ALEX Learning Activity

  

Human Body Systems Introduction

A Learning Activity is a strategy a teacher chooses to actively engage students in learning a concept or skill using a digital tool/resource.

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  This learning activity provided by:  
Author: Michelle Barnett
Organization:0
  General Activity Information  
Activity ID: 3017
Title:
Human Body Systems Introduction
Digital Tool/Resource:
Britannica School Elementary - Body Systems
Web Address – URL:
Overview:

This resource gives an overview of human body systems and how they interact with each other. This short video (2:43 minutes) can be will serve as a springboard for discussion regarding human body systems. In addition, students will record their learning from the video on a graphic organizer.

This learning activity was created as a result of the ALEX - Alabama Virtual Library (AVL) Resource Development Summit.
  Associated Standards and Objectives  
Content Standard(s):
Science
SC2015 (2015)
Grade: 4
10 ) Obtain and communicate information explaining that humans have systems that interact with one another for digestion, respiration, circulation, excretion, movement, control, coordination, and protection from disease.

Unpacked Content
Scientific And Engineering Practices:
Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
Crosscutting Concepts: Systems and System Models
Disciplinary Core Idea: From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Students:
  • Obtain information explaining that humans have systems that interact with one another for digestion, respiration, circulation, excretion, movement, control, coordination, and protection from disease.
  • Communicate information explaining that humans have systems that interact with one another for digestion, respiration, circulation, excretion, movement, control, coordination, and protection from disease.
Teacher Vocabulary:
  • communicate
  • articulate
  • obtain
  • structure
  • function
  • interactions
  • digestion
  • respiration
  • circulation
  • excretion
  • movement
  • control
  • coordination
  • protection
  • disease
  • body systems
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • Humans have systems that interact with one another.
  • The purpose, functions, and interactions of the digestive system.
  • The purpose, functions, and interactions of the respiratory system.
  • The purpose, functions, and interactions of the circulatory system.
  • The purpose, functions, and interactions of the excretory system.
  • The purpose, functions, and interactions of the systems that contribute to movement, control, and coordination.
  • The purpose, functions, and interactions of the systems that protect the body from disease.
Skills:
Students are able to:
  • Obtain information by reading and comprehending grade-appropriate complex texts about the interacting systems in the human body.
  • Evaluate information about interactions and functions of human body systems by comparing and/or combining across complex texts and/or other reliable media.
  • Communicate information orally and/or in written formats about interactions and functions of human body systems.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
  • The body is a system of interacting parts that makes up a whole and carries out functions its individual parts can not.
AMSTI Resources:
AMSTI Module:
Animal Studies
Alabama Alternate Achievement Standards
AAS Standard:
SCI.AAS.4.10- Identify human systems (i.e. digestive, circulatory, and respiratory).
Learning Objectives:

Students will actively view a video on human body systems, gather information, and record their new learning on a graphic organizer.
  Strategies, Preparations and Variations  
Phase:
Before/Engage
Activity:

  1. Prior to watching the introductory video, students will create a four-sectioned parallel fold paper. The teacher will say and model, "Hold your paper landscape and fold the paper in half "hamburger" style and then in half again hamburger style to create four sections."

  2. The student will actively watch the Human Body introductory video from Britannica School Elementary's Human Body entry: Body Systems Video.

  3. If the video link is not directly accessible, open a browser tab to the Alabama Virtual Library (https://www.avl.lib.al.us/) and click on the green Elementary School icon located on the navigation bar at the top of the site. From the Elementary School page, click on the Britannica School Elementary icon (https://school.eb.com/levels/elementary). The online encyclopedia will open in another tab. In the Britannica School Elementary's search bar, type the search term: human body. Click on the article for the Human Body. The 2:43-minute video is located on the left side of the screen.

  4. As students watch the video, students will write down four interesting facts or a fact they didn't know on each of the four segments of their four-sectioned paper.

  5. After the video, students will share their notes with a shoulder partner.

  6. The teacher will circulate during the shared talking time. The teacher may also call on students to share their findings orally.
Assessment Strategies:

The teacher will use both oral and written student responses for a formative assessment. The teacher will evaluate each student's oral and written responses to ensure the student obtained and communicated accurate information about human body systems.
Advanced Preparation:

Approximate Duration: 15 minutes

Materials and Resources:

  1. Internet-capable device for the teacher

  2. Projector and whiteboard to display the website

  3. Pencils and paper for each student

Background / Preparation:

  • The teacher will need to access the introductory video from Britannica School Elementary's Human Body entry: Body Systems Video.

  • if the video link is not directly accessible, open a browser tab to the Alabama Virtual Library (https://www.avl.lib.al.us/) and click on the green Elementary School icon located on the navigation bar at the top of the site. From the Elementary School page, click on the Britannica School Elementary icon (https://school.eb.com/levels/elementary). The online encyclopedia will open in another tab. In the Britannica School Elementary's search bar, type the search term: human body. Click on the article for the Human Body. The 2:43 minute video is located on the left side of the screen.

  • The teacher must project the article and video for whole group viewing.

  • Students will need to know how to fold their own paper. Students will create a four-sectioned parallel fold paper: fold the paper in half hamburger style and then in half again hamburger style to create four sections.

  • The teacher may need to show students how to complete a four-segmented parallel fold. See a similar fold on this site for reference: https://bambra.com.au/news/guide-to-paper-folding/

  • Students may also view this short video showing how to make a segmented parallel fold: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WS9lhZIhYOw
Variation Tips (optional):

Acceleration: Students may use the back of their graphic organizer to record more facts from the video.

Intervention: The teacher may choose to pair students for peer assistance with organizing thoughts or writing facts pertinent to the video presentation.

This video transcript displayed below the video can be translated to meet the needs of ELL students. The icon for Google Translate is on the right-hand side of the screen and looks like a globe.

This activity could be used in the library or in the classroom.
Notes or Recommendations (optional):

This learning activity can be used as a stand-alone activity, or in conjunction with Human Body Research (during activity) and Human Body Reflection (after activity).

 
  Keywords and Search Tags  
Keywords and Search Tags: human body systems