Article written by Denis Washington, 3rd Grade Teacher at Clay Hill Elementary School.
Mrs. Washington’s 3rd-grade class at Clay Hill Elementary School celebrated the conclusion of their fascinating unit on the human body with a creative and educational twist. The classroom was transformed into a full-fledged hospital, complete with "patient" beds, doctors, nurses, and medical charts, giving students the opportunity to showcase all they had learned during the unit. This hands-on learning experience highlighted not just the facts of the human body but also the importance of collaboration and real-world connections.
The Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) curriculum guided the students through an in-depth exploration of the human body’s systems. Over the course of the unit, the 3rd graders learned about three major systems: the skeletal, muscular, and nervous systems. Students engaged in a variety of activities, including labeling and assembling diagrams of the body’s parts and systems. These exercises helped reinforce their understanding of the body’s structure and how its parts work together to keep us healthy.
In addition to biology lessons, the students practiced their math skills by using arrays to calculate the number of bones in the body and other related activities. They also engaged with text features like medical charts and diagrams to deepen their understanding of how to read and interpret information, just like healthcare professionals do.
However, the true highlight of the unit came when students got to apply what they had learned in a real-world context. Mrs. Washington’s class had the special opportunity to work with local students from the nursing program at Woodland High School. These high school students visited the class to teach the 3rd graders critical health skills, including CPR and how to perform blood pressure and pulse readings. They conducted station rotations where students shared their knowledge of the digestive, respiratory, skeletal, and circulatory systems through worksheets and hands-on activities.
"Seeing the students from the nursing program work with our class was incredible," said Mrs. Washington. "Not only did the 3rd graders learn valuable life-saving skills, but they also got a glimpse into potential career paths in the medical field. It was a real-world connection that brought the human body unit to life."
This collaboration was not only a success for the students, but it also fostered a strong partnership between educators across the district. Mrs. Washington, along with Mrs. Reeves, who teaches in the district’s high school nursing program, expressed their desire to continue working together in the future.
"Our students really benefited from seeing the practical applications of what they had been learning," said Mrs. Reeves. "It’s wonderful to be able to bring the expertise of our high school students into a younger classroom. We’re looking forward to more of these cross-curricular projects."
The hospital-themed classroom makeover was a memorable way to cap off the unit, and the 3rd graders walked away not only with a deeper understanding of the human body but also with skills they can carry with them for the rest of their lives.
Looking ahead, both Mrs. Washington and Mrs. Reeves are excited about the prospect of continuing their collaborative efforts and providing more opportunities for their students to engage with real-world learning experiences.