An alternative to the "Structure of the Digestive System" activity would be to have separate cells for each part of the digestive system, rather than one large diagram. In this activity, students will create a spider map identifying and defining the functions of each organ in the digestive system. Sometimes it can be helpful to have each organ isolated in order to focus in on what it does.
| Stage | Description |
|---|---|
| Mouth | Food enters the alimentary canal through the mouth. It is chewed by teeth which break food down into smaller pieces. The food is mixed with saliva that contains enzymes. |
| Esophagus | The fibromuscular tube connecting the mouth to the stomach is called the esophagus. Food is pushed down using a wave-like muscular motion called peristalsis. |
| Stomach | The stomach is the muscular organ where food is mixed with gastric juices. Gastric juice has a low pH, meaning it is acidic, and is used to help digest food and kill potentially harmful bacteria. |
| Small Intestines | The small intestines are made up of three parts: the duodenum, the jejunum, and the ilium. Here, food is mixed with enzymes and bile. The enzymes speed up the digestion process. Nutrients are then absorbed into the bloodstream. |
| Large Intestines | The large intestines are made up of two parts: the colon and the rectum. In the colon, water is reabsorbed from the food. Feces are stored in the rectum until they are ready to be passed. |
| Anus | Feces leave the alimentary canal through the anus. |
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a spider map that identifies and describes the different organs in the digestive system.