The document describes an activity to teach students about the human body's organ systems. Students will: 1) Brainstorm what they know about organ systems and write questions. They will then classify organ cards into different systems like digestive and circulatory. 2) Draw an outline of the human body and label organs and their functions. They will ask each other questions about the diagrams. 3) Use clay to model organs and discuss if the sizes are accurate. They will review how organs relate to actual body structures.

1. Body Works
Activity 12B: What’s Happening
Inside?
October 3, 2013

2. Activity 12B: What’s Happening Inside?
October 3, 2013
Getting Started: What do you know about the organs and systems of the human
body? Brainstorm as a class.
Introduction: Read pg.B-10 and Write your own RACE question.
What’s Happening Inside?
Organs are structures composed of one or more tissues that perform a function or a group of functions in
the human body. Several organs working together to perform a function are a system. One example of this
is the excretory system. The function of the excretory system is to remove liquid waste from the body.
Because the kidneys help perform this function, they are organs in the excretory system. You may be
familiar with the organs and functions of our other system, such as the digestive and cardiovascular systems.
Use your knowledge of the human body to look more closely inside your self. In the photos on page B-10
which organ system help each of the students do the activities shown?
What do you know about the organs and
systems of the human body?
12B
Challenge: Rewrite the challenge question in your own words.

3. Key Words: Cardiovascular System, cell, digestive system, excretory system,
function, muscular system, nervous system, organ, reproductive system,
respiratory system, skeletal system, structure, System (body system)
Procedure: Have you read and do you understand the procedure on
pg. B11? Write one sentence that describes what
you will be doing.
Results: Laying It Out
Classifying the Organs
Modeling the Human Body
Reviewing Structure and Function
Analysis: Answer Analysis Questions 1 through 3.
Reflection: What new things have you learned about the human body
in this activity?

4. Laying It Out
• Each student in a group of four chooses three organs
to draw in the outline. You may not do the same on
as someone else.
• Write the function as close to the organ as possible.
Try not to get in another organs way.
– If you are having trouble reflect on past experiences and
do your best.
• When you have finished write questions you have
around the outside of your body.
• Then move around the room looking at the work of
others and record any questions you can not answer
in your notes.

6. Classifying Organs
• Work together to organize the various Organ
and Structure Cards and record the groupings
you have formed.
• In your group, discuss the function of each
organ and write down the name of any organ
whose function you are not sure of.
– As you sort the cards, place them in rows, not
piles, and leave the cards in place once you have
finished.

7. Discussion
• How did you classify your organs?
Leave your Organ and Structure Cards in rows

8. Put systems to cells 1&2 here

9. Organ System
• Use the Organ and Structure Cards with the
Organ Function Cards and separate them into
systems, then record you information on
Student Sheet 12.1; Functions of Human Body
Systems

13. Part C: Modeling the Human Body
• A lot of your pictures had areas of open space.
– What is in these areas?
• Press along your waist, arms, and legs. What do you
feel? Do you feel empty space? What types of
structures can you feel?

14. Instructions
• Use only plastic human body models that are
lined with plastic. If you are unsure ask!!!
• Use the back as your base
• Use Table 1: Organs and Structures to Model
as a guide.
• Clean up when you are finished.

16. Part D: Reviewing Structure and
Function
• Place pictures of models and have students
discuss where the body parts are in relation to
there own body.
• Color 12.2a and 12.2b

17. Class w/17

18. Cookie

19. Powerpuff

20. Question 1
• Look at the drawing you made in Part A. List
some structures or organs that were not the
right shape or size or were in the wrong place
on your original drawing. Explain how you
would change them if you could redraw the
diagram.

21. Question 2
Look at the questions that you recorded in your
science notebook after Part A. Answer all of
the questions you can answer. Discuss with
your group any that you are still not sure
about.

22. Question 3
• The liver is the largest internal organ of the
human body. Was the liver the largest organ
in your clay model? Do you think that the
other organs you modeled in he clay were
accurate in size? Why or why not?

23. Question 4
• What are some of the limitations of the
clay model you made of the human
body in Part-C?