Students will research and understand the functions of the major human body systems, including the circulatory, respiratory, nervous, digestive, skeletal, and muscular systems. They will be assigned to groups to research the body systems using provided websites and other references. Each group will create a podcast and life-size body poster to present their findings and explain human anatomy to aliens from their home planet.

1. Description: Students will research and understand the functions of the human
body. The body systems that will be explored include: Circulatory, Respiratory,
Nervous, Digestive, Skeletal, and Muscular.
Grade Level: 3-5
Curriculum: Science
Introduction:
You and your classmates are about to embark on an adventure to planet Earth. What will
you find? Who will you meet? You are on a mission to learn and understand the human
body and bring back as much information to planet Xenon as possible. You and your
group of spacemen/women will be required to explain your findings to the home planet.
Good luck troops, a may the force be with you!

2. Task:
You are now on a mission to bring back information to Xenon about the human species.
Your group will be required to research 6 major systems of the human body including:
1. Circulatory
2. Respiratory
3. Digestive
4. Nervous
5. Muscular
6. Skeletal
Research will be conducted through websites, class textbooks, and other references.
Your team will create a podcast to send back to Xenon, your home planet. You will also
be required to create a life size replica of the human body (through a poster).

3. Process:
1. You will be assigned to groups of 3-4.
2. Each group will research and gather information about the human body using the
websites listed below.
3. You will be responsible for finding 10 interesting/important facts. Each student must
have their own work, excluding the one group podcast.
4. After you have collected the information, you must work together to create a
podcast to send back to the home planet Xenon.
5. You will present your information to your fellow alien classmates.
6. You will be assessed on presentation, teamwork, organization, and content
(information).
Links:
Skeletal:
http://hes.ucfsd.org/gclaypo/skelweb/skel01.html
http://www.kidsbiology.com/human_biology/skeletal-system.php
http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/SSmovie.html
Circulatory:
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/human-body/circulatory-system.
htm

4. http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/videos/humanbody/circulatorysystem.html
http://discoverykids.com/articles/your-cardiovascular-system/
Nervous:
http://www.ducksters.com/science/nervous_system.php
http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/body_basics/brain_nervous_system.html
http://www.makemegenius.com/science-videos/grade_4/the-nervous-system-for-kids
Muscular:
http://www.kidsbiology.com/human_biology/muscles.php
http://www.brainpop.com/health/muscularsystem/muscles/preview.weml
http://discoverykids.com/articles/your-muscular-system/
Digestive:
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/humanbody/digestivesystem.html
http://www.factmonster.com/dk/science/encyclopedia/digestive-system.html
http://www.childrensuniversity.manchester.ac.uk/interactives/science/bodyandmedicine/
digestivesystem/
Respiratory:
http://hes.ucfsd.org/gclaypo/repiratorysys.html
http://easyscienceforkids.com/all-about-human-breathing-system/
http://www.lung.ca/lung-health/lung-info

5. Not Yet On The Way Almost There Excellent Pt
s.
Neatness/
Organizati
on
My handwriting is
unreadable and
messy. The
presentation is
unorganized and
unclear
My handwriting
is poor and
difficult to read.
Presentation
shows some form
of organization,
but mostly
unclear.
My writing is
legible and neat.
Presentation is
somewhat
organized and
clear.
My writing is
neat and easy
to read. It is
pleasing to
the eye!
Presentation
is organized
and clear.
5
pt
s.
Teamwork I did not work well
with my group
while researching
our body system. I
did not contribute
to my group or help
them with the
research and
construction of the
project.
I sometimes
worked well with
my group while
researching our
body system. I
might not have
contributed to
my group or
helped with the
research and
construction of
the project.
I mostly worked
well with my
group while
researching our
body system. I
might not have
contributed to
my group or
helped with the
research and
construction of
the project.
I worked well
with my
group while
researching
our body
system. I
contributed
to my group
and helped
with the
research &
construction
of the
project.
10
pt
s.

6. Informatio
n/Content
My presentation
and organizer has
no main ideas or
details to describe
each system.
My main idea is
not very clear
and I have very
little details to
describe each
system.
Most of my
presentation and
organizer has a
clear main idea
and has some
details to
describe the
specific system.
My
presentation
and organizer
has a clear
main idea
and details to
describe the
specific
system.
10
pt
s.
Materials I did not use any of
the materials
provided to
research my
specific system.
I used one
resource to
research my
specific system.
I used two
resources to
research my
specific system.
I used at least
3 resources
to resource
my specific
system.
5
pt
s.
CONGRATULATIONS! You have successfully completed the mission to planet Earth. Your
fellow aliens (classmates) plan to use this new information about the human race. You
have gained knowledge about the human body, all of the systems, and their functions.
The planet Xenon thanks you!