Year 4 pupils have been busy learning all about the digestive system and discovering how food travels through the human body in a fun and memorable way.
Digestion is an important process in the human body because it helps us get the nutrients we need to stay healthy. The children learned that digestion happens in the digestive system, which begins at the mouth and ends at the anus. To help them understand each stage, the class took part in an exciting hands-on experiment to simulate digestion.
Using everyday items such as a tea towel, a banana, biscuits, a bowl, a glass of water, a glass of orange juice, a sealable plastic bag and even one leg from a pair of tights, pupils recreated what happens to food as it moves through the body.
The experiment began with the mouth. The banana and biscuits represented food and orange juice was added to help to soften the food and make it easier to swallow.
Next, the food mixture was placed into a sealable plastic bag, which represented the stomach. The children carefully squeezed the bag to show how the stomach churns food and mixes it with digestive juices. There were lots of surprised reactions as the food changed texture, just like it does in real digestion.
Finally, the mixture was poured into the leg of the tights to represent the intestines. As it was gently squeezed through, pupils could see how nutrients are absorbed by the body, while waste is left behind.
Year 4 showed loved this experiment!
