The Squishy, Colorful Facts About Digestion: Makerspace Models

The culminating activity for digestion, the review before our test on Monday, is all about using the makerspace, having fun, laughing at ourselves, and reinforcing respect and community goals. Students were asked to create a model of their assigned organ. I did not say it had to be to scale, or what materials to use so the digestive system models are all very different. Most students chose play-doh, however, many students stepped outside the container literally, and used other materials provided in the class makerspace.

The digestive system lends itself to models and diagrams. It is an uncomplicated system and students can relate to it. It is a process they understand, eating. We have discussed organic compounds, energy transformation, chemical versus mechanical digestion as well as the organs of digestion and their structures and functions. Enzymes, acids, and other digestive juices are crucial to this process and students also discovered through labs and research what the most important digestive liquids are: hydrocloric acid, pepsin, insulin, bile, and saliva to just name a few. This activity was a fun way to get them up and out of their seats, collaborating and engaged.

Students presented their models and created the large model of the digestive tract. But, I also asked them to act out the movement that occurs, as well as discuss the structure, function, and other processes occurring in their organ. This information was presented as a group in front of the class as a puppet show, comedy skit, and even simple conversations with the class. They already learned this information and this lesson was to make sure all the facts were processed and shared as a class. This was funny but also very informational and it reinforced respect, communication, and collaborative skills.