Pin the Body Part: Body Sketch + Song

Level 2 strengthens comprehension + application.

Objectives

Materials

Instructions

Materials

- Large sheet of paper or unfurled butcher paper

- Markers and crayons

- Pre cut large shapes for body parts (e.g., circle for head, rectangle for body, ovals for arms and legs)

- Tape or sticky tack

- A simpler outline of a person drawn on paper

- A song about body parts (e.g., "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes")

- Optional: Printouts of family member faces for children to glue onto the body

Learning Objectives

- Children will be able to identify and name at least three major body parts.

- Children will participate in a song that reinforces body part names and locations.

- Children will demonstrate fine motor skills by drawing or taping body parts onto a human outline.

- Children will begin to understand that their body is made up of different parts, similar to how their family is made of different people.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Gather the children around the large sheet of paper. Introduce the activity by saying, "Today we are going to create a giant picture of a person, just like we each have a wonderful family! What parts does a person have on their body?"

2. Introduce the pre-cut body part shapes. "We have a head, a body, arms, and legs! Where do these parts go on our giant person?"

3. Have children take turns choosing a body part shape and telling you where they think it belongs on the outline. Help them tape or place it in the correct spot. For example, "Where does the head go?" and encourage the child to place it at the top.

4. Once the basic body is complete, distribute crayons and markers. "Now that our person has a body, let's make it special, like how everyone in your family is special! What else can we add? Maybe eyes, a mouth, or hair?"

5. As children add details, sing a song about body parts. "Let's sing our favourite body song! Can you touch your head? Your shoulders? Your knees?"

6. Connect to the family theme again. "Just like our person has many parts, your family has many people! Who is in your family?"

7. Allow children to draw their own simple person on a smaller piece of paper, adding their own details.

8. If using family faces, let children choose a face to glue onto their drawn person, saying, "Who does this person remind you of in your family?"

Educator Tip

For younger children, focus on just a few key body parts like the head, arms, and legs. For those who are more advanced, encourage them to name smaller parts like ears, nose, and fingers, or even to draw facial features themselves. Ensure the workspace is clear and materials are easily accessible. You can also invite children to bring in photos of their family members to share and discuss, strengthening the connection between the activity and their home life.

Assessment

Observe which children can correctly identify and name body parts during the activity and the song. Note their participation in placing body parts and adding details to the drawing. You can also ask individual children to point to specific body parts on themselves and their drawing, or to name one person from their family.

Educator tip

Require complete thoughts; photograph work for portfolios.

Assessment

Assess against Early Learning Goals (ELGs). Document evidence of 'expected' or 'exceeding' descriptors. Note: independent application of skills, ability to explain reasoning, and capacity to build on prior learning. Anecdotal notes + product check.

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