Lesson 7: Organs in Our Body
Grade Level: K-6
Suggested Time: 120 mins
Overview
Students will investigate the function of human organs and create a 3D model of the heart, lungs, stomach, liver or other major organ. Students will develop a brochure to
“promote” their organ to the community as essential to survival.
Vocabulary
- Organ
- Heart
- Lungs
- Liver
- Stomach
- Intestines
- Brain
Objectives
- Students will learn about the functions of major body organs.
- Students will develop and create a model explaining the features of a major body organ.
- Students will learn and create at their own pace while cooperating in groups to develop models.
- Students will develop technology skills through the webquest and the brochure creation.
- Students will develop presentation skills by sharing project with the class.
Required Project Materials
- Paper
- Pencil
- Computers with brochure application such as Google Docs, or alternatively, brochures can be made with tri-fold or bi-folded paper and drawings
- Balloons
- Markers
- Craft sticks
- Pipe cleaners
- Newspapers
- Flour
- Water
- Buckets or bowls
- Paint
- Paintbrushes
- Cardboard or cardstock
- Egg crates
- Cups-paper or styrofoam
- Plastic spoons and knives
- Scissors
- Colored tissue paper- optional
- Sharpies or markers
- Alternative option- create organs with clay or Play-Doh
Multimedia Resources
Optional Multimedia Resources
- Rubristar- rubric maker
- Human Body and Organs Manual
- Human Body Encyclopedia
- Ultimate Bodypedia
Before the Lesson/Background Information
- Print posters of the human body with internal organs for classroom or individual handouts for students to use.
- Print sample brochure from program on the computer system used in school, or create paper brochure samples in tri-fold or bi-fold.
The Lesson
Part 1: The Body We Share
- Read Inside Your Outside.
- Visit the interactive websites. Using a demonstration computer or allowing students to work on their own, allow them to study the body using these sites.
- Share with the students any manuals or encyclopedias available for children about the human body and its organs.
- Alternatively, print out a few pages of the details of the body systems chosen for research and design.
- Share the webquest and requirements of the webquest with the students on the overhead projector and whiteboard.
- Students will complete the webquest research as it applies to their organ/system.Remind students that they will be creating a brochure to “Promote” their organ to the community and will not be creating a skit, Powerpoint or other options as listed on webquest. Remind students they are fact finding and are investigators to assist them in their brochure creation.
- Students will create a brochure on Google Docs or similar, then print them out.Alternatively, students can create a paper copy and draw pictures and add facts.Remind students that they need to promote why their organ is so valuable to the human body as well as creating a fact list.
- Students will share their brochures at the end of the week.
Part 2: Organ Models
- Students will work with their partner or partners to create a 3D model of the organ they have chosen
- Students will design their model out of balloons, pipe cleaners, cardboard, paper, or other materials.
- Students will make papier maché paste out of flour and water in small bowls.
- Students will wrap their models with newspaper and spray them down with water or get them wet with sponges.
- Students will begin to cover their models with papier maché paste and layer newspaper and papier maché to complete cover model.
- Students will let it air dry and repeat the process 1-2 more times.
- After final application and model is completely dry, students will paint their model, and label it.
- .Alternatively, students can use colored tissue paper as the final layer and cover with paper maché paste to avoid the painting.
- Students can add details with Sharpies or markers when completely dry.
Part 3: Presentation
- Students will share their models with the class and describe why their organ is essential or important for the human body.
- Students will share several important facts from their brochure promoting their organ.
- Students will be graded from rubric created by teacher on Rubristar.com or other program.
- Afterwards, discuss how organs work together in the body.
- Display the models.
Accommodations
- Provide grips for pencils, paintbrushes, markers, et. al.
- Have the student(s) sit next to a positive role model, if extra help is needed to navigate the interactive websites.
- Have students share what they discovered when playing on the interactive website.
- Share a visual of a project and brochure that has been completed before.
- Lower the amount of facts that the student writes on the brochure.
- Print out directions and steps on how the student will create their model.
- For the presentation, students discuss their model and brochure with you instead.
Modifications
- Students create the model and share with you a couple of specific facts about their organ.
- Provide a word bank for the labeling of the organ.
- Allow the student to rework their better to get a better grade.