Lesson Plan: The Digestive System
Class: Biology (Grade: 10)
Objectives:

Students will be able to identify 85% of the digestive system when given a
schematic drawing.

Students will be able to correctly write the function of all five of the major
digestive system organs (stomach, liver, pancreas, small intestine, large intestine)
when given their names.

Students will be able to explain how food travels through the body and becomes
waste by writing an essay on the food’s journey.
Materials:

Popcorn (or other treat)

Vocabulary Handout—see attached

Digestive System schematic drawing Handout—see attached

Computer with Internet connection
(http://www.innerbody.com/image/digeov.html)
Anticipatory Set:

Give the students popcorn (or other treat). Ask them to think about the path that
the popcorn is taking through the body. Popcorn starts in the mouth and ends as
expelled waste, but what happens in between?
Input and Modeling:

Brainstorm ideas of the path the popcorn takes and write them on the board. (5
min.)

Have the students rank the brainstorm ideas in order of occurrence in the digestive
sequence. (2 min.)

Pass out the vocabulary worksheets and go over their meanings as a class calling
on students to give their definitions. (10 min.)
Guided Practice:

Hand out the schematic drawing of the digestive system worksheets and break
students into groups of 2 or 3. Allow them to use the vocabulary sheets to fill in
the names of the important parts of the digestive system. Walk around the room to
answer questions and check participation. (10 min.)

Check the worksheets as a class using the interactive website
http://www.innerbody.com/image/digeov.html. (10 min.)
Questioning/Closure:

Challenge the students to use their critical thinking skills to explain the causes of
“indigestion” and “heartburn” in relation to the digestive system. (10 min.)

Answer any questions in the remaining time.
Independent Practice:

Write a short essay entitled “A Day in the Life of Popcorn”. Write the essay in
first person and include every step from being put into the mouth until the
popcorn is expelled as waste.

Essays will be scored on accuracy and inclusion of important details.
The Digestive System Vocabulary
Important Organs and their functions:
Liver:
Stomach:
Pancreas:
Small Intestine:
Large Intestine:
Gall Bladder:
Other Important Features:
Teeth:
Salivary Gland:
Tongue:
Esophagus:
Epiglottis:
Bile:
Bile Duct:
Appendix:
Pyloric Sphincter:
Duodenum:
Rectum:
The Digestive System Vocabulary (Key)
Important Organs and their functions:
Liver: Produces bile to aid in digestion which is then stored in the Gall Bladder.
This is the largest organ in the body cavity.
Stomach: Found at the end of the esophagus. First stop for food. Chemical
digestion occurs here.
Pancreas: Long, flat organ that branches off of the top of the small intestine.
Secretes insulin and glucagon to control sugar levels in the body.
Small Intestine: Connected to the stomach, continues the breakdown of food and
absorption of nutrients.
Large Intestine: Connected to the end of the small intestine, it wraps around the
small intestine. Finishes absorption of nutrients and stores waste as feces.
Gall Bladder: Stores bile secreted by liver. This is a small sac found under the
liver.
Other Important Features:
Teeth: Needed to break down food into small parts for swallowing.
Salivary Gland: Secretes saliva—necessary enzyme to begin digestion in the mouth.
Tongue: Muscle in mouth used to push food around and aid teeth in breakdown.
Esophagus: Long tube connecting the mouth to the stomach.
Epiglottis: This skin flap is found at the back of your throat and keeps food from
entering your trachea.
Bile: Chemical enzyme secreted by the liver and stored in the gall bladder necessary
for the breakdown and digestion of fats.
Bile Duct: The pathway bile travels from the liver and gall bladder to the small
intestine.
Appendix: Small finger shaped organ found hanging off of the large intestine.
Serves no known purpose and can be removed.
Pyloric Sphincter: Muscular valve connecting the stomach to the small intestine.
Contracts and expands to allow digested food to move through the system.
Duodenum: First and longest part of the small intestine. Chemical digestion of fats
(using bile) occurs here before moving on to the other parts of the small intestine for
absorption (jejunum and ileum).
Rectum: Final storage place of waste in the large intestine (also known as the
bowel). Muscle called the “anus” allows waste to exit the body.
The Digestive System
Name the numbered parts of the digestive system using your vocabulary handout.
(Schematic by Joanne Mikola found at http://www.lessontutor.com/jm_digestive.html)
The Digestive System (schematic answer key)
1. Teeth
2. Epiglottis
3. Liver
4. Gall Bladder
5. Bile Duct
6. Large Intestine
7. Appendix
8. Salivary Gland
9. Tongue
10. Esophagus
11. Stomach
12. Duodenum
13. Pancreas
14. Small Intestine
15. Rectum
(Schematic by Joanne Mikola found at http://www.lessontutor.com/jm_digestive.html)