Lesson 1: The human digestive system
Identifying and describing the function of key organs in the digestive system.
Learning objectives
Knowledge
To describe the function of the human digestive system.
Working scientifically
To evaluate a model.
Success criteria
Knowledge
I can list the main organs of the human digestive system.
I can describe the function of the main organs of the digestive system.
Working scientifically
I can explain how a model has been used to show a part of the digestive system.
I can identify a weakness in the model used to represent the digestive system.
Before the lesson
Watch
- 1941 views
Watch
- 1941 views
Lesson plan
Before starting this unit, check the children can recall the following key facts from units Science, Year 2, Animals: Life cycles and health and Science, Year 3, Animals: Movement and nutrition:
Humans need air/oxygen, food/nutrients and water to survive.
The life processes include movement, reproduction, sensitivity, growth, excretion and nutrition.
The seven nutrient groups are carbohydrates, protein, fats and oil, fibre, vitamins, minerals and water.
Muscles cause movement in our bodies.
Use the Activity: Recap and recall digestion mind map (one each) if needed to elicit the children's prior knowledge.
Before starting this unit, check the children can recall the following key facts from units Science, Year 2, Animals: Life cycles and health and Science, Year 3, Animals: Movement and nutrition:
Humans need air/oxygen, food/nutrients and water to survive.
The life processes include movement, reproduction, sensitivity, growth, excretion and nutrition.
The seven nutrient groups are carbohydrates, protein, fats and oil, fibre, vitamins, minerals and water.
Muscles cause movement in our bodies.
Use the Activity: Recap and recall digestion mind map (one each) if needed to elicit the children's prior knowledge.
Give each pupil a small piece of bread and ask them to hold it in their mouth without chewing or swallowing for about 30 seconds.
Ask them:
Give each pupil a small piece of bread and ask them to hold it in their mouth without chewing or swallowing for about 30 seconds.
Ask them:
- What nutrient group does the bread contain the most? (Carbohydrates.)
- How has the bread changed? (Answers may include that it became wet, soft, slippery or sweet.)
- Why has the bread changed? (Saliva in our mouths has started breaking down the bread's carbohydrates into sugars. This is an example of digestion.)
Use the equipment for modelling the digestive system in the Have ready and follow the Teacher video: Modelling the digestive system to demonstrate it to the children. Alternatively, play the Pupil video: Modelling the digestive system.
Display the Presentation: Labelling and modelling the digestive system and select volunteers to drag the labels into the correct places. Click to reveal the answers.
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