Seventh Graders Explore Digestive System of Organisms by Analyzing Skulls

The seventh graders are currently exploring the way the human body is a system made up of multiple components that help humans stay alive. “To begin this unit, students are studying the digestive system to think about how structure relates to function,” explains teacher Sarah Freilich. Students had the opportunity to observe an assortment of animal skulls and jaws—on loan from the UCSF Science and Education Partnership Resource Center—in order to find similarities and differences in teeth between the different organisms. Students looked at the skulls and jaws of a hyacinth macaw, a rabbit, a gila monster, and a black bear, among other animals. “Students then analyzed their findings to understand how the organisms’ diets relate to their tooth structure,” says Ms. Freilich. This analysis led students to draw conclusions about the similarities and differences between the diets of different organisms.

 

Adds Ms. Freilich, “It was great to see students engage with the skulls and ask questions about their observations. Throughout the year students will continue to practice supplying evidence in order to make claims about their observations. This information is also helpful in our next science unit, where students will study energy cycling to understand how sugar provides our bodies with the energy to survive.” MORE PHOTOS