Taking a Walk Through the Body

by christy on 03/11/09 at 10:20 am

Last Wednesday, second graders poured out of buses full of energy and excitement. They walked quickly into the gym in single file lines, barely containing their enthusiasm. In the life of a second grader, there aren’t many school days better than FIELD TRIP days!!! These lucky kids were taking a walk through the body. They were going to get to see real pig hearts and lungs. They were going to touch bones and see X-rays. They were even going to get to see REAL cow eyes.

The students began their walk at the hand station where local nursing students greeted them by firmly shaking each hand. Then they got to put their hands into a black light box so that they could “see” all the germs the nursing students got all over their hands. Next it was through the mouth where they learned about dental hygiene and into the stomach where they sat in wading pools, pretending to be food particles. The nurses sprayed them with water and tossed enzymes (colorful sponges) onto them to break them down. After that, they were into the blood stream. They were pumped up into the heart and then into the lungs.

The students spent only five minutes in each spot. After their walk through the body the students traveled through stations teaching them about nutrition, safety, and healthy behaviors. This is where the Bismarck Women’s Club got involved.

Raising my hands high in the air, with as much energy as I could muster, I lead the second graders in shouting out the five fingers of water safety. “Wear sunscreen,” we started. “ALWAYS swim with a parent or other adult. Remember to wear a life jacket when you are boating. Always swim in SAFE water. And NEVER dive into shallow water.” We celebrated by slapping high fives before the kids rushed off to the next station on their Body Walk.

This event, held three times a year at local elementary schools sees all 1,000 second graders in Vermillion county, including children from private, parochial and home schools. In the state of Illinois, our Women’s Club special project focuses on child safety. Partnering with our local hospital, the Women’s Club will be able to touch hundreds of children and the families connected with those children. Thank you Provena United Samaritans’ Medical Center for this wonderful opportunity.