We learn about the body Part 11 - Facts on the skin - Information and questions for kids Gr 3-4

Your whole body is covered with skin.  On the skin you will see some hairs and different people has different colour skin.

The skin is an organ.  The heart and kidneys and lungs and liver are also organs. The skin is the biggest organ of the body.

An organ is a group of tissue that works together to do a specific 'job', like your heart is made up of different parts and its function is to pump blood.

Your skin also has a few functions.  It let you feel heat and cold, it protects the organs and bones on the inside of your body and it keeps diseases on the outside.

Our skin consist of 3 layers.  The 'epidermis, the dermis and the subcutis' and the epidermis which is the outer layer are thicker on the palms of your hand and bottom of your feet than in other places of the body.

The subcutis layer is also called the hypodermis and here you will find blood vessels and stored fat.  This is the deepest layer of the skin.

• Find a picture that shows you the different layers of the skin and what other organelles are found in these layers.

Have you ever seen that a person who was hurt in an accident or fire, will have skin that looks funny.  This is because if skin is badly damaged, it form 'scar tissue' which is different from the skin since it has no sweat glands or hair.

Your skin produces 'melanin' and this gives the colour to your skin.  The less melanin you have, the lighter your skin and the more you have, the darker your skin.

If a certain part of you skin must handle a lot of pressure or friction caused by movement of something over the skin, like your shoes that are a bit to tight or new, the skin will form thick parts called calluses. 

• Can you think of two other ways in which you will get a callus?

Next time you or your mom vacuums the carpet or the couch and you see all the dust. know that most of it is dead skin.  We 'shed' our skin and the body constantly forms new skin.

• All animals have a skin, they just look different.  Some are covered with hair, some are slimy and wet, some are dry etc.  Choose any five animals that are different from one another and describe their skin.

Amphibians such as frogs have unique skin. Rather than drinking water, frogs actually soak it into their body through their skin. They also use their skin to absorb around half the air they need. 

• If you want to eat a banana you need to first peel off the 'skin'.  Can you think of some other fruits that also have a skin on the outside?
• Watch the video and answer the questions.

1. What is the meaning of 'protective barrier'.
2. How does the skin protect us from overheating or cold?
3. Why do you get 'wrinkled fingers' when you bath too long?
4. How does the skin protect the scientist from getting burned by the liquid nitrogen?
5. Name 3 functions of the skin.