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Body Lab 3-5 / Week 10 / Body Lab Day
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Week 10 · Skin, Touch, Smell and Taste

Body Lab Day

Body Lab Day: Two-Point Touch Test
// The senses that touch, sniff and sample the world
⏱ about 15 min

Body Lab Day: Two-Point Touch Test

Rocket holds up a paper clip bent into a U. "One clip, two points," he says. "Can skin count to two?"

Raven grabs a ruler and a notebook. "What do you notice on different spots of skin?"

Nova floats by the ruler. "Test the same way each time," she says. "Then compare."

The whole family gathers around to test.

  1. Skin is the biggest organ. It has three layers.
  2. Skin protects you, helps control temperature and feels touch.
  3. Touch receptors send signals along nerves to the brain.
  4. Smell receptors sit high in the nose. Taste buds hold taste cells.
  5. Smell and taste together make flavor.
◇ TWO-POINT TOUCH TEST
A grown-up bends a paper clip into a U shape with the two tips even.
The tester spreads the tips about 2 centimeters apart.
The other player closes their eyes.
The tester gently touches both tips to the skin at the same time.
The player says "one point" or "two points."
Move the tips closer or farther apart. Find the smallest gap that still feels like two.
Test a fingertip, the palm, the back of the hand and the forearm. Then switch jobs.
Only test someone who wants to play.
Safety first
A grown-up bends the paper clip.
Touch very gently. Never press hard or scratch.
Test only fingertips, palms, hands and forearms. Keep the clip away from faces and eyes.
SpotSmallest gap that felt like two
Fingertip
Palm
Back of hand
Forearm
For a grown-up
Sometimes touch with just one tip, so the test stays fair.
Talk about it: which spot needed the smallest gap? Why might that be?
BODY LAB CHECK
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
Which spot will most likely feel two points closest together?
Why touch both tips at the same time?
The biggest organ is the ____.
Smell plus taste makes ____.

Fantastic testing, family scientists! Next week we meet the body's defenders.

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