Digestive System- Middle School Science lab, activities, and worksheets

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It’s difficult teaching middle school science students about the body systems. It’s hard for them to fully grasp the amazing phenomena that is the human body! But with these relatable, hands-on digestive system activities, you can bring the topic of the digestive system alive for your middle school students!

This lesson packet is filled with activities and resources perfect for the middle school life science classroom. Start with a 2-part phenomena activity in which students taste test several food items, then chemically test them to discover their nutrient makeup. A link to a video lab is also available, if you are unable to perform the chemical tests live. The lesson can be taught as a stand-alone or as part of the Cellular Respiration and Metabolism Unit.

Students continue their inquiry into the digestive system with a reading passage, teacher led slides and video, journey through the digestive system worksheet, and a check-for-understanding 2-question assessment at the end of the lesson.

Students will investigate the question: How does the digestive system operate in order to break down food into macro- and micro- nutrients needed by our organ systems and cells?

Recommended Age Group: middle school, grades 6-8

Included Materials:

➜ Student worksheets and teacher instructions for inquiry-based phenomenon lab (with suggestions and modifications if chemicals are unavailable)

➜ Reading passage with 3 formats available for differentiation (a standard PDF, an interactive “note-taking” style, and a digital version available through Google Slides)

➜ Teacher presentation slides on the digestive system (both PowerPoint and Google Slides formats included)
➜ Teacher presentation video link on the digestive system

➜ Journey Through the Digestive System student worksheet

➜ Check-for-understanding assessment questions for end of lesson check-in, 3 versions of the questions included to allow for differentiation (all 3 versions are available in PDF and Google Slides format)

➜ Teaching Guide

Materials needed for lab:
➜ apples, cheese, and crackers (for taste testing and chemical testing)
➜ Iodine solution
➜ Benedict’s solution
➜ Biuret Reagent
➜ purified water
➜ test tubes, pipettes, bowls and spoons

This lesson is part of a focus on the following NGSS standards:
MS-LS1-7: Develop a model to describe how food is rearranged through chemical reactions forming new molecules that support growth and/or release energy as this matter moves through an organism.
MS-LS1-3: Use argument supported by evidence for how the body is a system of interacting subsystems composed of groups of cells.

The standards is covered fully in the unit bundle.

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