Develop Critical Thinking with Discover! Science 3

I received a COMPLIMENTARY copy of this homeschool resource from Timberdoodle in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page for more information. Thank you.

Are you looking to study science in a new way in your homeschool for third grade? Discover! Science 3 is written to develop critical thinking through challenging questions and a variety of creative projects. It is written with homeschoolers in mind, so parents will find the teacher's guide helpful. 

If you purchase this curriculum, you will receive three books: the two student texts (3a and 3b) and the teacher's guide (which is used for both texts). And while it is not faith-based, it doesn't appear to put down a Biblical worldview.

What Will Your Children Study in Discover! Science 3? 

The first six chapters focus on an introduction to science, animals, plants, and how they interact (food webs, ecosystems, etc.). As your child continues, they will be studying matter, sound, energy, water, and more. Here are a few specific topics studied: 

• Temperature of Cold-Blood Animals 
• Explore Birds' Beaks 
• Endangered Plants and Animals 
• Plants as Energy 
• Changing Matter 
• Sound Waves 
• Friction 
• Minerals 
• Weather Tools 
• Digestive System 

They will answer such questions as: "How do you think the cold would affect a cold-blooded animal? What about heat?" or "Describe how an animal or plant species becomes endangered." And they will complete boxes and charts that show the photosynthesis process, observations on science experiments, and more. There are also fill-in-the-blank and multiple choice questions to review topics. 

A Typical Day for Our Homeschool 

While it is recommended to do two lessons or a lesson and a review per week, we've been taking a slower approach as we have another science curriculum we are also using. When we first started out, I assigned pages to our daughter for completion and then checked her work afterward. We would then talk through questions. I found she wasn't retaining the information like I would have liked her to, so we changed things up.

While I still assign the vocabulary for her to complete on her own, I often read aloud the following pages either before she reads them or after she reads them. Her brother (fifth grade) joins us for the discussions and some of the activities. I find this helps her remember the information. For many of the questions, I just write down the answers they provide, or I will have her go back in fill the answers in later that week to reinforce the concepts.

Another way I have assigned the work is by asking her to read certain pages, and then we go over the answers together orally later. When we were completing the review on Fish, Amphibians, and Reptiles, she read the review page in the morning. Then, after lunch, we compared and contrasted the features of the three, describing similarities and differences. 

My Thoughts 

One of the things I particularly like about this science curriculum is that it is NOT heavy on experiments. While our daughter LOVES experiments, I find them tedious and challenging at times. If a curriculum does not include all the materials, it is just one more thing for me to purchase and prepare. Discover! Science 3 incorporates other projects that allow our daughter to go beyond the text, and we've included a few ourselves. 

For example, we completed a reptile research notebooking project. It allowed me to use notebooking pages we already had so they could dig deeper into learning about three or four specific reptiles, including the Galapagos Tortoise, the chameleon, and the milk snake.

We also made a simple snake with pipe cleaners, noodles, and some construction paper. I love that this project had materials that we already had around the house and was simple to put together but had a high educational impact. We were able to discuss the way a snake's body moves, its skeleton, its organ placement, and how it smells. 

Since this curriculum is dependent on reading and writing, there is quite a bit of writing. Sometimes, it almost feels like too much for our daughter. Hence, the reason why I sometimes write down the answers. 

In a lot of ways, this curriculum also feels like it is written more for the classroom than a homeschool. The Instructor Guide definitely lends itself to being more of a classroom teacher guide than one for homeschool parents. I would have preferred to have had the student books reproduced but with answers and teaching instructions listed within it. I found myself having to open the student book and the instructor guide to line up objectives, information on supporting your student and learning styles, and extension activities. The instructor guide also has the assessment or chapter tests in it. So, you will need to either photocopy those pages or share the guide with your child. 

While we are enjoying Discover! Science 3, I don't think it is quite the right fit for our family. I encourage you to check out Timberdoodle to read more about this science program for yourself. 

Do You Want to Read More Timberdoole Reviews? 

• Adding Writing Into Our Curriculum: A Review of Daily 6-Trait Writing Grade 3
• Dice, Decks, and Boards: Penguins Huddle Up™ Game
• Including Geography in Your Homeschool: A Review of Skill Sharpeners Geography - Grade 2
• Supplementing Fifth Grade with a Geography Workbook

Puzzles and Homeschool Science

I received a COMPLIMENTARY copy of this puzzle from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page for more information. Thank you.

As you may have seen in past posts, puzzles and homeschool science is a natural fit for our family. I have one more fun puzzle to share with you from Genius Games. The last puzzle is The Human Eye, which is part of the Dr. Livingston's Anatomy Jigsaw Puzzle Series. It provides a larger-than-life look into the anatomy of yet another human structure for your homeschool classroom. 

The Human Eye Puzzle 

This 544-piece puzzle comes in a beautiful box with a magnetic closure on the flip lid. You could easily display the box on your bookshelf as it looks like an encyclopedia spine at first glance. It was illustrated by Mesa Schumacher, a certified medical illustrator, so it is 100% medically authentic. The inside of the box contains a diagram that labels the different parts, making for a unique science lesson while working on the puzzle. 

The puzzle itself is not your typical square or rectangle, as it is the shape of the illustrated eye. It is 32 inches by 22 inches when complete and shaped similar to a comet. This cross-cut section of the eye depicts the following:

• Optic nerve
• Dural sheath
• Macula and Fovea 
• Retina
• Cillary body 
• Lens
• Cornea
• Pupil
• Iris
• And more! 

Puzzles and Homeschool Science 

While we are not currently studying human anatomy in our homeschool science lessons, puzzles like this are a great way to take a break from normal lessons and talk about something new. Of course, they will also be perfect if you ARE studying human anatomy. 

Puzzles also provide us with some valuable family time offline. As we sit around the dining room table, we can talk about the day, practice important social skills, and learn about the subject of the puzzle itself. It's a fun way to connect. (pun intended) 

My Thoughts

Personally, I found this puzzle to be easier than the heart and brain puzzles we have put together previously. The differences and variety of colors really helped in putting this puzzle together. In fact, we completed this in one evening. 

I would recommend The Human Eye puzzle to families who are interested in completing a fun and challenging puzzle. Whether you homeschool or not, this is a fun family activity. 

Other Puzzles in Our Homeschool 

• Puzzles in Our Homeschool: Dr. Livingston's Anatomy Jigsaw Puzzle: The Human Thorax
• Anatomy Puzzle for Kids: A Review of the Dr. Livingston JR Human Body Floor Puzzle
• Puzzles are Great Fun! A Review of the Human Heart Floor Puzzle
• Puzzles as Science Resources: Doctor Livingston JR. Human Brain floor
• Teaching Homeschool Science: A Review of Owl Anatomy Floor Puzzle
• Homeschooling with a Dinosaur Puzzle
• Studying Anatomy with Puzzles: Pregnant Mother Anatomy Jigsaw Puzzle Review
• Piecing Your Heart Together: A Review of Dr. Livingston's Anatomy Jigsaw Puzzle: The Human Heart

Using Your Brain: A Review of The Human Brain Anatomy Puzzle

I received a COMPLIMENTARY copy of this puzzle from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page for more information. Thank you.

Puzzles! Puzzles! And more puzzles! We've shared a lot of puzzles recently, and I have a few more to share with you. This week, I would like to share Dr. Livingston's Human Brain Anatomy Puzzle from Genius Games with you. We have shared previously about the Human Brain Floor Puzzle, but this weekend, we tried our hands at the version geared towards teens and adults. Boy, was it difficult! 

This puzzle provides a cross-section of the human brain in 662 pieces. It is part of the newer series of puzzles which includes:

• The Heart
• The Brain
• The Eye
• The Hands
• The Feet
• The Head
• The Abdomen
• The Thorax
• The Arms
• The Legs 

All of these puzzles are designed by a certified medical illustrator. In this particular puzzle, you'll see a detailed interview view from the corpus callosum to the spinal cord. The puzzle is 28 inches by 25 inches, so it takes up quite a bit of room on the table. 

Just like all of the other puzzles, this one comes in a sturdy box that resembles a book that you can display beautifully on your shelves. The lid has magnets, which means it shuts closed firmly. No losing pieces! 

Our Thoughts 

This was the most difficult of the puzzles we have completed so far from Genius Games. We have completed the below puzzles, and while they were challenging, I never thought before this one: "What if we can't finish it?" 

• Puzzles in Our Homeschool: Dr. Livingston's Anatomy Jigsaw Puzzle: The Human Thorax
• Anatomy Puzzle for Kids: A Review of the Dr. Livingston JR Human Body Floor Puzzle
• Puzzles are Great Fun! A Review of the Human Heart Floor Puzzle
• Puzzles as Science Resources: Doctor Livingston JR. Human Brain floor
• Teaching Homeschool Science: A Review of Owl Anatomy Floor Puzzle
• Homeschooling with a Dinosaur Puzzle
• Studying Anatomy with Puzzles: Pregnant Mother Anatomy Jigsaw Puzzle Review
• Piecing Your Heart Together: A Review of Dr. Livingston's Anatomy Jigsaw Puzzle: The Human Heart

I'm not sure why this one was difficult. The other puzzles all had sections where the pieces were very similar in color, which added a level of difficulty. In this one, the many arteries and the depiction of the grey and white matter were the most complex parts. I felt like we easily completed the outside edge and then the eyes and spinal cord sections. But the rest? I ended up looking for specific shapes and colors to complete it one by one. 

I only have one complaint. Some of the pieces seemed to have the back peeling off of them. And while taking the puzzle apart for storage, one of the pieces had a corner that tore. All the other puzzles we've done from Genius Games have been very high quality, so I was saddened that some of these didn't fare as well during the production phase. 

Would I recommend this puzzle? Yes! Even though it was very challenging, I think many families would enjoy completing it. If your children are studying anatomy, it is the perfect puzzle to add to their homeschool or schooling lessons. It also makes for a great gift for puzzle lovers. 

 

Piecing Your Heart Together: A Review of Dr. Livingston's Anatomy Jigsaw Puzzle: The Human Heart

 

I received a COMPLIMENTARY copy of this puzzle from Genius Games in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page for more information. Thank you.

How do you piece your heart together? With an anatomy jigsaw puzzle from Genius Games! The Human Heart jigsaw puzzle is 100% medically accurate as it was designed by Mesa Schumacher, a certified medical illustrator. This puzzle will be a welcome addition to your homeschool science studies or your summer learning adventures. 

Genius Games has produced numerous fun puzzles that our family has enjoyed (I share other links and reviews at the end of this post). And the Dr. Livingston's Anatomy Jigsaw Puzzle Series contains the following puzzles: 

• The Heart
• The Brain
• The Eye
• The Hands
• The Feet
• The Head
• The Abdomen 
• The Thorax
• The Arms
• The Legs 

About This Puzzle 

The Human Heart Jigsaw Puzzle is 22 inches by 28 inches, making it one of the smaller puzzles we've completed from Genius Games of late. It has 597 pieces that focus on the "powerhouse of our cardiovascular system" – the heart. 

With this puzzle, you'll be able to see the atria and ventricles, the pulmonary vessels, and the pericardium. These parts of the heart and more are labeled on the inside of the lid. So, after you finish the puzzle, you could ask your children to label the heart that they just pieced together. This would make for a fun, hands-on way to test their anatomical knowledge.  

Our Thoughts 

While our younger children, aged 8 and 10, found the puzzle a little too difficult, our oldest (who graduated a couple years ago) found it to be just the right level of difficulty. Personally, I found it to be on par with The Thorax puzzle we reviewed several years ago. 

There were tricky parts, as it has rather large sections that are the same color, but we completed this puzzle in less time than it took us to complete the Pregnant Mother Anatomy Puzzle. Sometimes, all it took was to walk away for a break, and then we would see new connections. 

One feature I love about the puzzle is that it comes in a nice, sturdy box with a magnetic lid. The box itself can stand upright on your bookshelf. So it looks like a book. If you had the entire collection, you could place them on your homeschool science shelf, and it would look very lovely indeed. 

I would recommend Dr. Livingston's Anatomy Jigsaw Puzzle: The Human Heart to those families who are looking to add some fun to their science lessons. Whether your children are studying anatomy or not, this puzzle provides a nice hands-on learning activity. It fosters cooperation in addition to discussions on science.

More Puzzle Reviews 

Do you want to see more from Genius Games? Check out these reviews! 

Teaching Homeschool Science: A Review of Owl Anatomy Floor Puzzle

Homeschooling with a Dinosaur Puzzle

Studying Anatomy with Puzzles: Pregnant Mother Anatomy Jigsaw Puzzle Review

Puzzles in Our Homeschool

Studying Anatomy with Puzzles: Pregnant Mother Anatomy Jigsaw Puzzle Review

 

I received a COMPLIMENTARY copy of this puzzle in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page for more information. Thank you.

Our family enjoys puzzles! This time, we completed the 488-piece Pregnant Mother Anatomy Jigsaw Puzzle as a family. It is not your typical square or rectangle puzzle as it depicts a pregnant woman kneeling, which brings an additional but fun challenge. This unique, anatomically correct puzzle is brought to you by Genius Games. 

About the Puzzle 

When completed, the Pregnant Mother Anatomy Jigsaw Puzzle two feet wide by three feet high. While the head, arms, hands, legs, and feet depict the mother from the outside, there is a cutaway of her chest, back, and abdomen so the viewer can see inside. The puzzle is conceptualized and drawn by Mesa Schumacher, a Certified Medical Illustrator. So, it is very accurate.

A small anatomical guide is included, rolled up within the box. You can use this guide/poster to learn a little bit more about a pregnant woman and her body. Or you can use it to help you put the puzzle together. It labels the different parts of the body and gives you some simple facts to share with your children.

 My Thoughts 

As usual, I was very pleased with the quality of this puzzle from Genius Games. We have reviewed several others. None of them has disappointed us. The quality of the pieces is quite good. They are sturdy pieces that will stand up to being put together more than once.

I think the puzzle is very tasteful. It depicts the mother's breast and uterus in surprising detail, allowing for the opportunity for good conversations. One thing we were able to discuss while putting the puzzle together was how the organs get compacted and moved around while the mother is pregnant. 

The puzzle took us several hours to put together. The most difficult parts were the arms, legs, and hair, as the colors were all very similar. We ended up completing the inside and outside (after finding the pieces that formed the edge) and then trying different pieces at random to see what would fit where. 

I would recommend this puzzle for families who are interested in learning more about anatomy, pregnancy, and working together. It is a quality puzzle. 

Do You Like Puzzles? 

I've reviewed several puzzles from Genius Games. If you want to learn more about them, please visit my other reviews. 

Puzzles as Science Resources: A review of the Doctor Livingston JR. Human Brain floor  

Teaching Homeschool Science: A Review of Owl Anatomy Floor Puzzle

Homeschooling with a Dinosaur Puzzle

Puzzles are Great Fun! A Review of the Human Heart Floor Puzzle

 

Homeschooling with a Dinosaur Puzzle

I received a COMPLIMENTARY copy of this puzzle in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review and was not compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page for more information. Thank you!

During December, it is fun to incorporate learning activities that are educational and fun. There are many ways in which you can do this, including games, baking, music, and puzzles! We had the opportunity to review the Tyrannosaurus Rex Floor Puzzle courtesy of Genius Games. Working on this puzzle allowed us to focus on cooperation, critical thinking skills, and a quick introduction to a future homeschool science course. 

Homeschool Fun 

Working on puzzles such as the Tyrannosaurus Rex Floor Puzzle is great fun for our children. Our third grader and fifth grader enjoy challenging floor puzzles. This Turn N Learn Puzzle is quite challenging, as it is a 2-in-1 reversible floor puzzle. One side depicts the skeleton of the T-Rex, while the other features the T-Rex with his brown and green scales. This brings an added challenge as children must figure out which side they need to complete the puzzle. 

About the Dinosaur Puzzle 

This 100-piece puzzle is over four feet long when fully assembled. And the skeleton side glows in the dark! The pieces are rather thick and sturdy. 

The box contains a velcro closure for easy storage. And inside, you will also find a fun fact sheet about the Tyrannosaurus Rex. Please keep in mind that the information may not align with your worldview if you are a Creationist or believe in a young Earth. 

Future Homeschool Science Course 

In the New Year, our fifth grader will be taking Dinosaurs and the Bible Homeschool Course with SchoolhouseTeachers.com. This course looks at the exciting world of dinosaurs and paleontology from a Biblical perspective. Our son will be taking the new interactive course which will allow him to learn about dinosaurs and how they fit in with a young-earth creationist worldview. 

Completing this dinosaur puzzle in advance of his coursework has allowed him to ask questions about what different people believe in regard to dinosaurs, their place in science and history, and their extinction. We have even talked about how opinions regarding dinosaurs have changed from when I was a child to the publication of the novel Jurassic Park to the remakes of the books and movies. 

Our Thoughts 

This dinosaur puzzle was a hit with our children. It allowed us to work together and take a slower approach to homeschooling during December. I would recommend the Tyrannosaurus Rex Floor Puzzle to any family or school that wants to learn more about this famous terrible lizard. 

Love Puzzles 

If you love puzzles, don't forget to check out my other reviews featuring puzzles from Genius Games, including a Turn N Learn Owl puzzle and a Human Heart Floor Puzzle.

Teaching Homeschool Science: A Review of Owl Anatomy Floor Puzzle

I received a COMPLIMENTARY copy of this puzzle in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page for more information. Thank you.

Teaching homeschool science is such a daily joy! When we look at homeschool science curriculum and resources, there are so many great options and approaches available to us. From fun science experiments to interesting books, we can bring our homeschool science lessons to life. Another great option is floor puzzles. The Owl Anatomy Floor Puzzle lets our children see both the anatomical structure of a great horned owl and the feathered view of one, as the puzzle is 2-in-1 reversible. 

About the Puzzle 

This puzzle is from Genius Games Junior, featuring 100 pieces in a unique "turn-n-learn" approach. The puzzle pieces are very sturdy. As it is reversible, you will need to look at the pieces closely to pick the right side to match up. It is over 3 feet long when completed, definitely making it suited to completion on the floor.

The box itself is sturdy with a velcro closure. Inside, there is a laminated fact sheet which provides information about the great horned owl, allowing you to easily teach homeschool science. The anatomy side is drawn by a certified medical illustrator and shows the muscles, heart, crop, and more. 

Learning About the Great Horned Owl 

This large predator is native to the Americas. We are fortunate that we can hear one from our living room on many evenings. We haven't spotted it yet, though!  Share these facts with your child as you complete the puzzle together. 

• Life span of 20-30 years.
• 19 to 35 inches big.
• Over four feet wing span. 
• Large ear-like tufts give it the name great horned owl 
• Actual ears are holes under the feathers on its head. 
• Its call is one long hoot followed by two or three shorter hoots. Listen to different calls of the great horned owl at the Audubon Guide to North American Birds. 
• They eat mostly mammals such as mice, rats, and rabbits but will eat birds and reptiles, too. 
• Both parents take care of the young.

Science Fun 

Our children and I had a lot of fun putting together the Owl Anatomy Floor Puzzle. I made sure we had all the puzzle pieces flipped the correct way, and then we got started! We completed the anatomy side first, which was a bit easier because of the break up in color with the internal organs. 

It took less than an hour to put the puzzle together. The side showing the downy exterior did take a little longer. We tested pieces based on color, shape, and size. When the entire puzzle was put together, it was beautiful. The pieces fit together so well that it didn't really look like a puzzle. 

Our daughter really loved the puzzle. She has asked to complete it again almost every day since it arrived. So, not only is it educational, but it is fun and a winner. 

I highly recommend this series of puzzles from Genius Games Junior. The company has also produced a shark and a tiger. These are perfect for teaching homeschool science or just as a fun activity. They would make great gifts for the holiday season or a birthday. 

Interested in More Puzzles 

Please check out my review of other puzzles from Genius Games! 

Puzzles as Science Resources—a look at the Doctor Livingston JR. Human Brain floor puzzle

Puzzles are Great Fun! A Review of the Human Heart Floor Puzzle—a review of the Doctor Livingston JR. Human Heart Floor Puzzle

Anatomy Puzzle for Kids: A Review of the Dr. Livingston JR Human Body Floor Puzzle—a review of the Dr. Livingston JR Human Body Floor Puzzle

Puzzles in Our Homeschool—a review of the Dr. Livingston's Anatomy Jigsaw Puzzle: The Human Thorax

Bring Science to Life with Timberdoodle

 

I received a COMPLIMENTARY copy of this kit from Timberdoodle in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page for more information. Thank you.

Science is one of those homeschool subjects that I both love and dislike. When I can teach about animals, habitats, or nature, I am in my element. I worked for many years, both part-time and full-time, at a metropolitan zoo in the education department. But when it comes to the other areas of science, I often feel I am at a loss. So when I get the chance to use a kit to help teach science, it makes my homeschool day! 

We have been using the Stepping into Science Kit, which is part of the Kindergarten Curriculum Kit from Timberdoodle. While we have a set science curriculum for both our second grader and our fourth grader, I love bringing science to life with additional experiments. This kit provides new ideas and experiments for relaxed summer homeschool days. 

What is Part of the Stepping into Science Kit? 

This science kit contains an experiment manual and 28 separate types of materials for the experiments. These experiments fall into five different categories: 

• Experiments in Nature 
• Experiments in Physics
• Experiments in Air
• Experiments in Water
• Experiments in Chemistry 

Some of the experiments require items both in your house and ones that you might need to purchase, such as a scrap of wool or a house plant. Since you don't really need to complete the science experiments in any specific order, you can skip those if you don't have the materials. 

A sampling of specific items in the science kit includes: 

• garden cress seeds
• clay pot
• modeling clay 
• small polystyrene soap boat
• funnel 

A Look at Some of the Experiments 

Experiment 1: The Cress Garden 

Our daughter really enjoyed this first experiment. She took joy in making sure the cress seeds had water each day. We even did the experiment a second time where we set up two small plates - one with water and one without water to observe the differences. 

Experiments 8 & 9: The Confetti Magnet and Salt and Pepper 

These were fun experiments to look at electrostatic charge. We did need to reach out to a family member for a scrap of wool as we didn't have wool fabric in the house. 

Experiments 15 & 16: Paper Airplanes 

All three of our children enjoyed taking the paper airplanes outside to test. They discovered that one flew farther and faster than the other while testing them. 

Experiments 24: The Soap Boat

Not all of the experiments worked out perfectly. When we tried to move the small boat by dipping the soap-tipped drinking straw into the water, nothing happened. We hypothesized that it was because our straw had a hole in it. We will be conducting this experiment again with a new straw. And then maybe with different soap to see if that makes a difference. 

Our Thoughts 

I always appreciate kits where everything is included. While I know that Stepping into Science can't include live plants or water, there were a few things that I wish had been included to make preparing the experiments easier. For example, finding a scrap of wool was not easy, and we haven't been able to find sugar cubes yet. 

I thought the manual was very well-organized. I especially appreciate the kit contents with the photograph and list of all the items so I could check them off. And while I know that the manual was written to younger children, I wish there had been longer explanations for some of the experiments. Or maybe even an online resource so we could find out more information. 

Our daughter and son both loved when I said it was time for science. And they are eagerly awaiting the completion of the rest of the experiments. Stepping into Science really helped bring science to life this summer. 

I would recommend this kit to families with younger children (preschool-first grade). It is a great way to introduce experiments to children. It doesn't matter if you homeschool your children or not. You could easily complete a few experiments over the weekend to reinforce what your children are learning in their public, private, or homeschool lessons. 

We still have experiments left! Which one should we try next? 

• The floating paper clip 
• Super soap bubbles 
• Color detective 

If you want to see what else Timberdoodle has to offer families, please check out my following reviews: 

• Learn to Code in Your Homeschool
• Art History for All Ages: A Review of Have I Got a Story For You! Downloadable Art History Video Series (Renaissance)
• Dice, Decks, and Boards: Challenge Your Mind With Horse Academy
• Documenting Memories with Your Homeschooled Children: A Review of Me: A Compendium

Puzzles as Science Resources

 

I received a COMPLIMENTARY copy of this puzzle in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page. Thank you.

Thinking and Puzzle Our Way Through a Science Resource 

What is gray matter? Where is the frontal lobe? What is another name for your skull? Our children are now able to answer these questions and more after putting together the Doctor Livingston JR. Human Brain floor puzzle courtesy of Genius Games. 

We previously learned about the entire body with the Dr. Livingston JR Human Body Floor Puzzle and the human heart with the Doctor Livingston JR. Human Heart Floor Puzzle. So, now it is time for the human brain. With the 100-piece puzzle and the anatomy guide, our nine and seven-year-old children learned about neurons, the cranium, the facial bones, the eyes, and more. 

When completed the human brain floor puzzle is 28 inches by 25 inches and depicts a cross-section of the head at 500% magnification. There are 28 different parts that you and your children can label using the anatomy guide. The back of the anatomy guide shares 14 fun facts which include details like: 

• A normal adult brain weighs around 3 pounds...
• Your brain is like a powerful computer...
• Neurons can send information up to 260 miles per hour...

Knowing What We Like 

Both our children really like these floor puzzles. They find them intriguing and interesting. Each time they put the puzzle together, they find they can complete it more quickly as they are more familiar with where the different parts of the brain go.

I like the high quality of the puzzle pieces. I also like the fact that the puzzle is not the typical square or rectangle. You really have to think about the shape to put together the human brain floor puzzle. All of the pieces and the anatomy guide fit together nicely into the puzzle box. I definitely appreciate that we can store the puzzle safely when it is not in use. 

Our daughter and I had a lot of fun putting together the human brain puzzle. It is a nice, simple activity that we can do together that also is educational and works on developing thinking skills. 

I would recommend the human brain floor puzzle to families who wish to spend time learning anatomy together. Whether you homeschool or not, this is a good addition to your puzzle collection. 

Do you want to get 20% off any of the puzzles offered by Genius Games? Use the promo code: KIDSPUZZLES. 

Read more about the human heart puzzle here: Puzzles are Great Fun! A Review of the Human Heart Floor Puzzle