First-Place Winner: TMA Excellence in Science Teaching
Awards
Melita "Gigi" Rodriguez
United Day School
Laredo,Texas
Take Two and Call Me in the Morning
Sample Lesson
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this project the 8th grade students will:
- Be introduced to the workings of the major systems of the
Human Body: circulatory, digestive, respiratory, nervous,
skeletal, and endocrine Systems.
- Learn the major organs of the systems and their
functions.
- Be aware of the different areas of medicine that would be
involved in treating, curing, and preventing different ailments
that would attack the different systems.
- Working in cooperative learning groups, "design, and build"
their chosen system into a model (see materials).
- Make a formal presentation, "a teach," of their system
(includes: models, handouts, lecture).
Materials Used
- Research materials:
a. Search engines on the Internet.
b. Interviews with doctors in community.
c. Research materials (encyclopedias, medical journals, textbook,
etc.).
- Household items:
- Vacuum cleaner hose (esophagus).
- Panty hose/pink kleenex (intestines).
- Milk jug (stomach).
- Purple/brown/gray socks (kidneys, bladder, etc.).
- Red balloons/piece of garden hose with hole in middle for
blowing (lungs).
- Red/blue yarn (veins).
- Red/blue food coloring/aquarium tubing/pump/bucket
(circulatory system).
- Piñata (human form (cut out center).
- Wig stand (styrofoam).
- Brain Jell-O mold (nervous system).
Methods of Implementation
The textbook touches on the human anatomy. In order to encourage
the students to consider a career in some faction of the medical
field and to consider applying for a "Magnet Program" in high
school (science and math), I use this extension to motivate,
excite, and go "over the edge" in creative possibilities.
Using our computer lab, their own personal computers, and many
of the "In-house" parents that are in different fields of medicine,
the students will incorporate their "findings" into a design for
their working body. A trip to our local library will aid in their
research process.
This project is "on-going" in that some of the actual building
will be done off campus. However, an interview with each group and
an evaluation sheet will be kept for final grading purposes.
On the day of their presentation each group must submit the
following;
- A model-with a minimum of three moving parts.
- Present 20-25 minute oral presentation (may use index cards
for focal points only).
- Produce a handout (one copy per student and teacher)
containing a "list" of the major organs of the system and their
function.
- Give a brief explanation of some fatal diseases or ailments
of the system, the type of medical assistance that would be
needed for treatment or cure (title of Doctor or medical
personnel who would be involved), and causes of the illness.
(Minimum of two)
- Submit a written report containing the vital information on
their system (two to three typed pages).
Final Evaluation
Each Group will be graded on the following criteria:
-
25 pts. - Report (min.2/max.3).
-
25 pts. - Presentations (20-25 min.).
-
25 pts. - Inclusion of illnesses, fields of medicine
etc.(min.2).
-
25 pts. - Models.
Total: 100 pts.
Loving what I do, I feel in order to keep a child's interest in
science, we must go beyond the obvious (text). I use "extensions"
whenever I can. The information I implement may come from high
school, or college texts as well as any outside references I can
get. This lesson is fun, interesting, and very "hands on." This is
effective for the simple fact that while the "hard part" (research,
written materials) is necessary and a required part of the project,
as they build and put together their body, the understanding of the
workings of the system becomes obvious. Making them use household
items and setting a limit on expenditures, their common sense and
"eye" for the part they need shows ingenuity and imagination. Not
only the groups presenting but the audience, as well, will enjoy
"explosion" of knowledge that is put before them. Hopefully, some
of my students will realize they have an interest in some area of
medicine and will find perhaps their "niche."
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