Sept 29th, 2014

Today we had lots of information to review because there was a sub in class on Friday.  Friday we continued working with the digestive system and we played some internet games from the website www.scitunes.com, and completed a worksheet comparing the internet game to the digestive system.  Today we used textbooks, the song "It takes Guts", and in class notes to complete a worksheet reviewing the function, or job, of the major organs in the digestive system.  Students learned why their food doesn't fall out of their mouth when they do a handstand, and that our small intestine has the same surface area of a full size tennis court!  Homework is to complete a clock assignment that reviews or summarizes the structure and function of the digestive system.  You should be able to tell me the path food takes from entering to exiting the body and what happens at each stop.  For example, the mouth is the first stop, and food undergoes chemical and mechanical digestion.  In other words, the mouth breaks food down.  Second, the food goes down the esophagus, on a direct path to the stomach, and so on.  You will be tested on the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine,  and large intestine.

Example of Left Hand Clock Assigments

This student completed a diagram and created an accordian notecard that describes the function of each organ.

Organ system diagram with a descriptive paragraph.

A comic strip type clock assignment on the digestive system.

A pictorial flow chart of how the digestive system works, another great clock assignment idea!

Another flowchart with diagrams, I like how this flow chart describes both the structure and function of the digestive system, which was the learning target for the day!

Here is a wonderful example of using color in a meaningful way.  The clock assignment includes a diagram and uses color to indicate which organ the writing is describing.  Very thorough clock assignment addressing the days learning target.

These are a few examples of how students might choose to complete a clock assignment, these pictures were taken from students notebook on Sept 30th, when I checked off homework.  The most important thing to consider when choosing a clock assignment is whether or not it will help you reach the days objective.  Today the objective was "I can describe the structure and function of digestive system" and all of these students clearly demonstrated that they do understand the structure and function of the digestive system.  Way to go!!