Name: _____________________________________________________ Class: ________
Student Exploration: Digestive System
Gizmo Warm-up
The digestive system is a group of organs that does three things:
• First, the digestive system breaks food down into useful nutrients, a
process called digestion.
• Next, the nutrients move into the bloodstream, a process called
absorption.
• Finally, the leftover waste is removed from the body, a process called
elimination.
With the Digestive System Gizmo™, you can arrange the organs of the digestive system any way you
like. To begin, look at the organs on the Large Organs tab. Place your cursor over each organ to learn
more about it.
1. Which two organs allow nutrients to be absorbed? __________________ & __________________
2. Which organ stores and compacts waste before it is eliminated? ______________________
3. Which two organs help to break food down mechanically? _____________ & _____________
Activity A:
Build a digestive
system
Get the Gizmo ready:
• If necessary, click Clear screen.
Goal: Design your own digestive system.
1. Explore: Read the descriptions of the large organs, as well as those of the Small Organs on the next
tab. Fill in the names of the organs that serve the functions listed below:
_____________________ This organ absorbs water and vitamin K from digested food.
_____________________ This organ produces enzymes that break down nutrients.
_____________________ These tiny blood vessels transport absorbed nutrients.
2. Build: Now it is time to design and build your own digestive system! Start with the Large Organs tab
to build a basic system, starting with the Mouth/pharynx. Next, attach organs from the Small
organs tab to the large organs to complete your system. Draw a simplified (no need for detail)
picture of your system below.
