The digestive system

General

In this interactive lesson, students will explore the journey of their food as it makes its way through the body. From the production of saliva to the journey to the large intestine, students will understand the full process of digestion.

Standards

NGSS:
MS-LS1-3
MS-LS1-7

Learning Objective

Students will be able to identify and describe the organs that make up the digestive system. They will also be able to explain the importance of each organ for the body and the role each one plays in the process of digestion.

Introduction

The lesson begins with an engaging activity in which students choose from a menu of food items and place their choices on a tray. This will lead into the topic of digestion. Students begin by learning about the role of saliva and how it turns their ingested food into a bolus.

Instruction

Students will learn how the bolus makes its way to the esophagus and through the small intestine, and finally to the rectum. Students will have a visual of how long the small intestine actually is and learn about the important role of the liver. Students will also understand the three main functions of the stomach. There is an interactive activity where students drag a bolus through the mouth and toward the back of the throat. They will be able to explain what causes a person to choke.

Quiz

True or false questions are followed by multiple-choice questions and fill-ins.

Closing

The lesson concludes with students dragging to label the different parts of the digestive system including the liver, rectum, mouth, large intestine, and epiglottis.

About Gynzy

Gynzy is an online teaching platform for interactive whiteboards and displays in schools.

With a focus on elementary education, Gynzy’s Whiteboard, digital tools, and activities make it easy for teachers to save time building lessons, increase student engagement, and make classroom management more efficient.