I thought we could explore the digestive system a little deeper with a few activities that would help illustrate how various types of food are digested, what the body does with the food, and some of the mechanics at work. We explored mechanics, such as how the body can defy gravity when we swallow upside down, and what peristalsis looks like in the esophagus by a simulation squeezing to move a ball through a pair of nylons. By using different amounts of paper towel strips, they were able to see how the villi of the small intestines help the body absorb more nutrients than if it was a smooth surface. Probably one of the most fun-- they designed a model of a kidney filtering blood, using sand, water, and coffee filters. Several of the stations involved making drawings, and as a whole, they put a lot of effort into their sketches. One of the reasons I love doing these lab stations every so often is because I can include a variety of activities that can reach all different learning types and interests. We had a lot of kinesthetic activities, some involving whole body movement, simple demonstrations and a chance to design your own model, listening to an explanation read out loud and drawing and labeling your own diagram comparing body parts to every day household items. It gives the kids a chance to connect with science in different ways. Videos:
What Does the Liver Do? How Your Digestive System Works (TedEd) How Food Travels Through the Digestive System --This animation shows what peristalsis waves look like. Activities: Concept Map of Digestive System This will be a good review of the digestive system to practice for next week's walk through. I had these ready to go home, but I think only a couple of students got them, so you can print your own from here. What is your food doing for you? Just like plants use their root system for absorption and leaves (shoot system) for photosynthesis to obtain the nutrients and energy they need, the digestive system is how we pull the nutrients we need from our environment. Research some of the food you like to see what nutrients they supply and what those nutrients do. Create a poster to illustrate what you learned.
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May 2020
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