Boogers, Snots, and The Lungs

This week, we have been learning all about

the lungs.

We've read lots of books, done an air

exchange experiment, and

today we made our very own boogers.

You should have heard the carrying on that the kids

did.  First, lots of giggles, then lots of, "Oh Gross!"

Then more giggling.

They blew their noses, to examine real life boogers, then they

made their own mucus.

Here's how it works:

1/2 c. boiling water

three packets of unflavored gelatin.

Sprinkle the gelatin on the top of the water, let

it sit for a bit, until it's soft.                            

Once gelatin is soft, stir until it dissolves.

Notice Doodles plugging her nose. It really stinks.

Once the gelatin has dissolved, stir in enough Clear Karo Syrup to make

one cup.  As the mixture cools, you might have to add a little

more water.  Just a spoonful at a time.

The mucus, is mucus, when you can lift the fork out of the 

gelatin/syrup mixture and long strings of snot

appear.

What the kids learned:

Mucus is everywhere in the body-not just in your nose.  When you

get a cold, your nose makes more mucus trying to flush out the germs.

Your nose is like a vacuum cleaner.  The hairs and mucus trap

all sorts of yucky stuff from the air, so that it won't get

into your lungs.

Now, to turn your mucus into really gross boogers and snots,

take a bit of dust from your vacuum cleaner bag.  Sprinkle the dust

on the top of the mucus, stir it in, watch how the dirt particles

are suspended and trapped by the mucus.

That's how your lungs are kept clean by your nose.

Pretty cool huh?

       

And of course, there has to be a song

about the lungs right.  Here's one

the kids have been learning this week.

Today, I learned that my kids LOVE science. They LOVE to

learn about their bodies, and despite the cries

of, "Oh Gross MOM!"  I know that they will never

look at the inside of their tissues the same way again.