The Monsters Inside Me
Click on a parasite below to find out more about each!
Subjects: Math/Science
Project Overview:
You will learn about the human body through exploration and hands-on activities, starting at the cellular level and moving on to systems. Once you have a deep understanding of the systems that make up your body, you will demonstrate your knowledge of one of the body systems through a 3-5 minute video. The project does not end there! You will also research parasites and their unique characteristics and adaptations. Your final project is to make a reference book of parasites to be distributed and used by doctors.
Essential Questions:
Body Systems:
What are some of the problems/hazards encountered by this body system?
· Nervous System: Why don’t haircuts hurt?
· Digestive System: Why does my stomach growl?
· Circulatory System: What is a brain freeze?
· Skeletal System: What are bones made of?
· Respiratory System: When I inhale helium, why does the pitch of my voice go up?
· Excretory System: If I drink red kool aid, why is my urine yellow?
· Muscular System: What keeps my eyes in my head?
Parasites:
· What makes the human body a preferred host for parasites?
· What are the benefits of parasites?
Products: Main Dish (Must Do):
Body Systems: Video
In small groups, you will choose a body system and produce a 3-5 minute video demonstrating your knowledge of one system. This video will be shown to fifth grade students, inspiring them to learn more about the body systems. Your video will also be uploaded on to You Tube, as a resource for teachers all over the country to use in their classrooms.
Para-site: Website Reference for Doctors
You and you group members will choose a parasite to research and become experts on. Once you have discovered all that there is to know, your team will assemble your knowledge in to a website, which will be used by doctors to diagnose their patients.
Side Dish (May Do):
T-shirt with system
Create a new parasite
Monsters Inside Me video
Project Overview:
You will learn about the human body through exploration and hands-on activities, starting at the cellular level and moving on to systems. Once you have a deep understanding of the systems that make up your body, you will demonstrate your knowledge of one of the body systems through a 3-5 minute video. The project does not end there! You will also research parasites and their unique characteristics and adaptations. Your final project is to make a reference book of parasites to be distributed and used by doctors.
Essential Questions:
Body Systems:
What are some of the problems/hazards encountered by this body system?
· Nervous System: Why don’t haircuts hurt?
· Digestive System: Why does my stomach growl?
· Circulatory System: What is a brain freeze?
· Skeletal System: What are bones made of?
· Respiratory System: When I inhale helium, why does the pitch of my voice go up?
· Excretory System: If I drink red kool aid, why is my urine yellow?
· Muscular System: What keeps my eyes in my head?
Parasites:
· What makes the human body a preferred host for parasites?
· What are the benefits of parasites?
Products: Main Dish (Must Do):
Body Systems: Video
In small groups, you will choose a body system and produce a 3-5 minute video demonstrating your knowledge of one system. This video will be shown to fifth grade students, inspiring them to learn more about the body systems. Your video will also be uploaded on to You Tube, as a resource for teachers all over the country to use in their classrooms.
Para-site: Website Reference for Doctors
You and you group members will choose a parasite to research and become experts on. Once you have discovered all that there is to know, your team will assemble your knowledge in to a website, which will be used by doctors to diagnose their patients.
Side Dish (May Do):
T-shirt with system
Create a new parasite
Monsters Inside Me video
Below are three examples of body system videos. The first is a music video and next two were created by kids. All three are packed with knowledge and information. In class, we will critique all three videos and decide what should be included in you video.
Timeline
Week Plan
1 Cells, tissues, organs, systems
2-4 Body systems
· Mini experiments
· Research system
· Make Video
· Visit fifth grade classrooms
5-7 Parasites
· Guest speakers
· Research parasite
· Assemble Para-site (website)
8 Exhibition!
Exhibition
On exhibition night, you will be a parasitologist, education others about your parasite, including how to avoid becoming a victim of one. You will show your video and Para-site (website), as well as any other product completed from the “May Do” list.
Grading
In class, we will work together to come up with rubrics. These rubrics will be agreed upon before the projects begin, to ensure that you and your partners clearly know what is expected.
Week Plan
1 Cells, tissues, organs, systems
2-4 Body systems
· Mini experiments
· Research system
· Make Video
· Visit fifth grade classrooms
5-7 Parasites
· Guest speakers
· Research parasite
· Assemble Para-site (website)
8 Exhibition!
Exhibition
On exhibition night, you will be a parasitologist, education others about your parasite, including how to avoid becoming a victim of one. You will show your video and Para-site (website), as well as any other product completed from the “May Do” list.
Grading
In class, we will work together to come up with rubrics. These rubrics will be agreed upon before the projects begin, to ensure that you and your partners clearly know what is expected.