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How do food molecules reach our muscles? – Structure and Function of Organ Systems, Organs and Cells

In this activity, students learn (1) how food is digested into smaller molecules and (2) how the digestive and circulatory systems cooperate to bring digested food molecules to muscles all over the body.

Students analyze several examples of the relationship between structure and function in these organ systems.

Finally, students use a claim, evidence, reasoning framework to evaluate the claim that structure is related to function in cells, organs and organ systems.

Two versions of the Student Handout are available – a more complete version (suitable for most high school students) and a simpler version (suitable for most middle school students).

The more complete Student Handout is available in the first two attached files. The simpler Student Handout is available in the 3rd and 4th attached files. The Teacher Notes, available in the last two attached files, provide instructional suggestions and background information and explain how this activity is aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards.

AttachmentSize
Cell Organ SH.docx4.46 MB
Cell Organ SH.pdf703.77 KB
Cell Organ SH simpler.docx4.55 MB
Cell Organ SH simpler.pdf819.57 KB
Cell Organ TN.docx155.02 KB
Cell Organ TN.pdf303.55 KB
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Comments

iwaldron's picture

2025 Revision

Submitted by iwaldron on Wed, 08/20/2025 - 4:52am.

The Student Handout has been drastically revised for better student understanding and learning. For example, the Student Handout now begins with a video to introduce the digestive system. In addition, I have prepared and published a simpler version of the Student Handout.

Serendip Visitor's picture

7th grade Science

Submitted by Serendip Visitor (guest) on Mon, 11/14/2016 - 5:45pm.

This was a great resource for our Cell task stations for students to grasp an understanding of cells. It was a great springboard from their 6th grade science class and learning about the body systems. Thank you.

A. Gusman's picture

Learning objectves

Submitted by A. Gusman (guest) on Thu, 10/13/2016 - 4:10pm.

Do these lesson have learning objectives listed some where?

iwaldron's picture

Learning Goals Provided in Teacher Notes

Submitted by iwaldron on Fri, 10/14/2016 - 7:59am.

Each activity has Teacher Notes which provide learning goals (i.e. learning objectives). These Teacher Notes also provide suggestions for implementation and background biology.

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Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. To preserve the value of these learning activities for other teachers, please do not post keys for any questions from any of these activities!

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Authors

Dr. Ingrid Waldron is Professor Emerita in the Biology Department at the University of Pennsylvania. Co-authors include Dr. Jennifer Doherty, who is an Assistant Professor in the Physiology Department at Michigan State University, and Dr. Lori Spindler, who is a Lecturer in the Biology Department at the University of Pennsylvania. They have developed these activities in collaboration with colleagues at Penn and middle school and high school teachers in the Philadelphia area. We are grateful to Craig Douglas for his generous help with graphics.

 

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