My Body Parts

The Book

Here are My Hands

Written by Bill Martin and John Archambault, illustrated by Ted Rand, published by Square Fish

Here Are My Hands by Bill Martin and John Archambault is a rhythmic and engaging picture book that celebrates the different parts of the human body and their functions. Through simple, repetitive text and vibrant illustrations, young readers are encouraged to recognise their own external features and explore their purposes, such as hands for clapping, feet for running, and eyes for seeing (AC9SFU01 – Foundation Year, Science).

This book fosters body awareness, supports early language development, and provides opportunities for interactive learning, making it a wonderful resource for exploring how our bodies help us engage with the world around us.

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Resource creator

Lian Khanh

Subject

Science,

Level

Foundation,

Description

Students will explore external body parts and their functions through an interactive story, movement-based games, and a creative craft activity. They will engage in hands-on learning by listening, moving, and making connections between body parts and their uses.

Learning Intentions

• Students will identify different external body parts and their functions.

Successful Criteria

• I can name different body parts.
• I can show how each body part moves or functions.
• I can create and describe a person using craft materials.

Curriculum Alignment

AC9SFU01 9.0 (Science Foundation): Observe external features of plants and animals and describe ways they can be grouped based on these features

• observing fruits and vegetables and identifying them as parts of plants such as roots, flowers, fruits or leaves
• recognising humans as animals, describing external features of humans and exploring similarities and differences compared with other animals
• using magnifying glasses or digital cameras to observe and identify external features of plants including seeds, flowers, fruits and roots, or of animals such as eyes, body covering, legs and wings
• sorting collections of model animals and explaining different grouping strategies
• recognising First Nations Australians’ use of observable features to group living things
• exploring how First Nations Australians’ observations of external features of living things are replicated in traditional dance

Materials

Here Are My Hands book
Playdough or craft materials (coloured paper, glue, scissors)
Music player

Instructions

Read-Aloud & Movement

Read Here Are My Hands aloud, encouraging children to move or touch the body parts mentioned (e.g., clapping hands, stomping feet).
Ask simple questions to spark engagement:
- “Can you show me your hands?”
- “What can we do with our hands?” (Clapping, waving, etc.)

“Body Part Action Freeze” Game

Students dance or walk around while music plays.
When the music stops, call out a body part, and students act out its function (e.g., hands → clapping, feet → jumping).
Increase excitement by adding speed or letting students take turns calling out body parts.

“Create Your Body” Craft

Each student selects an outfit sheet and uses playdough to shape body parts onto the character.
They can decorate hair and outfits with playdough or markers too.
Encourage students to point and name each body part, explaining what it does. Teachers can scribe their descriptions.