Human Organ Systems

For this activity, I need some help......so YOU get to be the teacher!  We learned a bit about the brain (master controller) and nervous system (message sending and receiving system) but now we need to learn what the brain controls.  We will individually become experts in one of the human organ systems then teach our group members what we have learned.

Systems:

• Respiratory 
• Circulatory
• Digestive
• Musculoskeletal

Your research will be guided by the following questions:

1. what are the parts of the system you are researching?
2. what is the function of each part individually?
3. how the components work together to form a system?    
4. what is the function of the system?
5. any further information you think is important?

Use jot notes to answer the questions. Be thorough in your research.

Each person will transfer important information to the placement, then teach their group members what they have learned. The final product will be a placemat with information from each of the 4 systems. 

Let's get learning!

In your group of 4 people, each of you decide which human organ system you want to become and expert in.  Here are your choices once again:

• Respiratory (breathing)
• Circulatory (heart and blood)
• Musculoskeletal (muscles and bones)
• Digestive (food and liquid processing)

There is no duplicating of systems.  Each group will have an expert in each system.  4 systems, 4 different experts.

Use the following websites as well as the handouts I provide to gather your information.

Use the worksheet I provide to create your jot notes.

The jot notes you make will be used to complete your section of the placemat.  Each group will have a placemat with all the systems filled in!  You will teach your group members about your system so they know what you know!

Use the following websites to gather information about the system that interests you most! Remember, each group of 4 must choose a different system to research.

http://kidshealth.org/kid/

http://www.neok12.com/Respiratory-System.htm

http://www.neok12.com/Digestive-System.htm

http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/humanbody/digestivesystem.html

http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/body_basics/heart.html

http://discoverykids.com/articles/your-cardiovascular-system/

http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/humanbody/skeletonbones.html

http://www.watchknowlearn.org/Category.aspx?CategoryID=4701

Research your topic from here and make jot notes to answer the questions.  Some sites have information on more than one system.

Members of the group will complete an anonymous ballot to grade the presenter on his or her skills. This grade will not be official until it has been reviewed by me.

Here is an example of a level 1 VS a level 4 description of the parts of an apple.

stem, apple, seeds

VS

There is a firm stick-like stem which fixes the fruit to the tree branch (describes the part and function in one sentence).  When the fruit is ripe the stem releases the fruit and it falls from the tree (the whole purpose of the stem is described). The flesh of the apple is surrounded by skin which protects it, not unlike human skin.  The fruit is soft and sweet and attracts animals which will then eat the fruit. (explains the purpose of the skin and the fruit of the apple as well as describing 2 more parts of the apple)  Once the animal eats the fruit it will also eat the seeds contained in the core (another part) of the apple.  The seeds are small and hard and will pass through the animal's body without being digested.  In this way the seeds are spread and new trees are planted! (explains what the seeds look like, the purpose of the seeds as well as how they are distributed)

CONGRATULATIONS!!  By the end, every student should have a thorough understanding of the remaining four human organ systems:

• Circulatory
• Musculoskeletal
• Digestive
• Respiratory

We will do a gallery walk of these placemats and they, along with the handouts will be used to create a unit test.