Objective: Students will learn where digestion begins, how food is digested and used to help keep our body strong, integral parts of the digestive system. Students will be able to recognize the difference between omnivores, herbivores, and carnivores.
Skills Focus: Understanding the scientific method (capably identifying Purpose, Hypothesis, Materials, Procedures, Observations, Application, Conclusion); graphing/ classifying/sorting/; understanding the components and inner-workings of the human body.
Words to Know:
carnivore
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herbivore
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omnivore
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digestion
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digest
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esophagus
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stomach
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saliva
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gall bladder pancreas
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colon (large intestines)
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small intestines
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liver
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epiglottis
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palate
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bile
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enzymes
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acids
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tongue
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taste buds
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masticate
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molars
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incisors
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bicuspids
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If we were to enter our bodies, we would see another world right within ourselves. One of those worlds is the digestive system. Within us, are a series of organs, body parts that work together to help us break down foods we need to keep us healthy and strong.
Suggestion: Take photographs when conducting the Related Activities that follow. They can be included in Big Book preparation or as part of a bulletin board display. We used them for our Science Fair display on Digestion.
Related Activity #1: Where Digestion BeginsAn Experiment
Each student will need:
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* a sheet of paper folded into thirds with the numbers 10, 30, and 50 printed in each
section.
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* three 1” wedge slices of apple
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* their teeth and saliva
PROCEDURE
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(1) Place apple wedge in mouth, chew 10 times, expel onto sheet of paper in the area marked 10.
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(2) Repeat step 1, this time chewing 30 times, expel masticated apple onto the area marked 30.
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(3) Repeat procedure, this time chewing 50 times, expel apple to the area marked 50.
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(4) Compare and examine results; evaluate outcome.
My students had a ball conducting this experiment, although we ran into a few glitches. The children hypothesized that digestion begins in the mouth. They followed the procedures to the letter, and there were quite a bit of moans after the expulsion of chewed fruit. Several variables slightly altered our results. Some students found that after chewing 10 times, they did not produce a lot of saliva. According to their observations, the masticated apples were “kind of crunchy.” Two students were unable to keep the apple in their mouths after 50 chews; they accidentally swallowed the experiment. Overall, however, they discovered that the more you masticate your food, the more that food is initially broken down, making it easier to swallow and pass through other portions of the digestive system. The children were also able to make sense of the application of their findings, noting that this information is helpful because “it teaches children and grownups to masticate their food.” According to our first graders, “When we chew our food thoroughly, it is easier to swallow. It also helps to make the digestion process in our stomach and intestines easier too! When our food is well digested, our body can use all the vitamins and minerals found in food to keep our body strong.”
Related Activity #2: The StomachUp Close
The digestive organs of pig are very similar to those found in humans. Visit your neighborhood butcher or major grocery chain to obtain a pig’s stomach. My first graders had an opportunity to closely examine a whole pig stomach. Before making this presentation, I released a note to parents to make them aware of our classroom activity. Additionally, recognizing that a few of my students were Muslim and Jewish, I asked whether their children could participate in this hands-on, visual activity. Permission slips to observe the stomach were forwarded and signed off by each parent. Be certain to double-check with your parents before conducting this presentation.
Related Activity #3: The Match Game
This activity will serve as a review and will conclude this unit.
You will need:
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* an oversized display board with the outline of a person printed thereon
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* a diagram of the human digestive system (enlarged x 150-200% depending on need: available on yahooligans.com)
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* 1½ “ stick-on digestive organ identification tags
Children’s Book, Web Sites and Video Recommendations
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What’s Inside My Body?--A First Guide To The Wonders and Workings of the Human Body.
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Inside the Human Body
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My Five Senses
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The Human Body
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My Body (Grade 4) at yahooligans.com
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Digestion by PBS, 3-2-1Contact