Digestion: Carbohydrates, Proteins, and Lipids Storyboard

Modeling allows us to make our own sense of what and why something is happening. Conceptual models are shared and explicit representations or analogies of phenomena and are used by scientists to help them understand the world around us. Models are used in all areas of science and offer external versions of mental concepts. Models are not a perfect representation; they are a simplified version of a system that highlights certain areas while ignoring others.

Digestion is the process by which the food we eat is broken down into nutrients that can be used by the body. Carbohydrates are broken down into sugars, which can be used in respiration. Proteins are broken into amino acids, which can be used for growth and repair in our bodies. The digestive system has a number of different, well adapted parts that work together to take food from bite-size to useful molecules that your body can use. The following activities aim to introduce students to this process with fun visual aids.