ALEX Learning Activity

The article from Britannica School Elementary provides information on human body systems for research. In this activity, students will use articles from this source to obtain and communicate information on one of the twelve human body systems. Human body systems for research include: cardiovascular, circulatory, digestive, endocrine, immune, lymphatic, muscular, nervous, reproductive, respiratory, skeletal, and urinary.

This learning activity was created as a result of the ALEX - Alabama Virtual Library (AVL) Resource Development Summit.

The students will ethically research and communicate information about human body systems.

The students will use digital tools correctly and properly cite their source of information.

Students will need individual access to an internet-capable device.

1. Prior to researching, the student will select their human body system from the twelve human body systems listed in the third paragraph of the article: https://school.eb.com/levels/elementary/article/human-body/599366
2. The teacher will demonstrate how to access the Britannica School Elementary resource. Go to https://www.avl.lib.al.us/. Click Elementary School. Click Britannica School: Elementary (Britannica). Search "Human Body." Click on the article titled "Human Body."
3. The teacher will demonstrate the read-aloud feature of the encyclopedia (arrow icon at the top of the article).
4. The teacher will demonstrate the dictionary feature of the encyclopedia (double-click on a word to show the definition).
5. The teacher will demonstrate the cite function of the encyclopedia (checkmark icon on the right-hand side of the screen).
6. Students will access their selected human body system using the article from Britannica School Elementary online encyclopedia. Students should click on the link (in blue print) for their assigned human body system.
7. Students will ethically cite their source of information on their notes sheet.
8. Students will use the following guiding questions to help them take notes on their selected material.

   • • What are the main organs and important parts of your selected body system?
     • What is the main function (job) of your selected body system?
     • How does your selected human body system keep you healthy?
     • What are some important words to know to help you understand your selected body system?

   • Human Body Systems checklist (guiding questions): https://docs.google.com/document/d/15BgUfy_oYaaukrYRUcoMWwrCtNc6395k/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=109600260229352393432&rtpof=true&sd=true

9. Students will take appropriate notes from the online encyclopedia source using the Online Encyclopedia Notes Sheet: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SU5H3Enz3urqZDhsRkziBU6uO7tK1jS4NMFTeab1KY4/edit?usp=sharing

• Students will ethically cite their source on their notes sheet. The teacher will circulate and complete a citation check as students are taking notes.
• Students will write thorough and detailed notes effectively answering the four questions about their assigned human body system.
• Thorough and detailed notes:

  • Accurately summarize the information about the selected human body system
  • May use phrases or short answers instead of complete sentences
  • Are in the researcher's own words (paraphrase the material)
  • Are factual in content
  • Are taken from the source

• The teacher will check for understanding of the science content using the four questions as a guide for evaluation.

Approximate Duration: 45 minutes to one hour

Materials and Resources:

• Projector and/or interactive whiteboard to display the activity
• Pencils
• Copies of the Online Encyclopedia Notes Sheet for each student
• Copies of the Human Body Checklist (guiding questions) for each student
• Internet-capable devices for each student and the teacher

Background / Preparation:

• Students will not need prerequisite knowledge to participate in this activity.
• The teacher will access the article on human body systems and become familiar with the information: https://school.eb.com/levels/elementary/article/human-body/599366
• The teacher will ensure that each student has selected a human body system from the twelve listed body systems. 
• The teacher will need to list the four guiding questions for research on the board, on chart paper, or make a copy for each student. https://docs.google.com/document/d/15BgUfy_oYaaukrYRUcoMWwrCtNc6395k/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=109600260229352393432&rtpof=true&sd=true
• The teacher will need to make copies of the Online Encyclopedia Notes Sheet for each student: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SU5H3Enz3urqZDhsRkziBU6uO7tK1jS4NMFTeab1KY4/edit?usp=sharing

• The teacher may choose to assign body systems to the students having them work in groups of two to four. This would allow the teacher to connect students who may need additional assistance with a student willing to help another student.
• These articles 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.
• These articles can be assigned via Google Classroom or downloaded to Google Drive. The icons for these products are on the right-hand side of the screen.

Intervention:

ELL students may need to use the Google Translate function of the online encyclopedia.

ELL students may need the notes sheet and the four guiding questions translated into their home language.

The teacher may choose to restrict the number of systems researched and choose small groups of 2 to 4 students to work together to research. Ideally, students who need assistance would be working with students collaboratively.

Acceleration: Students may choose additional sources of information. Possible sources may include print books from the school's library or these ebooks:

• Human Body Facts and Fibs (source AVL): https://shell.pebblego.com/book/9781663977533?sqs=436439879b4b954ba699b7a1c5d26650f469b77119333405c7c21623cc97b43d
• Variety of eBooks on human body systems: https://hsvk12.booksys.net/opac/provik/index.html#search:ExpertSearch?ST0=Z&SortDescend=0&SF0=human%20body%20system&timestamp=1688065370708&mat_filter=m_111

This activity can be used in the library or in the classroom.

Interdisciplinary connection standard: ELA21.4.R3 - Use digital and electronic tools appropriately, safely, and ethically when researching and writing, both individually and collaboratively.

This task can be used as a stand-alone activity or in conjunction with Human Body Systems Introduction (before activity) and Human Body Research Reflection (after activity).