This hands-on science activity is a great way to show your kids where the organs they are learning about fit into their own little bodies. My son was thrilled that we made a little “man” version of himself on the back patio and then filled it in with organs that he’d been learning about. I also included variations of this activity and some other free printable resources that may be helpful to you at the bottom of this post.

My son (4) and I did this sidewalk chalk activity alongside Blue Manor’s Anatomy Book Set. These inexpensive ebooks have the best approach I’ve seen to start explaining anatomy and how the human body works to young children. They start with the basics, add more detail with each level, and then move on to separating major organs into functional systems. My kids love it!

Simple Anatomy Learning Activity for Kids

This science activity is so versatile, and you don’t need to be an artist (as you can tell from my own chalk masterpiece) to make it work. First, I traced my son’s outline onto the concrete and then quickly drew in some major organs that we had been learning about with different colors.

I added the awkward nose to the side of the head as an afterthought to show that we were viewing the head from the side and not the front.

From here, I asked my son where each organ was, and he would point to it on his chalk man and then on himself. We would also talk about what job that organ has inside our bodies.

If it is still too cold outside to do this activity where you live, then you could always trace your child’s outline onto paper bags taped together or butcher paper. Here are some other fun variations of this activity:

• Have your child name each organ and its function without prompting
• Make several outlines of your child and draw a different system on each one
• Have your child draw each organ from memory once they are more advanced
• Use printable organs to place on the chalk outline instead of drawing them
  • Free Printable Montessori Anatomy Cards
  • Detailed Life-Sized Free Printable Organs
  • Basic Preschool Anatomy Templates ($1)
• Paint the organs on a white t-shirt (This activity also includes a free printable Body Book for kids to make.)
• Make a lifesize anatomy model by cutting your child’s outline and various organs, bones, etc. out of felt.

I hope this activity inspires you to get outside and have some hands-on science fun with your kids! I also hope that it points your children to see the Creator’s design in how we are made. Feel free to comment below with more great anatomy learning ideas or to let us know how your children benefited from this activity.

You might also like this See Inside Body book from Usborne with over 50 different flaps!

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