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STEAM Unit: Digestion Detectives
3 4 5 6 Primary + Unit Plans STEAM Unit Plans The Arts Science Location & Transformation Biological Sciences Technologies STEAM 10 Pages

STEAM Unit: Digestion Detectives

This activity has all the learning of a dissection without any of the mess, smells or gross-out, and is designed to be complete in a single 90-minute block or split into two smaller sessions.
Students learn about how their digestive system works by learning, drawing, and assembling the parts of the body involved in digestion. 
This activity should be accessible for most students from Year 3 on and is made slightly more difficult for older students. By incorporating a textile element, you can also assess several ACARA codes, but you can also simplify the lesson to make it easier to pull together.
 

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Learning goals

  • We are learning to create symmetrical patterns, pictures and shapes and recognise line and rotational symmetry of shapes.
  • We are learning to create symmetrical patterns, pictures and shapes.
  • We are learning about life cycles and to sort living, non-living and once-living things based on observable features.
  • We are learning to sort living, non-living things and once-living things based on observable features.
  • We are learning to explore needs or opportunities for designing and test materials, components, tools, equipment and processes needed to create designed solutions.
  • We are learning to critique needs or opportunities for designing and explore and test a variety of materials, components, tools and equipment needed to produce designed solutions.
  • We are learning to generate and communicate design ideas and decisions using appropriate attributions, technical terms and graphical representation techniques.
  • We are learning to generate, develop and communicate design ideas and decisions using appropriate technical terms and graphical representations.
  • We are learning to select and use materials, components, tools, equipment and techniques to safely make designed solutions.
  • We are learning to select and use materials, components, tools, equipment and techniques and use safe work practices to make designed solutions.
  • We are learning to sequence steps to individually and collaboratively make designed solutions.
  • We are learning to plan a sequence of production steps when making designed solutions, both individually and collaboratively.
  • We are learning to investigate needs or opportunities for designing and the materials, components, tools, equipment and processes needed to create designed solutions.
  • We are learning to critique needs or opportunities for designing and investigate materials, components, tools, equipment and processes to achieve intended designed solutions.
  • We are learning to generate, iterate and communicate design ideas, decisions and processes using technical terms and graphical representation techniques.
  • We are learning to generate, develop and communicate design ideas and processes for audiences using appropriate technical terms and graphical representations.
  • We are learning to select and use suitable materials, components, tools, equipment and techniques to safely make designed solutions.
  • We are learning to select appropriate materials, components, tools, equipment and techniques and apply safe procedures to make designed solutions.
  • We are learning to negotiate design criteria to evaluate design ideas, processes and solutions.
  • We are learning to negotiate success criteria to evaluate design ideas, processes and solutions.
  • We are learning to develop project plans that include consideration of resources to individually and collaboratively make designed solutions.
  • We are learning to develop project plans that include consideration of resources when making designed solutions, both individually and collaboratively.
  • Experiment with visual conventions and techniques to create artworks.

Curriculum alignment

AC9M4SP03 9 Recognise line and rotational symmetry of shapes and create symmetrical patterns and pictures, using dynamic geometric software where appropriate AC9S5I02 9 Plan and conduct repeatable investigations to answer questions, including, as appropriate, deciding the variables to be changed, measured and controlled in fair tests; describing potential risks; planning for the safe use of equipment and materials; and identifying required permissions to conduct investigations on Country/Place AC9TDE6P01 9

Investigate needs or opportunities for designing, and the materials, components, tools, equipment and processes needed to create designed solutions

 AC9TDE4P05 9

Sequence steps to individually and collaboratively make designed solutions

 AC9TDE6P02 9

Generate, iterate and communicate design ideas, decisions and processes using technical terms and graphical representation techniques, including using digital tools

 AC9TDE4P03 9

Select and use materials, components, tools, equipment and techniques to safely make designed solutions

 AC9S5I06 9 Write and create texts to communicate ideas and findings for specific purposes and audiences, including selection of language features, using digital tools as appropriate AC9TDE6P03 9

Select and use suitable materials, components, tools, equipment and techniques to safely make designed solutions

 AC9TDE6P04 9

Negotiate design criteria including sustainability to evaluate design ideas, processes and solutions

 AC9S3U01 9 Compare characteristics of living and non-living things and examine the differences between the life cycles of plants and animals AC9TDE4P01 9

Explore needs or opportunities for designing, and test materials, components, tools, equipment and processes needed to create designed solutions

 AC9AVA6E01 9 Investigate and explain the ways that visual artists represent views, beliefs and opinions for different purposes and in different contexts AC9S3I06 9 Write and create texts to communicate findings and ideas for identified purposes and audiences, using scientific vocabulary and digital tools as appropriate AC9TDE6P05 9

Develop project plans that include consideration of resources to individually and collaboratively make designed solutions

 AC9S3I04 9 Construct and use representations, including tables, simple column graphs and visual or physical models, to organise data and information, show simple relationships and identify patterns AC9S3H02 9 Consider how people use scientific explanations to meet a need or solve a problem AC9TDE4P02 9

Generate and communicate design ideas and decisions using appropriate attributions, technical terms and graphical representation techniques, including using digital tools

 AC9AVA4C01 9

Use visual conventions, visual arts processes and materials to create artworks that communicate ideas, perspectives and/or meaning

 AC9S3I03 9 Follow procedures to make and record observations, including making formal measurements using familiar scaled instruments and using digital tools as appropriate AC9AVA4D01 9 Experiment with a range of ways to use visual conventions, visual arts processes and materials ACSIS093 8.4 Communicate ideas, explanations and processes using scientific representations in a variety of ways, including multi-modal texts ACTDEP018 8.4

Plan a sequence of production steps when making designed solutions individually and collaboratively

 ACAVAR117 8.4 Explain how visual arts conventions communicate meaning by comparing artworks from different social, cultural and historical contexts, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artworks ACAVAM115 8.4 Develop and apply techniques and processes when making their artworks ACAVAM111 8.4 Use materials, techniques and processes to explore visual conventions when making artworks ACTDEP028 8.4

Develop project plans that include consideration of resources when making designed solutions individually and collaboratively

 ACTDEP024 8.4

Critique needs or opportunities for designing, and investigate materials, components, tools, equipment and processes to achieve intended designed solutions

 ACTDEP027 8.4

Negotiate criteria for success that include sustainability to evaluate design ideas, processes and solutions

 ACTDEP025 8.4

Generate, develop and communicate design ideas and processes for audiences using appropriate technical terms and graphical representation techniques

 ACTDEP026 8.4

Select appropriate materials, components, tools, equipment and techniques and apply safe procedures to make designed solutions

 ACSIS086 8.4 Identify, plan and apply the elements of scientific investigations to answer questions and solve problems using equipment and materials safely and identifying potential risks ACMMG091 8.4 Create symmetrical patterns, pictures and shapes with and without digital technologies ACSSU044 8.4 Living things can be grouped on the basis of observable features and can be distinguished from non-living things ACSHE051 8.4 Science knowledge helps people to understand the effect of their actions ACSIS054 8.4 With guidance, plan and conduct scientific investigations to find answers to questions, considering the safe use of appropriate materials and equipment ACSIS215 8.4 Compare results with predictions, suggesting possible reasons for findings ACSIS060 8.4 Represent and communicate observations, ideas and findings using formal and informal representations ACTDEP014 8.4

Critique needs or opportunities for designing and explore and test a variety of materials, components, tools and equipment and the techniques needed to produce designed solutions

 ACTDEP016 8.4

Select and use materials, components, tools, equipment and techniques and use safe work practices to make designed solutions

 ACTDEP015 8.4

Generate, develop, and communicate design ideas and decisions using appropriate technical terms and graphical representation techniques
ST2-5LW-T old Describes how agricultural processes are used to grow plants and raise animals for food, clothing and shelter ST3-3DP-T old Defines problems, and designs, modifies and follows algorithms to develop solutions ST2-3DP-T old Defines problems, describes and follows algorithms to develop solutions ST3-1WS-S old Plans and conducts scientific investigations to answer testable questions, and collects and summarises data to communicate conclusions ST2-9PW-ST old Describes how contact and non-contact forces affect an object’s motion ST2-8PW-ST old Describes the characteristics and effects of common forms of energy, such as light and heat ST3-2DP-T old Plans and uses materials, tools and equipment to develop solutions for a need or opportunity ST3-4LW-S old Examines how the environment affects the growth, survival and adaptation of living things ST3-5LW-T old Explains how food and fibre are produced sustainably in managed environments for health and nutrition ST2-10ES-S old Investigates regular changes caused by interactions between the Earth and the Sun, and changes to the Earth’s surface ST3-6MW-S old Explains the effect of heat on the properties and behaviour of materials ST3-7MW-T old Explains how the properties of materials determines their use for a range of purposes ST3-8PW-ST old Explains how energy is transformed from one form to another ST2-4LW-S old Compares features and characteristics of living and non-living things ST2-2DP-T old Selects and uses materials, tools and equipment to develop solutions for a need or opportunity ST2-1WS-S old Questions, plans and conducts scientific investigations, collects and summarises data and communicates using scientific representations ST3-9PW-ST old Investigates the effects of increasing or decreasing the strength of a specific contact or non-contact force ST3-10ES-S old Explains regular events in the solar system and geological events on the Earth’s surface ST2-11DI-T old Describes how digital systems represent and transmit data MA2-2WM old Selects and uses appropriate mental or written strategies, or technology, to solve problems MA2-15MG old Manipulates, identifies and sketches two- dimensional shapes, including special quadrilaterals, and describes their features MA2-3WM old Checks the accuracy of a statement and explains the reasoning used MA2-1WM old Uses appropriate terminology to describe, and symbols to represent, mathematical ideas ST3-11DI-T old Explains how digital systems represent data, connect together to form networks and transmit data ST2-7MW-T old Investigates the suitability of natural and processed materials for a range of purposes MA2-GM-03 new Identifies angles and classifies them by comparing to a right angle MA2-GM-01 new Uses grid maps and directional language to locate positions and follow routes MA2-GM-02 new Measures and estimates lengths in metres, centimetres and millimetres
VCSIS068 Use formal measurements in the collection and recording of observations VCMMG144 Identify symmetry in the environment VCMMG173 Create symmetrical patterns, pictures and shapes with and without digital technologies VCSIS088 Communicate ideas and processes using evidence to develop explanations of events and phenomena and to identify simple cause-and-effect relationships VCSSU057 Living things can be grouped on the basis of observable features and can be distinguished from non-living things VCAVAR032 Identify and describe how ideas are expressed in artworks by comparing artworks from different contemporary, historical and cultural contexts, including artworks by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples VCSIS083 With guidance, plan appropriate investigation types to answer questions or solve problems and use equipment, technologies and materials safely, identifying potential risks VCSSU056 Science knowledge helps people to understand the effects of their actions VCAVAV030 Select and apply visual conventions, materials, techniques, technologies and processes specific to different art forms when making artworks VCDSCD032 Plan a sequence of production steps when making designed solutions VCSIS067 Safely use appropriate materials, tools, equipment and technologies VCAVAV026 Explore visual conventions and use materials, techniques, technologies and processes specific to particular art forms, and to make artworks VCDSCD038 Critique needs or opportunities for designing, and investigate materials, components, tools, equipment and processes to achieve intended designed solutions VCSIS070 Compare results with predictions, suggesting possible reasons for findings VCDSCD042 Develop project plans that include consideration of resources when making designed solutions VCSIS072 Represent and communicate observations, ideas and findings to show patterns and relationships using formal and informal scientific language VCDSCD030 Select and use materials, components, tools and equipment using safe work practices to produce designed solutions VCDSCD041 Negotiate criteria for success that include consideration of environmental and social sustainability to evaluate design ideas, processes and solutions VCDSCD028 Critique needs or opportunities for designing and explore and test a variety of materials, components, tools and equipment and the techniques needed to create designed solutions VCDSCD039 Generate, develop, communicate and document design ideas and processes for audiences using appropriate technical terms and graphical representation techniques VCDSCD040 Apply safe procedures when using a variety of materials, components, tools, equipment and techniques to produce designed solutions VCDSCD029 Generate, develop, and communicate design ideas and decisions using appropriate technical terms and graphical representation techniques

Australian Curriculum covers QLD / SA / WA / NT / TAS / ACT.

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