Activity #21-22: Heart Pump and Muscle

Today students examined how are heart is like a pressure bulb. They both have valves, they both pump in one direction, and they both pump liquids. Students experimented with two pumps to find out these characteristics of the heart. Next, students examined how our heart is a muscle. We first did 4-corner vocab to define muscle, draw a picture, and use it in a sentence. Next students looked at how our heart is like a muscle which contracts and expands to pump blood throughout our body. Finally, students RAPP a paragraph of how our heart is like a pressure bulb.

Activity #20: Circulatory System

Today students participated in activity 20 which was an introduction to the circulatory system. Students learned how the respiratory and circulatory system work together to provide oxygen to our muscles and our body. Students watched a movie about working out which explored how our muscles need oxygen and how lactic acid can build up. Students then answered six questions that were covered in the movie. Finally, students wrote a summary about main idea of the movie.

Activity #19: Eye Dissection

Today students participated in the cow's eye dissection. We started off class by reviewing how the eye is part of the nervous system. Next each group got an eye, and student made external observations. They had to write about what they saw, shape, color, texture, and any other observations. Next students cut open the eye and started separating the parts of the eye. They then were quizzed on what the function is for each part of the eye. Finally, students had to write a reflection about what they learned in today's dissection.

Homework due today: Progress Reports!

Activity #18 Nervous System

Today students are working on Activity #18: Nervous System. Students will start the day out by reviewing the 3 main parts of the nervous system, the brain, the spinal cord, and nerves. Then students will zoom in on the parts of the brain. We will discuss the structures and functions of the brain. After we discuss the parts, students are going to dissect the brain and make observations about what they see. Students will end the class by looking at the parts of the eye and discussing how we see to prepare us for the eyeball dissection on Friday!

Homework: Progress reports are due Friday!

Activity #17: Gas Exchange

Today students participated in activity #17 Gas Exchange. We started by defining gas exchange, respiration, and indicator. Next students learned about the indicator BTB and how blue represented oxygen and how yellow represented carbon dioxide. Then student each had a plastic bag and straw. In the plastic bag students put water and BTB. Next students blew into the straw and noticed that it changed to yellow. They then added NaOH to turn back to blue. They count the number of drops and recorded their data. We finally made a graph. of the results. This showed how we breath in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide.

Activity #6: Respiratory System

Today students did activity #16: The Respiratory System. We began class by assigning each student different pages to read about the respiratory system. The students silently read their assigned pages. After 5 minutes of reading, the students then took turns teaching the rest of their group about what they read. Each member had to tell the rest of the class what the main idea was from their reading and any important details that they learned. Next, students answered 4 questions about the respiratory system.
1. How is respiration different from breathing?
2. What are two functions of the respiratory system?
3. What is the pathway in which air goes to your lungs?
4. What gases are exchanged in the respiratory system?

After students answered these questions, they had to fill in the structures of the respiratory system on their worksheet.

Tomorrow: Gas Exchange Lab!

Homework: Progress reports were sent home today. They are due back this Friday with a parent signature!

Activity #15: Digestion Reading

Today students participated in activity #15 which was a reading about the details of our digestive system. Students learned two new vocab words which were nutrients and absorption. Students did the 4-corner vocabulary activity with these new words which include the word's definition, a picture the resembles that word, and a sentence that includes that word in it. We discussed how our stomach digests food with the help of hydrochloric acid and how our teeth use mechanical break down to cut food into smaller pieces. The final activity of the day was to write a paragraph that explains the function of the digestive system.

Next week: We will study the respiratory system and the nervous system. We will dissect the brain and eyeball next week as well!

Have a great weekend!