Students will
research one organ system of the
human body in order to become experts on the
structures and functions of this system.
Each “expert group” will be assigned a different system
of the body and will be required to prepare a
visual presentation to educate other students about
their assigned system and diseases associated with
this system.

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• Students
will work in groups of 3-5 students to research
an assigned body system, create a visual aid, and
present their findings to the class.
• Members of the group must share the workload as
equally as possible. Each student will be assessed based
on his/her individual research as well as his/her contribution
to the final group presentation.
• All sources used must be
cited appropriately
on the Research Summary Sheet for each system.
• The oral
presentation should be approximately
8-10 minutes in length and must contain images,
diagrams, or another visual aid (e.g. a model).
• All work must be completed by the deadline and
groups must be prepared to present on their assigned date.
No late projects will be accepted.
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1. Conduct
research on your assigned body system
using the Internet sites, online references, and other
resources provided. Record your answers to the questions
on your individual Research Summary Sheet.
2. After conducting your individual research, meet with
your expert group to compare and discuss your findings
and begin planning your group presentation.
3. With your expert group, prepare a visual presentation
approximately ten minutes in length to educate your
classmates about the major functions and structures of your
system of the body.
4. Present your project to the class.
5. Information presented during the group presentations
will be used to complete
a chart on each body system
that can be used as a study guide for the final assessment.
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Teacher’s
requirements:
BOOKS - ONLINE REFERENCES - INTERNET SITES
NO WIKIPEDIA
USE INTERNET CHECKLIST
You will need
a minimum of 3 sources per group.
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ONLINE
REFERENCE SOURCES
BOOKS
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The
Virtual Body
Includes information about the brain, the digestive
system, the heart, and the skeleton. Also includes
interactive activities.
Anatomy Explorer
Contains animated graphics and
illustrations of the human anatomy.
Discovery Kids – Your Gross and Cool Body OR
The Yuckiest Site
Choose from a list of body systems and click “go”
to learn more about the structures and functions of
that system.
How Stuff Works – The Body
Includes The Body Library with links to hundreds of key
terms associated with the human body systems.
Indianapolis Marion County Public Library
Contains detailed diagrams and links to more information
on the circulatory, excretory, respiratory, digestive,
nervous, and skeletal systems.
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The Heart: An
Online Exploration
Contains information on the heart, blood,
and types of blood vessels.
Anatomy of the Human Circulatory System
Includes a detailed description of the functions
of the circulatory system and the diseases
associated with this system.
The
Circulatory System
This site provides a general overview of the structures
and functions of this system.
Cut to
the Heart
Includes a map of the human heart.
Heart Animations and Illustrations
Designed for heart patients, this site covers diseases
that affect the heart (e.g. atherosclerosis and heart attack).
Cardiovascular Conditions: Blood Pressure and Pulse
Explains
what blood pressure and pulse tell you about the health of your
heart.
The Blood Cells
Describes
the function of the four main components of blood.
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The Respiratory System
A detailed and comprehensive site that includes several
diagrams and charts. This site also discusses diseases
and disorders of the respiratory tract.
The
Human Respiratory System
Excellent graphics and charts;
includes a comprehensive list of respiratory diseases.
The Human Body Adventure: The Respiratory System
Explore the organs involved in breathing.
Resources for Science Learning – Oxygen Delivery System
Describes the major functions and structures of the
respiratory system.
Inside the Human Body - The Respiratory System
Includes a
diagram of the respiratory system and descriptions of the major
structures.

Your Digestive System and How it Works
Describes the importance of digestion and the process of
digestion.
Pathophysiology of the Digestive System
Contains detailed information on the anatomy and
physiology of the digestive system.
Kids
Health – The Digestive System
This site provides a nice overview
of the organs involved in the
process of digestion.
Functions of the Digestive System
Describes the processes of digestion, absorption,
and elimination.
Advanced Enzymes
Describes the function of sucrose and other digestive enzymes.
Digestive Enzymes
Includes the functions of the digestive enzymes amylase, pepsin,
and trypsin.
Vitamin Chart
Includes a chart with the functions and sources of essential
vitamins.
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Resources for Science Learning – Poison Protection
Provides a general overview of the process of excretion,
the role of the kidneys, and the causes and treatments for
kidney diseases.
The
Excretory System
Provides links to information on excretory system functions,
kidney function, and causes of disruption of normal kidney
functioning.
The Excretory/Urinary System
Provides detailed information on the process of
excretion and diseases of the excretory system.
Diabetes
Includes information on causes, symptoms, and treatment of
diabetes.
NERVOUS SYSTEM:
Neuroscience for Kids
Learn about the central and peripheral nervous systems,
the brain, the neuron, and neurological disorders.
The Nervous System
Provides an overview of the nervous system and
information on neuron structure and nerve impulses.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Click on the links to access information on multiple sclerosis,
stroke, and other diseases of the nervous system.
The Nervous System
Contains general information on the nervous system.
The Nervous System and Senses
Describes the functions of the nervous system and how signals
are passed between neurons.
The Central Nervous System
Outlines the basic physiology of the central nervous system,
including the brain and spinal cord.
Organization of the Nervous System
Explains the functions of the peripheral nervous system (PNS).
Neuron Structure and Function
Provides a good overview of the structure and function of
neurons.
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Pathophysiology of the Endocrine System
Contains detailed information on the anatomy and physiology
of the endocrine system.
The Endocrine System
Contains links to a number of endocrine system topics.
Homeostasis
Provides a description of homeostasis and
negative feedback.
The Online Biology Book –
The Endocrine System
Includes
information on the types of hormones and how they relay chemical
messages to their target organs.
Teens Health: The Endocrine System
Contains lots of useful information on different hormones of the
body and how the target tissue responds to each hormone.
Each student
will complete a Research Summary Sheet for
one system of the human body (i.e. circulatory, respiratory,
digestive, excretory, nervous, or endocrine).
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Your group
will be responsible for creating a poster,
power point slide show, or other visual presentation to
educate other students about the structure and function
of your organ system and diseases associated with this system.
The presentation should be approximately 8-10 minutes
in length and should include the information your group collected
and recorded on your Research Summary sheets.
While groups are presenting, students will complete
the
Human Body Systems Presentation Summary Sheet.
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You will be graded based on the content of your
presentation, the use of scientifically accurate terminology,
and your ability to present the information in a format
that is effective and targeted toward the appropriate
audience (high school students). Visual aids must be used.
Rubric: see attached Rubric
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