Let¹s ³ORGAN²ize Our Health: Major Body Organs & Their Functions

USA

USA015

Résumé, summary

Essential Questions: 1. Why do we need body organs 2. Why are they important to us? 3. How is each of these organs shaped? 4. What do each of the major organs look like? 5. What happens to our bodies when an organ ³shuts down²? 6. How can we take care of these organs? 7. What is the function of each organ? 8. Can a major body organ be repaired or replaced? 9. What can we learn about organs from our local medical centers and teaching hospitals? 10. How can we transfer the knowledge we learned about body systems to other systems in our lives? Activities and Integrated Technology Suggestions ----With a partner, students will draw outlines of their bodies on large paper. After discussing each major organ, they will add the organ to their body outline in the appropriate place. ----Students will research the major body organs using CD-ROM and an electronic encyclopedia. ----Using ³Logo Writer² to draw and label each organ, and word processing skills to describe each organ¹s function, students will describe ideas for ³good organ health.² ----After completing a study of each organ, students will be asked to bring in an object that is representative of that organ¹s function; for example, a pump could represent the heart. ----In cooperative groups, students will construct a working model of a major body organ. ----Students will use the laser disk from ³Windows on Science² to collect information on why our body organs are important as the basis for a written report, using word processing software. ----Using laptop computer, students will develop a letter and will create a survey requesting information from local hospitals concerning organ donor programs. Letters and surveys will be sent to local hospitals. ----Students will use information from the hospitals contacted in Activity 6 to prepare tables and graphs using graphing software. ----Students will use a desktop publishing program to create thank you notes to sent to participating hospitals (Activity 6). ----Using a word processing program, cooperative learning groups will formulate appropriate questions for an interview with medical personnel. Examples of questions could include: ³What happens when organs don¹t word properly?² or ³What can we do to take care of our organs?² ----Students will role-play conducting the interview by asking the questions prepared in Activity 9. This practice session will be videotaped to help prepare for upcoming interviews with medical personnel. ----Students will take a field trip to a teaching hospital to observe laboratory specimens of the major organs and to interview doctors and nurses. ----Students will demonstrate projects, models, computer programs and video tapes at the annual Community Health Fair.

Discipline, subject :

sciences Naturwissenschaft sciences scienze mathématiques Mathematik mathematics matematica biologie biology biologia

Public :

primaire Primarschule primary school primario

Contacts :

Milburn, Mary Jo

502 Wood Road
40241
LOUISVILLE

Tel : 502: 485-3010
Mail :
Fax : 502:485-3601

Pédagogie, pedagogy :

The students studied about major body organs and their functions in order to understand why they need to take care of their bodies and to develop a healthy lifestyle. They also had contact with physicians and hospitals to find out about community ³organ² needs. Learning Aspects: The students learned how their organs and bodies are systems. From this real life situation, they can transfer the basic principals of systems to other situations in the world.

Apprentissage, learning :

The students worked in cooperative groups to gather and process information (such as the number of organ donations) from hospitals and medical centers. They then prepared tables and graphs using data base and spreadsheets explaining which organs are needed the most and the critical short supply. Results were published and shared.

Enseignement, teaching :

Technique :

A Laser Disk Player and CD Rom is used to access information and encyclopedia; an integrated software package to record and write results; Video Equipment & tape recorder to record interviews of medical personnel and for project demonstrations.

Société, society :

Students developed their abilities to think and solve problems within a cooperative group. They cultivated their abilities to become responsible members of the community as they developed communication skills with the medical community.

Culture :

Because Louisville, Kentucky , U.S.A. is a national Medical Center and is one of the foremost in donor organ programs, this unit allows the children to explore the medical world in their home town.

Institution :

Students worked on this project for 4 weeks in their classroom and at the local hospitals.

Logistique :

Students need to have access to medical personnel (preferably at a teaching hospital) and to go on field trips to these medical centers. The teacher needs to make contacts with local physician groups in order for a successful implementation of this project.