The Digestive System and
How it Works
Ms. Braxton
Science Webquest
Grade 4; Room 1
Leonard V. Moore School
Student Pages
Introduction
This webquest integrates the health and biology curriculums as
students embark on an exciting learning adventure within the
digestive system!
When you are sitting at lunch, do you think about the extensive
journey that your food will take? Well, get ready for an
experience of a lifetime. You will now experience the journey
yourself. You have just become a piece of food that is about to
enter the human digestive system. Enjoy your remarkable trip!
Task
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First, the students will become a piece of food that is traveling through
each part of the human digestive system. They will keep a
journal about their adventures as a piece of food in each part of the
human digestive system.
After the students complete this journey, they will label a diagram of
the human digestive system.
Then, the students will complete a group project. They will collect
research and pictures to create a flow chart poster about the steps
involved in digestion. They will include all organs and
processes that breakdown food into nutrients and waste.
Finally, the students will take a test on the digestive system.
Process
Part 1:
Follow the directions for your interactive journey within the
digestive system. As you travel throughout the digestive
system, identify where you are and describe what you are going
through in your Human Digestion Journey: Science
Journal. Your mission is to be able to name, define, describe,
and explain the five main parts of the human digestive system
and how your nutrients are supplied to the body. Have fun!
1. Enter the digestive system through the mouth. Click
on some of the sites below and discover the jobs of
the teeth, tongue, and saliva as you meet up with
them. Be sure to write this information in your
science journal!
 http://kidshealth.org/kid/body/digest_noSW.html
http://yucky.discovery.com/noflash/body/pg000126.ht
ml
 http://www.innerbody.com/text/skel08-new.html
 http://www.innerbody.com/text/dige29-new.html
2. Once you are swallowed, prepare to go down
into the esophagus. Click on some of the sites
below to continue your journey. Make sure to
include what happens to you in the esophagus
in your science journal!
 http://hes.ucf.k12.pa.us/gclaypo/digestive_syst
em.html
 http://kidshealth.org/kid/body/digest_noSW.htm
l
 http://yucky.discovery.com/noflash/body/pg000
126.html
 http://www.innerbody.com/image/digeov.html
3. You have reached the entrance to the stomach. Now that you
have reached the stomach, plan to spend a little more time
here because this is a major stop in digestion. Write the
definition of stomach, describe how it works and explain the
stomach's responsibilities in your science journal. What did it do
to you?
 http://www.mamashealth.com/organs/stomach.asp
 http://yucky.discovery.com/noflash/body/pg000126.html
 http://kidshealth.org/kid/body/digest_noSW.html
 http://hes.ucf.k12.pa.us/gclaypo/digestive_system.html#What%
20about%20the%20stomach
Also, answer this question in your journal.
Why does the human's stomach gurgle?
 http://yucky.discovery.com/noflash/body/yuckystuff/gurgle/js.ind
ex.html#
4. Once you have passed into the duodenum, prepare to spend
up to 4 hours in the small intestine. Use these websites to
answer these questions in your science journal.
Why are you in the small intestine for so long?
How long is the small intestine?
What is happening to you in the small intestine? Explain.
What are villi? Explain their job.
 http://kidshealth.org/kid/body/digest_noSW.html
 http://yucky.discovery.com/noflash/body/pg000126.html
 http://hes.ucf.k12.pa.us/gclaypo/digestive_system.html#What%
20about%20the%20stomach
How do the liver, the pancreas, and the gall bladder play a part
in the digestive system?
 http://kidshealth.org/kid/body/digest_noSW.html
5. Your digestion is not done yet. You are about to enter the large intestine.
Continue investigating. Use the websites below to answer these questions in
your science journal.
Why is this last stop so important? Explain.
What is the appendix? Where is it located?
How does the colon prepare you for dismissal? Explain.
How are you expelled from the human body? Explain the roles of the rectum and
the anus.
Create a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast your appearance before
beginning the digestive process and your appearance after the digestive
process. (Use scientific and appropriate language!)

http://kidshealth.org/kid/body/digest_noSW.html

http://yucky.discovery.com/noflash/body/pg000126.html

http://www.innerbody.com/image/digeov.html
Which is longer, the small intestine or the large intestine? Why are they called small
and large intestine? Explain.

http://hes.ucf.k12.pa.us/gclaypo/digestive_system.html#So%20what%20does%
20the%20large%20intestin
Part 2:
Print out the digestive system diagram from this website.
Use the definitions to help you complete the diagram.
 http://www.zunal.com/myaccount/uploads/digestive_syste
m_-_label_the_parts.pdf
Also, you may use the diagrams on the following websites to
help you.
 http://www.mamashealth.com/organs/dsystem.asp
 http://www.hes.ucf.k12.pa.us/gclaypo/review_digestion.ht
ml
 http://kidshealth.org/kid/body/digest_noSW.html
Part 3:
Cooperative Learning Project (science
groups): Create a flow chart poster.
Your poster must include:

all steps in the human digestive
system in sequence order.

all organs and
processes that breakdown food into
nutrients and waste.

labeled pictures, descriptions, and
explanations for each step.

a creative title.

your names and group number.
You may use the following resources:

your human digestion science journal

human digestion diagrams

websites from part one

library books on human digestion

science textbook
Part 4:
Complete the test on human digestion (2 parts).
1. Print this test and rewrite the steps in correct
order. Hand in when completed.
 http://www.zunal.com/myaccount/uploads/dige
stive_system_-_pathway_quiz(1).pdf
2. Print this page and complete the test. Hand in
when completed.
 http://hes.ucf.k12.pa.us/gclaypo/digestivequiz.
html
Evaluation
Rubrics
Science
Journal
Excellent
4
Good
3
Fair
2
Poor
1
A. Content
All parts of the
human digestive
system are
included.
Some parts of
the human
digestive system
are included.
A few parts of
the human
digestive system
are included.
Very little or no
parts of the
human digestive
system are
included.
B. Writing
Excellent
descriptions and
details are used.
Good
descriptions and
details are used.
Okay
descriptions and
details are used.
Descriptions and
details are
lacking.
Evaluation
Rubrics (continued)
Human
Digestive
System
Excellent
4
Good
3
Fair
2
Diagram
All parts labeled
correctly.
Most parts
labeled correctly.
Some parts
labeled correctly.
Poor
1
Very little or no
parts labeled
correctly
Evaluation
Rubrics (continued)
Flow Chart
Poster
Excellent
4
Good
3
Fair
2
Poor
1
A. Sequence
All steps in the
human digestive
system are
presented in
sequence order.
Most steps in the
human digestive
system are
presented in
sequence order.
Some steps in
the human
digestive system
are presented in
sequence order.
Very little or no
steps in the
human digestive
system are
presented in
sequence order.
B. Title
The poster
includes a
creative title.
The poster
includes a title.
The poster does
not include a
title.
N/A
(Not applicable)
C. Graphics
All steps are
represented with
appropriate
pictures.
Most steps are
represented with
appropriate
pictures.
Some steps are
represented with
appropriate
pictures.
Very little or no
steps are
represented with
pictures.
Evaluation
Rubrics (continued)
Flow Chart
Poster (cont’d)
Excellent
4
Good
3
Fair
2
Poor
1
D. Content
Information about
each step in the
human digestive
system is
accurate.
Information about
each step in the
human digestive
system is mostly
accurate.
Information about
each step in the
human digestive
system is
somewhat
accurate.
Information about
each step in the
human digestive
system is not
accurate.
E. Labels
All pictures and
steps are labeled.
Most pictures and
steps are labeled.
Some pictures
and steps are
labeled.
Very little or no
pictures and steps
are labeled.
F. Explanations
The processes
within each step
are thoroughly
explained.
The processes
within each step
are almost
thoroughly
explained.
The processes
within each step
have limited
explanations.
The processes
within each step
have very little or
no explanations.
G. Group Work
Always worked
well cooperatively.
Almost always
worked well
cooperatively.
Worked well
cooperatively
sometimes.
Never or hardly
ever worked well
cooperatively.
Evaluation
Test Scores

Combination of both test parts for one
test score
Human Digestion Test
Steps in Human Digestion
Human Digestive System Questions
Conclusion
Congratulations! You have completed your learning journey
within the digestive system. You have traveled throughout the entire
human digestive system, visited the five major parts, and read about
additional digestive parts too. Your acquired knowledge will be
reflected in your human digestion science journals, diagrams, posters,
and tests.
You now have a science journey, complete with all the
information on the digestive system. In addition, you have participated
in an unforgettable learning experience.
From your experience, you should be able to understand your
own digestive system and how it works. The next time you sit down to
eat, you'll know where your food goes from start to finish! Without your
digestive system, you couldn't get the nutrients you need to grow
properly and stay healthy.
Credits
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From Morsel to Mush; by: Kimberly Cabral, Michelle Dean, Julie Flis, Tannisha Gentry
http://www.zunal.com/webquest.php?user=594
Hillendale Health Website
http://hes.ucf.k12.pa.us/gclaypo/digestive_system.html
Kids Health Website
http://kidshealth.org/kid/body/digest_noSW.html
Discovery Kids Website
http://yucky.discovery.com/noflash/body/pg000126.html
Human Anatomy Online
www.innerbody.com
Mama's Health Website
http://www.mamashealth.com/organs/stomach.asp
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