Grades 4 7

Digestion
Mini-unit
By Rose Doerksen

Rose Doerksen, 2013

Bill Nye Video: Digestion2of3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_WKdrFVBFg
Name: ______________________:

Date: ______________________

Label the Small Intestine and the Large Intestine

7 meters long

2 meters long

_______________________________

_______________________________

How long does it take to digest your food? _________________________________

What is

Peristalsis

What is

Chyme

? ____________________________________________

? _________________________________________________

Bill Nye Video: Digestion3of3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2ULViikZ3w
Cut out these parts/activities of the digestive system and glue them in your Science notebook in the
order that a piece of food would travel through your digestive system.

tongue

esophagus

Small intestine

Mouth

Large intestine

saliva

Stomach acid

teeth

stomach

Peristalsis

Chemicals absorbed for energy

Rose Doerksen, 2013

Name: _____________________________
Date: _____________________________

Digestion

2) Bite the apple

4) Bite the celery and the banana

Did you use your front

teeth or your back teeth?
____________________

Which teeth did more work when you bit the

1) Look at your front and back teeth in the

mirror. How are they the same and how are
they different?

Front

Back

Celery: ______________ Banana: ______________

3) Chew
the apple
Did you use
your front
teeth or your
back teeth?
__________

5) What work
7) Can you think of other foods that you eat

does your

with your

tongue do when
you eat the
banana?
______________

Front Teeth: ________________________________

6)

Do you notice anything else that

Back Teeth: ________________________________

helps to break down the food?

Tongue: ___________________________________

____________________________________
Rose Doerksen, 2013

Group Names: __________________________________________:

Date: _______________

Digestive System Model

Plastic tubing
Straws
Balloons
Plastic wrap

Tape
Glue
Toilet paper rolls
Plastic Containers

String
Elastic bands
Clothes pins
Paper cups

Ziploc bags
Grocery bags
Cereal boxes
Juice box containers

In your group of three, you will use these materials to create a model of the digestive system. You will
have 30 minutes to work as a team and connect the materials in a way that represents the human
digestive system. You will need to explain why you used certain materials:

Digestive System Parts

Materials Chosen

Reason for choosing materials

Mouth
Esophagus
Stomach
Small Intestine
Large Intestine
After 30 minutes, your team will present your model to the class. Your team will be graded on the
following rubric:

1/C-

2/C

Model

>1 missing parts,

materials chosen
list is not complete.

Teamwork

Group needed
support in working
as a team.

1 missing part,
materials chosen
list is not complete
to expectations.
Group needed
some support in
working as a team.

Not all students

spoke, couldnt hear
presenter.

Most students
spoke, tough to
hear presenter.

Presentation

3/C+ B

4/A

All parts are

included in model,
materials chosen
list is complete.
Group worked as a
team by listening
and sharing.
All students spoke
clearly and loudly.

All parts are original

and included.
Strong reasons for
choices.
Worked as a team
by listening,
sharing, and diving
up tasks.
All students took
part in an original
presentation.
Rose Doerksen, 2013

Draw your Model

Digestive System here:

Name: _________________________

Rose Doerksen, 2013

Rose Doerksen, 2013