The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Human Body Systems

by Justin Ceniceros, Alpine Middle School

Students design a newsletter to the human body systems.

Teacher Introduction

I wanted to help my students become better informed about the human body systems through an interactive lesson. This is based upon a WebQuest (although I didn't know these processes had a name back then, I just thought it was online research) I sent my environmental science students through a few years back. Only they were looking at putting together a newsletter based on recycling.

Learners

This WebQuest is intended for 7th grade science students learning about the interactions, physiology, and complexity of the human body systems.  

Standards

7.12 Organisms and environments. The student knows that living systems at all levels of organization demonstrate the complementary nature of structure and function. The student is expected to:

(B)  identify the main functions of the systems of the human organism, including the circulatory, respiratory, skeletal, muscular, digestive, excretory, integumentary, and nervous systems

(C)  recognize levels of organization in plants and animals, including cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, and organisms

Teacher Process

Introduce the project to your class. It helps to have your computer projecting the WebQuest for them to see.

I also find that it helps to have a handout of the WebQuest expectations, project information, and rubric to hand to each student. You may also want to have the url address on that handout as well.

When in the computer lab, expect around 3 days for research. encourage the students to play the games associated with the web sites only after they have gathered the information requested for the newsletter they will be creating. 

It will take around 2 days for them to compile their information into a newsletter. If they are not familiar with the Microsoft Publisher and Word programs I would advise to add on an additional 2 days and slowly, step by step take them through the basic Publisher and Word software.

Resources

What you'll need for this WebQuest:

Computers with internet access for each student

Microsoft Publisher and Word

Library Access

Patience 

Credits

Justin Ceniceros
Hello! My name is Mr. C. I am an 8th grade science teacher if far west Texas. I love moonlit walks on the beach, serenades by guitar, and the letter "M".

Permissions
We all benefit by being generous with our work. Permission is granted for others to use and modify this WebQuest for educational, non-commercial purposes as long as the original authorship is credited. The modified WebQuest may be shared only under the same conditions.