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DIGESTIVE SYSTEM LESSON PLAN
Materials
- Sentence strips with the Daily Science Question and Digestive system facts
- Digestive system visual aid
- Piece of ribbon measuring at least 32 feet
- Index cards, clothespins
- Study Notes worksheet;
- Word search worksheet
- 2 clear glasses
- Water, 1 tsp sugar, 1 tsp cocoa
- Coffee filter
- Spoon
- Coloring utensils for display project
Instructional Strategies
1. The student will begin the class by copying the Daily Science Question that has been displayed into their science journals. The students will answer the question to the best of their ability. After approximately 5 minutes, the teacher will invite students to share their answers. The teacher will share the correct answer.
2. In order to help the students visualize the length of the intestine, have a piece of ribbon or yarn attached to a stationary object. Pull this ribbon until it stretches across the classroom measuring 32 feet. Advise students that this is the length of the intestine found in your body if it was uncoiled. The teacher can further the instruction by writing a fact such as: "The digestive system has a long tube that is made of muscle called the intestines". Attach the index card to the ribbon with a clothespin.
3. The teacher will provide information about the digestive system including the following:
- The stomach mixes up food
- The stomach is a muscle
- The stomach is kind of like a "holding tank" for food
- The tongue helps us swallow food
- The food goes down the esophagus to the stomach after it has been swallowed
- Your teeth grind up food into small pieces to be digested by the stomach
- The stomach turns the particles into liquid
- In the intestines some of the liquid is absorbed into the body to be used for fuel. The rest continues through the intestines as waste.
4. The teacher will demonstrate the absorption process with the following activity:
A. Using a coffee filter, form a funnel shape. Place the funnel in a clear glass.
B. Using a second place, mix together the following solution - ¼ glass of water, one tsp. sugar, one tsp. cocoa. Stir together with a spoon until they are thoroughly mixed.
C. Pour the mixture into the glass with the coffee filter. Be sure to hold the filter in place with your fingers.
D. Watch the mixture drop through to the bottom of the glass.
The result that the students should see is that the filter holds back the particles of cocoa. Only the liquid can pass through the coffee filter. Explain that this is the same function that occurs in the intestines.
5. The teacher will pass out index cards to the class. After discussing the features of the digestive system (including the intestines), the student will write a sentence with a fact about the digestive system on the index card. The student will attach their index card to the ribbon using a clothespin.
Instructional Considerations
This class is made up of students possessing a variety of learning styles and ability levels. This lesson plan has been designed to accommodate kinesthetic and visual learners by incorporating active learning strategies and visual aids.
Student Practice
The student will write a digestive fact and attach it to the "intestine ribbon". The student may work on the Human body word search.
Closure
The student will work in their cooperative groups on the display project.
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