| Grade Level | ||
| Standards | Inquiry Skills | |
| Students will design and conduct scientific investigations | ||
| Students will communicate scientific procedures and explanations | ||
| Human Anatomy and Physiology Content | ||
| Students will understand how the digestive system receives, modifies, and absorbs food, and eliminates solid wastes | ||
| Objectives | Students grasp the concept of salivation and the chemical and mechanical digestion of the oral cavity. |
| Materials and Activities | |
| Engage | In digestion what happens to a Burrito first? Students are told: Picture in your mind a large soft burrito. The tortilla is magnificently folded, beans and succulent meats pour through the folds. Freshly melted cheddar cheese covers it and an enticing aroma fill the room. How are you feeling about the burrito? Students are given a note card to write down their feelings and observations. |
| Explore | Take a poll about the predictions concerning
the following activity: Take a test tube with a cracker in it, add 2 drops
of iodine to see start reaction.
Have students spit into the test tube and watch the reaction disappear. Students write down observations and reasoning for the change in reaction. |
| Explain | Go back and discuss predictions written on the
note cards. Discussion: How close were our predictions and our original
feelings about the burrito. How do they relate to physical reactions?
Introduction to amylase and chemical versus mechanical digestion. What would be mechanical? What would be chemical digestion? The mysterious ingredient in your spit lab is amylase, a digestive enzyme produced by salivary glands. Explain structure and organ description in the oral cavity. |
| Elaborate | Bring out the cut-outs of teeth, tongue, salivary glands, and pharynx. Have them place mechanical and chemical cut-outs separately. |
| Evaluation | From what you learned today, explain what happens to your burrito in the oral cavity on a card and hand in for homework. |
Teacher notes/reminders: This is the second lesson in a series of 6 utilizing an inquiry-based model. The lessons are:
1. The Digestive travels of a Burrito
2. Where Does a Burrito Go First?
3. How does Swallowing Effect the Burrito?
4. How Many Burritos Does a Stomach Hold?
5. What If That Burrito Was Bad?
6. Do Cows Eat Burritos?
DoDEA Disclaimer
Updated 1/01
Last Reviewed 10/2001
For additional information, contact the Education
Directorate Web Author