4th Grade Digestive System Lesson Plan Example

Topic: The Digestive System

Objectives & Outcomes

• Students will be able to describe the functions of the various parts of the digestive system.

Materials

• Diagram of the digestive system
• Props to demonstrate the functions of each part (e.g. a bell pepper for the stomach, a small potted plant for the small intestine)
• Handouts with descriptions of the different parts of the digestive system

Warm-up

• Have students close their eyes and think about their last meal.
• Ask them to describe what they ate, how it tasted, and how it made them feel.
• Draw out common themes from their descriptions (e.g. food tastes sweet, food can make us feel full)
• Use these commonalities to introduce the concept of digestion and the different parts of the digestive system.

Direct Instruction

• Show the students the model or diagram of the digestive system.
• Discuss the functions of each part of the digestive system, including:

• The mouth is where food is chewed and mixed with saliva to prepare it for digestion.

• The stomach is where food is further broken down and mixed with enzymes and acids to begin the process of digestion.
• The small intestine is where food is further broken down and nutrients are absorbed into the blood stream.
• The large intestine is where remaining waste material is removed from the body.
• Have students take notes on the information provided.

Guided Practice

• Divide the students into small groups and give each group a piece of fruit or a vegetable.
• Have the students use their notes to identify the mouth, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and any other parts of the digestive system in the fruit or vegetable.
• Have the students discuss the functions of each part of the digestive system in the fruit or vegetable.

Independent Practice

• Have the students choose a food that they typically eat for breakfast.
• Have the students research the digestive system of their chosen food and create a poster or presentation to share with the class. The poster or presentation should include information on the mouth, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and any other parts of the digestive system.
• Encourage the students to be creative and use their notes and any additional research to create their poster or presentation.

Closure

• As a class, review the main points of the lesson, including the parts of the digestive system and the function of each part.
• Ask the students to share something they learned about the digestive system during the lesson.

Assessment

• Observe the students during independent practice to assess their understanding of the digestive system and their ability to communicate their knowledge through a diorama.
• Administer a quiz to assess the students' knowledge of the parts of the digestive system and the functions of each part.