What would you like to discover?

Text size & display

Body & Senses

How do we discover the world around us?

Seeing, hearing & feeling

Both equally sized Wusels sit on a garden bench listening to leaves; Flauschi holds a paw beside her ear.

How do sounds reach my ears?

Sounds make air vibrate. This movement enters the ear and moves tiny parts inside it.

Open learning page →
The Wusels kneel beside three colourful shapes on a mat; Puschel points to the red triangle and Flauschi holds the blue square.

How do my eyes see?

Light from an object enters your eye. The cornea and lens direct it onto the retina at the back.

Open learning page →
Flauschi smells a prepared apple slice while Puschel considers a pear on their picnic blanket.

Why does food taste different when my nose is blocked?

Tongue and nose work together when eating. The tongue detects basic tastes such as sweet or salty; the nose adds many aromas.

Open learning page →
The two Wusels explore a soft cloth and a smooth stone on their picnic blanket.

What can my skin feel?

Your skin contains sensory cells. They report things such as touch, pressure or temperature to the brain.

Open learning page →
Puschel carefully follows a chalk line on level ground while equally sized Flauschi stands beside him.

How do I keep my balance?

The brain combines information from eyes, inner ears and the body about position and movement. It uses that information to guide adjustments.

Open learning page →
The Wusels look at a red building block from two different viewpoints.

Why do we have two eyes?

Our eyes look at the world from two slightly different positions. The brain combines their images.

Open learning page →
Puschel and Flauschi listen to two small xylophone bars on a blanket.

How do we tell high and low sounds apart?

A tone comes from something vibrating: moving back and forth quickly. Faster regular vibrations make a higher pitch; slower ones make a lower pitch.

Open learning page →
Flauschi holds a soft cloth and Puschel raises a friendly stop paw.

Why do some touches tickle?

The skin sends touch signals to the brain. Some light touches feel ticklish.

Open learning page →
The Wusels look at a familiar mint plant in the garden from a distance.

Why can people experience the same smell differently?

The nose detects scent substances in the air and sends signals to the brain. Experiences affect whether we like a smell.

Open learning page →

Moving & understanding the body

Puschel and Flauschi in the museum. Heart model with a closed blood circuit and a comparison of rest and running.

Why does my heart beat faster when I run?

Running muscles need more oxygen. Your heart usually beats faster to pump more blood around the body.

Open learning page →
Both equally sized adult Wusels stand calmly on a meadow with paws at the sides of their chests.

Why do I need to breathe?

Breathing takes oxygen from the air. In the lungs it enters the blood and travels to body cells, which need it for their work.

Open learning page →
Puschel and Flauschi move their arms during a gentle little dance in the meadow.

How do my arms and legs move?

Muscles contract and pull on bones through tendons. Movable joints let bones change position.

Open learning page →
The equally sized Wusels rest with water bottles and a towel on a shady bench.

Why do we sweat?

Sweat reaches the skin from small glands. When it evaporates, it takes heat away and helps cool you.

Open learning page →
The Wusels examine a simplified human skeleton illustration.

Why do we have bones?

Bones form the skeleton. It supports the body, protects important organs and works with muscles and joints for movement.

Open learning page →
The Wusels examine a simple joint model with a soft pulling cord.

What do tendons do?

Tendons connect muscles to bones. When a muscle contracts, its tendon passes the pull to a bone.

Open learning page →
The Wusels rest beside a bench after an easy walk.

Why do we breathe faster when running?

Running makes your muscles work harder and need more oxygen from the air. You usually breathe faster and deeper as a result.

Open learning page →
Flauschi offers Puschel a warm blanket on a sheltered woodland porch.

Why do we shiver when cold?

When you are cold, your muscles can work quickly without you choosing to move them: you shiver. This produces heat.

Open learning page →
Puschel and Flauschi examine a small human rib-cage model on a table.

How does the rib cage protect the heart and lungs?

The ribs, breastbone and part of the spine form the rib cage. It protects the heart and lungs.

Open learning page →
The Wusels stretch gently in a woodland clearing with plenty of space.

What happens when we stretch?

Stretching changes joint positions and the length of muscles and other tissues. It lets you change your posture.

Open learning page →

Staying well & learning

Both Wusels sit at a low picnic table with feet on the ground; Puschel holds a bitten piece of bread and Flauschi looks at the table.

Where does my breakfast go?

Your breakfast is broken up in the mouth and further digested in the stomach and intestine. Small nutrient building blocks enter the blood mainly in the small intestine.

Open learning page →
Puschel yawns beside wooden blocks on the picnic blanket while Flauschi quietly helps tidy up.

Why do we need sleep?

Sleep supports health, learning and memory. Your body keeps working: heart and breathing do not stop.

Open learning page →
Both Wusels examine a human tooth model on a garden table.

Why do baby teeth fall out?

Baby teeth make way for permanent teeth. Before a baby tooth normally falls out, its root gradually breaks down and the tooth loosens.

Open learning page →
Puschel with a small plaster and equally sized Flauschi rest on a bench; no open wound is visible.

How does a little scrape heal?

For a small scrape, clotting helps seal the opening. The body then clears damaged material and makes new cells.

Open learning page →
The equally sized Wusels examine simple picture cards on a table.

Why do we remember some things?

Remembering involves many nerve cells working together in the brain. Attention, meaning and repetition can affect what we retain.

Open learning page →
Puschel and Flauschi practise a simple paw rhythm while sitting.

How do we learn a new movement?

A new movement needs coordination between the brain, muscles and senses. Practice can improve this teamwork.

Open learning page →
The Wusels leave an unfinished pattern and relax on a bench.

Why do breaks help us learn?

Staying attentive takes effort. If you get tired, a break can help you pay attention again afterwards.

Open learning page →
The Wusels examine a human tooth model and a toothbrush on a low table.

Why do we need to brush our teeth?

A coating containing bacteria can build up on teeth. Those bacteria can turn sugar into acids that attack teeth.

Open learning page →
The Wusels take a break with two cups of water in the shade.

How do we notice that we are thirsty?

Thirst is a signal that your body needs water. You notice that you want to drink; your mouth may also feel dry.

Open learning page →
The Wusels look at a simple picture card showing a shield and tiny dots without words.

How does our body defend itself against germs?

Skin and moist body linings help keep germs out. If germs get inside, special cells can recognise and fight them.

Open learning page →

Body & Experiments

What happens inside the body, and what can clear models show? Explore connections with pictures, examples and safe observations.

Explore topics →