Edward Hartigan Community Arts Speciality School, Chicago Illinois

David Johnson, Alice Keefer, Kimberly Solis, Gaylord Workman

How can we understand the human body in such a way that we can identify and explain the major systems?
Unit focus: Four systems of the human body
• Circulatory system
• Respiratory system
• Skeletal system
• Digestive system

This project lasts about three weeks.

Describe and explain the structure and functions of the human body systems and how they relate.

Explain the effects of health-realted actions on the body 

Arrange students in pairs and give each pair one large piece of butcher paper and a marker. One partner will trace the outline of the other's body onto the paper. After the tracing is completed both students will work together to draw and label the parts of the circulatory, respiratory, skeletal, and digestive systems.
 
Assessments 2 and 3: For formative assessment for each of the four systems, have students write their own multiple choice questions to assess acquisition of concepts and vocabulary.
Students may also be asked to list the 5 most important things they learned about a particular system and tell which one of the five is most important and why.
 
Assessment 4: Expository writing prompt: As part of our science stuUse Simple Clusters to organize thought. Combine papers and drawings into a book called "The Systems of the Human Body" and arrange to share it with students from another room.

This project has students very active in learning about the body systems and integrates technology in ways the students haven't seen before.

Subject Areas: Science, Health
Grade Levels: 3rd through 7th
URL: Human Body Systems
Teacher Tips: This is a substantial unit, worthy of the time allotted.