Image Source – Attribution: By Leysi24 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0  via Wikimedia Commons

Firstly, dismantle the human torso model in the science laboratory and describe what you know about each part of the alimentary canal and associated glands and organs. Draw and label  a detailed diagram, showing each of the organs above. Then complete the “Cut-and-Paste your Guts” activity, identifying each organ from it’s description and pasting each description into your book, in the order that food would pass through, on it’s 12 hour journey through the 7 metres of the digestive system.

Next, match the skulls (noting the teeth structure and position of eye sockets) with the corresponding herbivore, omnivore and carnivore digestive systems. Describe the diet of each organism, explaining your reasoning in terms of teeth structure, size of stomach and length of intestines, any enlarged organs and corresponding diet.

• The Journey of the Digestive System from National Geographic (YouTube video)
• Interactive digestive system from InnerBody
• Not All Food is Treated Equally from National Geographic