Museum of Science and Industry

About the Lab

A trained health educator from the Robert Crown Center for Health Education provides an overview of human reproduction, fetal development and the birth process. Students engage in a discussion of male and female reproductive anatomy, the role of the pituitary gland in puberty and the female menstrual cycle, as well as an introduction to human fertilization, development of the fetus and the process of labor and delivery. Reinforce the lesson with a focused exploration of the Museum's real prenatal specimens featured in YOU! The Experience.

• Grade: 4th - 8th
• Capacity: 35 students
• Duration: 75 minutes
• Cost: $120
• Offered Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 10:15 and 11:45 a.m.

Download the lab guide

• Life Begins (PDF)

Illinois Learning Standards

The content of this lab aligns with the following Illinois Learning Standards:
23: A, B, C

Pre- and Post-Visit Activities

• Oh, Baby!
  

Letter to Parents
Prepare a letter to send home with students explaining the program content and objectives to their parents. Encourage parents to discuss the content with their children and to answer questions to the best of their abilities and comfort levels.

Discussion Questions
What special care should the mother take to help the baby's growth and development during the nine months of pregnancy?

How can alcohol, tobacco and other drugs harm the baby while the mother is pregnant?

Who is responsible for the baby after it is born?

Encourage students to talk with someone who is pregnant or who recently had a baby about her experience.

Additional Resources

Robert Crown Center for Health Education
www.robertcrown.org

MSI's Make Room for Baby interactive
www.msichicago.org/makeroom