#1303. Hands on digestion

Science, level: all
Posted Fri Sep 17 11:44:13 PDT 1999 by Aaron Lichtig ().
West Riviera Magnet Elementary School, Riviera Beach, Plam Beach County
Materials Required: See below
Activity Time: 45minutes - 1 hour
Concepts Taught: Pathway/process of food thru the digestive system

Materials needed for each group: 1/2 banana, 1 graham cracker, 1 small dixie cup of water, plastic ziplock bag (1 qt.), scissors, pantyhose stocking, paper towels.

This is a simulation of the digestive system.

Prior - intro. the dig. system, review terms, function and pathway of food thru dig. system.

Break up graham cracker into the bag (simulates chewing), place 1/2 banana into bag, place water into bag (simulates saliva), seal bag with not much air inside (or that will simulate gas), smash up food and water with your hands (simulating the churning of the stomach). Do that for about 5 minutes. Then, cut small hole in the corner of the bag so food can run out into the stocking. Squeeze the food from the bag into the stocking (over newspaper). Squeeze the food through the stocking (representing the small intestines and the water coming out of the stocking represents the nutrients going to the rest of the body.
Then, squeeze the food (waste) into the cup (representing the large intestine). Poke a hole in the cup and push food thru to represent the excess, unused food exiting the body.
The end

Post: Review and have the students write about each step of this experiment and what it represented.