” and “New Generations.”

Eyewitness: Human Body (Eyewitness Books)

By Steve Parker. (1999, DK Publishing)

This book provides overviews of the major systems of the human body and includes simple activities that children can do on their own. Conversational in tone, it features two-page spreads with good quality full-color photographs and informative captions.

The Human Body

By Lawrence Lorimer. (1999, Reader’s Digest Children’s Publishing)

This age-appropriate book provides a fascinating see-through view of how the human body works. With the help of intricately painted windows, students uncover the structures and systems of the human body, layer by layer, as each page is turned.

Our writers recommended these independent websites for our teachers.

Cells

Cells Alive

http://www.cellsalive.com/howbig.htm

This site helps students understand the relative size of cells. It also contains excellent, full color photographs of cells.

Cells Are Us

http://www.icnet.uk/kids/cellsrus/cellsrus.html

This humorous book by Fran Balkwill and Mic Rolph is available on-line and is a great source of interesting and amazing facts about cells.

Featured Microscopist Digital Image Gallery

http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/featuredmicroscopist/index.html

This site offers a glimpse into the world of a featured microscopist, providing an interview and details about their day to day research, as well as a stunning gallery of their work.

Microscopy Image Directory

http://swehsc.pharmacy.arizona.edu/exppath/micro/edu/imagesites.html

This site contains an extensive list of links to on-line collections of images taken with a microscope.

Microscope Image Galleries

http://www.pbrc.hawaii.edu/bemf/microangela/morepart.htm

http://www.udel.edu/Biology/Wags/histopage/histopage.htm

http://www.umic.sunysb.edu/lmcell.htm

http://www.denniskunkel.com/

These excellent sites feature an extensive collection of cell and tissue images that could be displayed in the Science Center.

Virtual Scanning Electron Microscopy

http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/electronmicroscopy/magnify1/index.html This site allows students to manipulate a virtual scanning electron microscope by altering magnification, focus, brightness, and contrast.

The Muscular System

Antagonistic Muscles

http://www.psionica.co.uk/biology/KS3Biology/antagonistic.htm

This site provides an antagonistic muscle animation of the biceps and triceps.

Muscle Tissue Images

http://www.udel.edu/Biology/Wags/histopage/colorpage/cmu/cmu.htm

This site provides microscopic images of muscle tissue.

Muscular System

http://yucky.kids.discovery.com/flash/body/pg000123.html

This reference site for students provides information and fun facts about the muscular system.

Your Multi-talented Muscles

http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/body/muscles_noSW.html

This kid-friendly site contains detailed information about the muscular system.

The Skeletal System

Bone Biology for Kids

http://depts.washington.edu/bonebio/bonAbout/remod/remod.html

This interactive site offers an animation which demonstrates how bone is continuously broken down and built back up.

Bone and Joint Decade

http://www.arthritis.org/resources/news/news_boneandjoint.asp

This site by the Arthritis Foundation details the proclamation made by the World Health Organization, the United Nations, and 37 countries naming 2000-2010 as the "Bone and Joint Decade."

The Big Story on Bones

http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/body/bones_noSW.html

This comprehensive site for students and teachers contains in-depth information about the structure and growth of bones, the different types of bones and joints, and tips on caring for bones.

The Bone Zone

http://www.mun.ca/science/inquisitor/features/bonezone/

Students can explore this site to find facts, jokes, and try quizzes about the skeletal system.

Joint X-Rays

http://www.maitrise-orthop.com/corpusmaitri/orthopaedic/mo77_dumontier/index_us.shtml

http://anatomy.uams.edu/HTMLpages/anatomyhtml/xrays/xra_atlas6.html

http://medic.med.uth.tmc.edu/inline/inlnimg/00000791.gif

These sites contain X-ray images of the elbow joint.

Osteoporosis

http://depts.washington.edu/bonebio/bonDis/opop/opop.html

This interactive site provides excellent animations, X-rays, and information that will help students understand the need to take care of their bones.

The Living Skeleton: A Tour of Human Bones

http://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/VL/xrays/

This site contains many X-ray images of joints that could be printed for use in the Science Center.

The Skeletal System

http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/biology/humananatomy/skeletal/skeletalsystem.html This site provides detailed information about the functions and divisions of the skeletal system.

The Circulatory System

All about the Heart

http://kidshealth.org/kid/body/heart_SW.html

This site, geared for children, provides information about the heart, blood, and blood vessels.

Human Heart Pictures

http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/hardin/md/heartpictures.html

This site provides several links containing photographs, diagrams and drawings of the human heart. Also contains links for photographs and illustrations of the brain and lungs.

Nova Online: Cut to the Heart

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/heart/

This site provides information about heart anatomy, heart disease and the history of heart surgery. It also contains an animation showing how blood is pumped through the different heart chambers.

Open Heart

http://www.cosi.org/onlineExhibits/openHeart/heart.html

This interactive site contains information about heart anatomy, heart disease and prevention, and a virtual heart surgery.

The Heart: An Online Exploration

http://sln.fi.edu/biosci/heart.html

This site designed by the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia for teachers and students details information about the heart, blood, blood vessels, and heart science history. Contains enrichment activities and resources for teachers.

Your Gross and Cool Anatomy: Cardiovascular System

http://yucky.kids.discovery.com/noflash/body/pg000131.html

This site for students provides information about the function of the circulatory system.

The Respiratory System

Lung Pictures

http://www.presmark.com/htmlfile/pictures.htm

This website contains pictures of healthy and diseased lungs that could be used in the Science Center.

Pulmonary Pathology Index

http://www-medlib.med.utah.edu/WebPath/LUNGHTML/LUNGIDX.html

This incredible site contains numerous, exceptional photographs of the lungs that could be used in the Science Center.

The Topic: Respiratory System

http://www.42explore.com/respsyst.htm

Provides basic information about the respiratory system and links to dozens of sites such as the American Lung Association, the Canadian Lung Association, teacher resource pages, and kid friendly web pages.

Your Respiratory System

http://yucky.kids.discovery.com/noflash/body/pg000138.html

This site for students contains fun facts and information about the respiratory system.

The Nervous System

Atlas of the Body: The Nervous System

http://www.medem.com/MedLB/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZB2KOBGJC&sub_cat=185 This site from the American Medical Association provides a detailed illustration of the nervous system.

Brain and Nervous System

http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/body_basics/brain_nervous_system.html This kid-friendly site provides background knowledge on the brain and nervous system. It also details diseases, conditions, and disorders of the nervous system.

The Nervous System

http://www.emc.maricopa.edu/faculty/farabee/BIOBK/BioBookNERV.html This site provides detailed information on the nervous system for teachers who want to explore the nervous system in more depth.

Neurological Disorder Resources

http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/disorders.html

This comprehensive site provides links for more information on a variety of neurological disorders including Alzheimer’s disease, Bell’s Palsy, Huntington’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease.

Neuroscience for Kids

http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/neurok.html

Students can independently explore the nervous system through this site. Contains experiments, lesson plans, demonstrations, and games to help students learn about the nervous system.

Newton’s Apple: Reflexes

http://www.ktca.org/newtons/13/rlxes.html

Provides information on reflexes and activities students can do to test their reflexes.

The Reflex Tester

http://www.happyhub.com/network/reflex/

Students can test how quickly they react to the screen changing color using this site.

What Are Reflexes

http://www.happyhub.com/network/reflex/

This kid-friendly site reviews what reflexes are and why they occur.

The Human Body (General)

A Look Inside the Human Body

http://users.tpg.com.au/users/amcgann/body/

This site is designed to help children learn about how our body works. The information is presented in an easy to read format with colorful diagrams.

Human Anatomy Online

http://www.innerbody.com/htm/body.html

This site provides information on several body systems and includes images, animations, and descriptions.

Kid Info: Reference Resources

http://www.kidinfo.com/Health/Human_Body.html

This exceptional site for teachers and students contains links to excellent websites about the human body.

Teaching with the Human Body

http://yucky.kids.discovery.com/teachercenter/pg000179.htm

This site for teachers provides classroom activities and resources for teaching the human body.