There are many things that teachers are responsible for teaching students about. From math to English to world history, teachers have a lot on their plate when it comes to educating the youth and future generations. Many schools also have specialty and unique courses that students can opt to take. And, in those classes, teachers have to be extremely creative to get students interested.
In some courses, like Health and Family and Consumer Science, teachers are responsible for teaching everything involved in the birth process.
While some parents may be in charge of “the birds and the bees” discussion, when kids get older, they’re bound to learn about birth and pregnancy in science courses.
So, how do teachers exactly teach about “giving birth” without making it totally traumatic and gruesome for kids?
I remember being in health class back in the day and watching a whole, full-on birthing video. Man, I remember thinking I was never, ever having a baby after that.
One teacher, however, has a fantastic and unique way to showcase what the birthing process is really like.
Brooke Bernal teaches family and consumer sciences to high school students. In her course, they get down to the nitty-gritty details of childbirth.
How does she do it? Well, you’ll be blown away.
All it takes is a balloon and a ping pong ball to show the kids just how the “birth canal” works and how a very big something can come out of another very little something.
Brooke uses a balloon to symbolize the uterus and a ping pong ball to symbolize the baby.
Blowing up the balloon, Brooke shows that the end of the balloon is the birth canal and the tip is the cervix. The huge balloon is the uterus where the “baby” is.
Brooke showcases that the baby comes to a head near the cervix.
She shows how the ping pong ball, AKA the baby, moves through the uterus and down to the birth canal. As she demonstrates it, the ping pong ball moves on down towards the cervix.
When the baby is ready to come out, Brooke shows the “push” moms all have to do.
And, when that baby is coming, oh man is it coming! The baby pops out of the balloon pretty hard, which of course wouldn’t happen in real life. But, the concept is still A++++.
When the baby is ready to come out, Brooke shows the “push” moms all have to do.
And, when that baby is coming, oh man is it coming! The baby pops out of the balloon pretty hard, which of course wouldn’t happen in real life. But, the concept is still A++++.
How do her students receive it? Well, they’re not totally fazed by it to be honest.
“Normally, this demonstration does not faze my students at all. They are really just surprised that a ping pong ball can fit into a balloon and that a balloon can stretch like it does without popping. It’s just a good visual aid for them,” she told BuzzFeed.
Brooke also says that she’s happy to teach her students about things in a safe and welcoming environment.
“Also, with technology, kids receive so much misinformation. I am often blown away by how much misinformation my students tell me. So, teaching this class gives me the opportunity to help them learn what is correct and it gives them a safe place to openly discuss any questions they might have. My classroom is a judgment-free zone and all questions are welcome,” she added.
h/t: Buzzfeed
