A BODY SYSTEMS PROJECT
THE PROJECT
You will be part of a “Total Body Medical Unit” whose job is to thoroughly
investigate one of the various body systems. This quest focuses on eight of those
systems: the circulatory system, nervous system, digestive system, respiratory
system, skeletal system, muscular system, endocrine system and the immune
system. Each of these systems consists of major parts that function to keep our
body working smoothly.
Your mission is it to learn all about one specific system of the human body. You
will be part of a system yourself, working with others to complete your mission.
Your team will travel along the Internet highway and gather information that will
provide you with enough knowledge to create a PowerPoint presentation on your
system telling its strengths and weaknesses.
THE PROCESS AND RESOURCES
In this quest you are divided into teams then split into numbered team-mates. To
answer your questions you may use the websites provided but you are not limited
to them. Because these are real Web pages we're tapping into, the reading level
might challenge you, to use online dictionaries (eg. <http://www.nlm.nih.gov/me
sh/MBrowser.html>) which you will find listed at the course’s web page <http://w
ww.med.auth.gr/depts/forlang/eng/main_eng.htm>.
You will begin by answering your specific questions, then together with your
team-mate you will create a PowerPoint presentation explaining your system and
its strengths and weaknesses.
Phase 1 - Background: This is for Everyone
Below is a list of Websites that you will find useful. **Only read the websites that
cover your system and ignore the others** Please list any additional websites
that you found useful.
Body System Diseases
http://www.ivillagehealth.com/library/onemed/lister/0,,246953,00.html
Circulatory System
http://vilenski.org/science/humanbody/hb_html/circ_system.html
Blood http://vilenski.org/science/humanbody/hb_html/blood_immunesys.html
The Circulatory System
http://users.tpg.com.au/users/amcgann/body/circulatory.html
Circulatory Diagram http://www.innerbody.com/htm/body.html
Nervous System http://users.tpg.com.au/users/amcgann/body/nervous.html
Click On Your Body System For a Diagram
http://www.innerbody.com/htm/body.html
Nervous System Diseases
http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/body_basics/brain_nervous_system_p5.htm
l
Digestive System http://users.tpg.com.au/users/amcgann/body/digestive.html
Digestive System
http://vilenski.org/science/humanbody/hb_html/digestivesystem.html
Respiratory System
http://vilenski.org/science/humanbody/hb_html/respiratory.html
Respiratory System
http://users.tpg.com.au/users/amcgann/body/respiratory.html
1
Skeletal System http://users.tpg.com.au/users/amcgann/body/skeletal.html
Joints http://vilenski.org/science/humanbody/hb_html/ballnsocketjoint.html
Skeletal System http://vilenski.org/science/humanbody/hb_html/skeleton.html
Muscular System http://users.tpg.com.au/users/amcgann/body/muscular.html
Muscles
http://vilenski.org/science/humanbody/hb_html/muscles.html
Immune System
http://users.tpg.com.au/users/amcgann/body/immune_system.htm
Endocrine System
http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/body_basics/endocrine.html
Endocrine Disorders http://www.endocrineweb.com/
How Your Immune System Works http://www.howstuffworks.com/immunesystem.htm
Phase 2 - Looking Deeper from Different Perspectives: This is for everyone
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Find your Medical Team’s questions.
2. Click on the links that you think might help answer your questions from the
background information section. Read through these files connected to your
group. If you print out the files, underline the passages that you feel are the most
important. If you look at the files on the computer, copy sections you feel are
important by dragging the mouse across the passage and copying / pasting it into
a word processor or other writing software.
3. Note: Remember to write down or copy/paste the URL of the file you take the
passage from so you can quickly go back to it if you need to prove your point.
4. Be prepared to report what you've learned into one main opinion that answers
the big question 'What are the strengths and weaknesses of your body system?'
5. Compile a list of important terms with definitions (min 5, max 10) and a list of
Academic (University) words (max 5). You can find a complete list of Academic
words in the course’s wedsite. You should provide: a) the Medical or Academic
term b) an example of its use in context c) part of speech d)a definition in English
e) the Greek translation.
Team-mate 1
Each team may have a different set of instructions assigned for their body system
however; every team-mate will:
Describe the function of the body system.
Draw and labels the major parts of your body system
CIRCULATORY SYSTEM MEDICAL TEAM
1. Explain how the circulatory system works.
2. Illustrate the circulatory system that must include heart, veins, arteries,
capillaries, and blood.
3. Explain how the heart works. Include the jobs of the four chambers.
4. Draw and label the major parts of the heart that must include aorta, vena
cava, right atrium, left atrium, right ventricle, left ventricle, pulmonary view, and
muscle wall.
NERVOUS SYSTEM MEDICAL TEAM
1. Explain how the nervous system works. Explain the difference in motor and
sensory nerves.
2
2. Illustrate the nervous system that must include brain, spinal cord, and nerves.
3. Describe the function of the three major parts of the brain.
4. Draw and label the three major parts of your brain.
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM MEDICAL TEAM
1. Explain how the digestive system works.
2. Illustrate the digestive system it must include teeth, salivary glands,
esophagus, stomach, small intestine, liver, pancreas, gall bladder, large intestine,
rectum, and anus.
3. Explain how the stomach and small intestines works.
4. Draw and label the stomach and the walls of the small intestine.
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM MEDICAL TEAM
1. Explain how the respiratory system works.
2. Illustrate the respiratory system it must include the nose / mouth / throat,
trachea, bronchial tubes, diaphragm and lungs.
3. Explain how the lungs work. Include air gas exchanges.
4. Draw and label the major parts of the lungs.
SKELETAL SYSTEM MEDICAL TEAM
1. Explain how the skeletal system works.
2. Illustrate the skeletal system including the skull, vertebra, sternum, ribs,
pelvis, hip, femur and fibula.
3. Describe the three types of joints and give examples of each.
4. Illustrate these examples labelling parts where necessary.
MUSCULAR SYSTEM MEDICAL TEAM
1. Explain how the muscular system works.
2. Illustrate the major muscle systems.
3. Describe the three types of muscle tissue. And give examples of each.
4. Illustrate these examples and label where these examples are located.
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM MEDICAL TEAM
1. Explain how the endocrine system works.
2. Illustrate the endocrine system and include the pituitary gland, thyroid and
parathyroid gland, Thymus gland, adrenal gland, and pancreas.
3. Describe each of the glands of the endocrine system.
IMMUNE SYSTEM MEDICAL TEAM
1. Explain how the immune system works.
2. Illustrate the immune system. Include the thymus, lymph nodes, bone
marrow, spleen, tonsils, adenoids, lungs, liver, intestines, and blood.
Team-mate 2
Each team may have a different set of instructions assigned for their body system
however; every team-mate will:
Name and describe two or three diseases, disorders, or problems that may occur
with your body system.
Find out how to maintain a healthy system
CIRCULATORY SYSTEM MEDICAL TEAM
1. Explain what blood is made up of and explain its importance.
2. Name and describe three conditions associated with the heart and treatments /
research.
3
3. Explain what you can do to maintain a healthy
circulatory system
NERVOUS SYSTEM MEDICAL TEAM
1. Describe the five sensory organs
2. Draw and label the parts of each.
3. Name and describe three conditions associated with the nervous system and
treatments / research.
4. Explain what a reflex is.
5. Explain what you can do to maintain a healthy nervous system.
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM MEDICAL TEAM
1. Describe the importance of the liver to the body.
2. Use an illustration and explain how the kidneys work.
3. Name and describe three conditions associated with the digestive system and
treatments / research.
4. Explain what you can do to maintain a healthy digestive system
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM MEDICAL TEAM
1. Describe the importance of oxygen in the body.
2. Name and describe three conditions associated with the respiratory system and
treatments / research.
3. Explain what you can do to maintain a healthy respiratory system
SKELETAL SYSTEM MEDICAL TEAM
1. Describe what makes up bones.
2. Illustrate the parts of a bone.
3. Name and describe three conditions associated with the skeletal system and
treatments/ research on them.
4. Explain what you can do to maintain a healthy skeletal system.
MUSCULAR SYSTEM MEDICAL TEAM
1. Draw and label the muscles of the face.
2. Name and describe three conditions associated with the muscular system and
treatments/ research on them.
3. Explain what you can do to maintain a healthy muscular system.
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM MEDICAL TEAM
1. Name and describe three conditions associated with the endocrine system and
treatments/ research on them.
2. Explain what you can do to maintain a healthy endocrine system.
IMMUNE SYSTEM MEDICAL TEAM
1. Name and describe three conditions associated with the immune system and
treatments/ research on them.
2. Explain what you can do to maintain a healthy immune system.
Phase 3 - Debating, Discussing, and Reaching Consensus
Now that each team-mate has researched their information come back together
and start to plan your PowerPoint presentation including the major facts about
your system and its strengths and weaknesses. You both must now answer the
Task as a team. Each of you will bring a certain viewpoint to the answer: some of
you will agree and others disagree. Use information, pictures, movies, facts,
opinions, etc. from the Web pages you explored to convince your team-mate that
your viewpoint is important and should be part of your team's answer to the
Task.
4
Phase 4 - Real World Feedback
Now's the time to put your learning into an actual PowerPoint Presentation.
1. Begin your presentation with your names and body system.
2. Give background information that shows you understand how your body
system works.
3. State the task and your group's answer.
Conclusion
Now that each group has researched and presented a specific system as a class
we will discuss which system you think is the best / most important in your body.
Upon completion of this unit, you will have learned the main systems of the
human body and their functions. You will have gained the knowledge necessary to
maintain a healthy body. The use of technology will enhance your research skills.
The best of PowerPoint presentations will be posted at the course’s website. All
Medical and AWL vocabulary will be collected and posted in the form of a
collaborative vocabulary database at the course’s website.
WebQuest Report
What to hand in (via email):
1. Word document (Font: Normal, Arial. Size: 12):
a. Each team-mate’s questions and answers
b. A report on the major facts about your system and its strengths and
weaknesses
c. A list of any additional websites that you found useful
d. A list of the medical words with their definitions
e. A list of the academic words with their definitions
2. PowerPoint presentation
Format of your word document:
Last name/first name/student number/email: 1. _______________________
2. _______________________
BODY SYSTEM: __________________
Student 1: ………(last/first name)………………………………….
Question 1: …………………………..
Answer: …………………………….
Question 2: …………………………..
Answer: …………………………….
etc………………………..
5
Student 2: ………(last/first name)………………………………….
Question 1: …………………………..
Answer: …………………………….
Question 2: …………………………..
Answer: …………………………….
etc………………………..
Collaborative Report: ……(paragragh, max 1000 words)…………………..
Websites consulted: ………(list of additional websites)………………
List of Medical words (max 20)
Format:
Example in
TERM
context
…
catheter
Word class
information
…
hemodialysis
…the victim can
be saved by
regular use of a
renal
hemodialysis
machine.
noun
…
…
…
List of Academic words (max 10)
Format:
Example in
Word class
TERM
context
information
approach
….
…
formula
…Coca-Cola’s
patented
formula.
noun
…
…
….
Dictionary
definition
…
A treatment
used to
cleanse the
blood of
patients
whose kidneys
are defective
…
Dictionary
definition
…
A list of the
substances
used to make
a medicine
…
Greek
translation
…
αιμοκάθαρση
…
Greek
translation
…
συνταγή,
τύπος
…
6