Exploring the Body Arc at Home: Meaningful Activities for Families

At Brightworks, the Arc framework is central to how our students learn. Each Arc acts as a “keyhole” to new knowledge — a small, inviting concept that opens into a vast world of understanding when approached with curiosity and creativity.

The current Body Arc offers endless opportunities for students (and parents!) to dive into a variety of engaging topics, from biology and medicine to identity and social science. Topics may even extend to non-human definitions of “Body,” and go down an altogether different path of exploration, like bodies of water, regulatory bodies, bodies of literature and so many others.

Every student, no matter their age, is engaging with the Body Arc in unique ways suited to their developmental stage and interests. Families, can share in this exploration too! It is a great opportunity to connect, experiment, and dive into topics together. Here are some ways you can extend the Body Arc learning experience at home with fun and meaningful activities.

Discover Anatomy Together

Anatomy is all about understanding the structure of the body, from organs to cells. A great way to dive into this is by:

Crafting a model brain with clay: Engage kids’ creativity while helping them visualize brain anatomy.
Labeling major organs: Print diagrams of the human body and work together to identify and color the organs.
Explore body documentaries or books: Family-friendly documentaries like The Human Body (BBC) or kid-friendly anatomy books can spark discussions about how bodies are built.

Explore Physiology at Play

Physiology focuses on how the body works. You can investigate this by:

Taking your pulse: Teach kids to check their pulse at rest, and then compare it after exercise to observe how the heart adapts.
Experiment with body systems: For example, run in place for 30 seconds and monitor how breathing speeds up to keep oxygen flowing.
Follow a family fitness challenge: See how exercise impacts strength, endurance, and coordination over time.

Sociology and the Body

Sociology looks at how bodies relate to society — from how we care for ourselves to how the body impacts identity. You might explore this by:

Discussing how the media portrays bodies: Talk about how images of bodies in magazines, TV, or social media affect self-perception.
Learn together about the aging process: Interview grandparents about their experiences with aging and how it affects their relationship with their bodies.
Talk about identity: Explore how body features like hair, skin tone, or height shape how we see ourselves and relate to the world.

Investigate Homeostasis

Homeostasis refers to the body’s ability to maintain internal stability. You can explore this concept at home by:

Tracking temperature changes: Measure body temperature before and after playing outside on a cold or hot day.
Heart rate experiments: Chart how heart rate fluctuates when sitting quietly vs. during physical activity.
Breathing games: Time how long each family member can hold their breath, and notice how the body reacts after.

Researching Together: Medical Science & Investigation

For those who love science and experiments, there are plenty of ways to engage with research at home:

Create a home science lab: Use simple experiments to explore the effects of temperature, light, or movement on the body.
Listen to science podcasts together: Tune into shows like Brains On! or But Why to hear episodes on the body and how it functions.
Explore everyday health tools: Use devices like a thermometer or stethoscope to understand how doctors investigate the body.

Extend Learning Through Sensory Play

Investigating the five senses can be a fun way to engage younger children:

Blindfold taste tests: Try to identify foods or smells with eyes closed and discuss how our senses work together.
Create a touch box: Fill a box with various textured objects for kids to feel and guess.
Listen and describe: Sit outside and identify as many sounds as possible — a bird chirping, cars passing, or the wind in the trees.

Finding Delight in Family Learning

Exploring the Body Arc isn’t just about learning facts — it’s also about finding new ways to connect and engage as a family. From tracking heart rates to crafting clay brains, the opportunities are endless. We encourage you to follow your child’s lead, get curious alongside them, and see where these investigations take you. Who knows? You might discover a passion for physiology, sociology, or artful anatomy that surprises you!

Let us know how your family explores the Body Arc at home — we love hearing your stories. Happy learning!