Download the Digestive System

Diving into the Digestive System
The Digestive System
Date: November 4th, 2015
40 minutes
Outcomes and Indicators:
HB 5.2 Investigate the structure, function, and major organs of one or more human body
systems such as the digestive, excretory, respiratory, circulatory, nervous, muscular, and
skeletal systems. [SI, TPS]
a.
Explain at least two functions of the human digestive system
c.
Model the structure and/or function of one or more organs from the human digestive system.
Prerequisite Learning: Students will have information on other body systems: respiratory
and circulatory systems.
Advanced Preparation: Write questions on whiteboard: What is the function of the organ?
Where does the organ go on the body diagram? Print off hand-outs.
Materials: Loaf of bread, hand-outs, exit slips and “audience” signs.
Set: Brain break to settle the class. Begin PowerPoint presentation. Alternate presentation of
slides: explain each topic listed on the slide. On the “Mouth” slide, Mr. Larsen will engage
students with bread eating exercise. Continue the presentation of the slides again alternating
between us to explain. After the presentation of the slides, Miss Olson will instruct students
into 8 groups of 3 with 1 pair and give them one topic from the Digestive System: mouth,
esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, small intestine, large intestine, or anus.
Miss Olson will explain “The Interview” process that students will partake in. 10 minutes.
Development: Each group and pair will examine the information on their hand-out of their
topic keeping in mind the questions: What is the function of the organ? Where does the organ
go on the body diagram? Next, students will be called up to the front of the class and will be
asked the two prompting questions in an interview style format. The front of the classroom
will be like an interview on a talk show with the students as an audience and Mr. Larsen or
Miss Olson as the interviewer. Each group and pair will get a chance to get to the front of the
classroom. Mr. Larsen and Miss Olson will alternate questioning the groups and pair. 20
minutes.
Closure: After each group has presented their topic, as a class we will go over each topic of
the Digestive System so that each student will get the full picture. As a class we will review
each topic in the Digestive System. 5 minutes.
Adaptations: Give students specific roles in their interview. Have an order for students to
present in. Students answer questions from their desks.
Assessment: Exit slip with questions about each of the topics of the Digestive System.
Resources:
“Hands On” and “Culminating Activity” on page 17:
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/teachersguides/pdf/lifescience/aims/the_human_digesti
ve_system.pdf
Teacher resource:
http://classroom.kidshealth.org/classroom/6to8/body/systems/digestive_system.pdf
Digestive System Definitions, Functions, and Facts:
http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/body_basics/digestive_system.html
Definitions/Functions/Fun Facts for Hand-outs:
Mouth - The mouth is where the digestive tract begins. Function - Enzymes released into the
mouth start the process of digestion. Fun fact - When you do eat, the saliva breaks down the
chemicals in the food a bit, which helps make the food mushy and easy to swallow.
Esophagus - This part of the digestive system is like a stretchy pipe that’s about 10 inches
(25cm) long. It moves food from the back of your throat to your stomach. Function - The
esophagus is a soft, muscular tube that moves food from the pharynx. Fun fact - Once food
has entered the esophagus, it doesn't just drop right into your stomach. Instead, muscles in the
walls of the esophagus move in a wavy way to slowly squeeze the food through the
esophagus. This takes about 2 or 3 seconds.
Stomach - Your stomach, which is attached to the end of the esophagus, is a stretchy sack
shaped like the letter J. Function - It has three important jobs:
1. to store the food you've eaten
2.
to break down the food into a liquidy mixture
3.
to slowly empty that liquidy mixture into the small intestine
Fun fact - The stomach is like a mixer, churning and mashing together all the small balls of
food that came down the esophagus into smaller and smaller pieces.
Liver - The nutrient-rich blood comes directly to the liver for processing. Function - The
liver filters out harmful substances or wastes, turning some of the waste into more bile. The
liver even helps figure out how many nutrients will go to the rest of the body, and how many
will stay behind in storage. Fun fact - the liver stores certain vitamins and a type of sugar
your body uses for energy.
Pancreas - The pancreas is a long, flat gland in your belly. It sits behind the stomach and
produces enzymes that are important for digestion. Function - The pancreas makes hormones
(including insulin) to regulate the blood glucose level. It also makes enzymes that break
down food in the intestines. Fun fact - Insulin and glucagon, which help control the level of
glucose (a type of sugar) in the blood, are also made in the pancreas.
Gallbladder - The gallbladder is a small pouch that stores bile. Function - The gallbladder
release bile into the duodenum to help digest fats in the food you eat. Fun fact - This organ
sends different juices to the first part of the small intestine. These juices help to digest food
and allow the body to absorb nutrients.
Small Intestine - The small intestine (say: in-TESS-tin) is a long tube that's about 1½ inches
to 2 inches (about 3.5 to 5 centimeters) around, and it's packed inside you beneath your
stomach. Function -The small intestine breaks down the food mixture even more so your
body can absorb all the vitamins, minerals, proteins,carbohydrates, and fats. Fun fact - If you
stretched out an adult's small intestine, it would be about 22 feet long (6.7 meters) — that's
like 22 notebooks lined up end to end, all in a row
Large Intestine - At 3 or 4 inches around (about 7 to 10 centimeters), the large intestine is
fatter than the small intestine and it's almost the last stop on the digestive tract.The large
intestine consists of three parts – the cecum, the colon, and the rectum. Function - passes
things the body cannot use out of the body. Fun fact - Like the small intestine, it is packed
into the body, and would measure 5 feet (about 1.5 meters) long if you spread it out.
Anus - The anus marks the exit point of the digestive tract. Function - it's where poop leaves
the body. Fun fact - The solid waste stays here until you are ready to go to the bathroom.
When you go to the bathroom, you are getting rid of this solid waste by pushing it through
the anus (say: AY-nus).
Name:________________
Date:_________________
Digestive System Questions:
1. What is the function of: the mouth, esophagus, stomach, liver,
pancreas, gallbladder, small intestine, large, intestine, and anus?
Mouth
________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Esophagus
________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Stomach
________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Liver
________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Pancreas
________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Gallbladder
________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Small Intestine
________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Large Intestine
________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Anus
________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
2. Label the diagram:
Professional Development Plan
Topic: The Digestive System
Teacher:
Miss Olson and Mr. Larsen
Date: November 4th
Observer: Mr. Brennan
1. Professional Target
Wrap-up the lesson.
2. Steps to Achieve Target
Go over topics of the digestive system with students. Give
them the information point-blank. Be sure to cover all of
the important points indicated in the outcome/indicator.
3. Instructions to observer (be specific):
Note if students have questions at the end of the lesson. Monitor their facial expressions and
body language.
4. Data Collection:
Document the findings in a written note.