This lesson is designed to help students learn the structure and function of the organs in the digestive system. They will use the Internet to research the information and do classroom experiments to solidify their knowledge.

GRADE 5 SCIENCE IRPs COVERED:

It is expected that students will:

• describe the basic structure and functions of the human respiratory, digestive, circulatory, skeletal,
  muscular, and nervous systems
• explain how the different body systems are interconnected

LESSONS:

1. You are beginning to study the digestive system. Discuss what digestion is and what organs are involved in it.
2. Distribute the worksheet "The Digestive System" (careful when you print it out-the answers are on the last page). Have students type in this address in the internet on the computer and go to this site:

   tqjunior.advanced.org/5777/dig1.htm

3. Students can now navigate through this site and answer the questions on the worksheet.
4. In class you may wish to conduct some experiments. You can go to these sites to see some ideas:

http://www.accessexcellence.org/AE/AEC/AEF/1995/cave_digest.html – This is a cool lesson plan in which the class acts out the digestive system. Looks like fun.

http://www.iit.edu/~smile/bi9706.html – This site has activities that you can do as experiments. You may not have the materials to do all of the experiments but some of them are good.

http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/_bfs_DSmoviesource.html - Here is a short video that explains digestion.

5. As a culminating activity you may wish to construct a model of the digestive system using cardboard, yarn and materials that the kids can bring from home, or plasticine or other materials of your choice. Click here to go to a lesson plan created to walk you through this process or go to this address:

EXTENSIONS:

-You could extend this unit by studying the diseases of the digestive system. A good Internet site to use for this is:

http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/digest/digest.htm

-Have students write a letter to the Human Body Corporation defending the need for a digestive system organ of the student’s choice.

EVALUATION:

-Answers for the worksheets are provided at the end of the worksheet.

Click here to return to the Body Systems lesson page.