Samantha McStraw

DIFF 590
180 Hours Observation 2
November 12, 2015

Unit Topic: Digestive System

Lesson: Mechanical and Chemical Digestion of Food
Common Core or other appropriate Standards:

CCSS. R.I.6.7: Integrate information presented in different media or

formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively) as well as in words to develop a
coherent understanding of a topic or issue.
NYS Science Learning Standards and Core Curriculum:
o Intermediate Grades 5-8 Performance Indicator 1.2: Explain the
functioning of major human organ systems and their interactions.
1.2c: The digestive system consists of organs that are
responsible for the mechanical and chemical breakdown of
food. The breakdown process results in molecules that can
be absorbed and transported to cells.

Lesson objective:

Assessment:

Students will compare and contrast the

similarities and differences between the
mechanical and chemical digestion of food
in the digestive system.

Students will participate in the digestion

lab. Students will record their observations
of the mechanical and chemical digestion of
food in the digestive system. Students will
also answer questions about the digestion
of food. Students will answer 5 out of 5
questions correctly to gain mastery of the
topic.

IEP goals addressed:

M.B: will display school appropriate behaviors, encompassing the entire

school day, in a variety of settings in 3 out of 5 days for four consecutive
weeks. Behaviors include, though are not limited to, remaining focused/on
task, using school appropriate language, following instructions, and engaging
in appropriate interactions with peers.
E.M will learn and practice coping skills to help him more appropriately
handle frustrating situations, in 3 out of 4 trials.
o Miss Tina will be using the behavior chart to record success of M.B. and
E.M. IEP goals for this lesson. She will be using the attached chart.

Scaffolds/Supports/Accommodations Provided:

A modification in the Science class is based on the pace at which material is

covered. This Science class has been modified to meet the needs of students
who are unable to keep up with the pace of a General Education Science

Class. The material in this class is the same material covered is the same as
it would be in the General Education class, just at a slower pace to ensure all
students are understanding the topics.

Procedures:
-

Finish up Digestive System Scavenger Hunt from Tuesday.

o Students will be working in partners on their laptops to finish
Scavenger hunt.
After scavenger hunt, have students label the digestive system using
the iPad and SMARTboard Notebook page 1.
Introduce todays lesson by asking students to tell you what the first
part of the digestive system is.
o The mouth.
Explain to students what we will be doing today.
o Today we will be exploring the difference between the
mechanical and chemical digestion of food in our mouths.
o Lets define the terms mechanical digestion and chemical
digestion
Students will define these terms after watching the video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiXW8jn71gE
Students will record these definitions on their sheet.
o Once students have an understanding of mechanical and
chemical digestion, the lab can start.

Lab Experiment: (Follow along with students using SMARTboard Notebook)

Step 1: Students will be given three crackers.
Step 2: Students will eat one cracker. As they are eating the cracker they will
record their observations of the mechanical and chemical digestion of food
on their observations sheet.
Step 3: Students will use the last two crackers. Students will put two crackers
in their bag.
Step 4: Students will use their hands to crush up the cracker, simulating the
muscles in their stomach. (Model for students)
Step 5: Students will write down observations they have about the cracker
and the mechanical digestion of food in the stomach.
Step 6: Students will pour the Lemon Lime Soda (acid) into the stomach.
Then use their hands to digestion the food. (Model this for students)
Step 7: Students will record their observations.
Step 8: Students will use the Venn Diagram to record the similarities and
differences between the mechanical and chemical digestion of food.
Step 9: Students will use Venn Diagram and observations to answer
questions about the mechanical and chemical digestion of food.

Closure:
- After students have finished answering questions, review the terms
mechanical and chemical digestion.
o What is different about the chemical digestion of food?
o What is similar between them both?
o What is different about the mechanical digestion of food?

Materials:
Lemon Lime Soda
Saltine Crackers
Zip-Lock Bags
Lab Recording Sheet
Questions and Answers Page

IEP Goal Progress Monitoring

NAME:

___E.M____________

CONTENT AREA: Science (Period 2)

OBJECTIVE

TRIAL 1

TRIAL 2

TRIAL 3

TRIAL 4

E.M will learn and

practice coping
skills to help him
more
appropriately
handle frustrating
situations, in 3
out of 4 trials.

NAME:

____M.B._____________

CONTENT AREA: Science (Period 2)

OBJECTIVE

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

M.B: will display school

appropriate behaviors,
encompassing the
entire school day, in a
variety of settings in 3
out of 5 days for four
consecutive weeks.
Behaviors include,
though are not limited
to, remaining
focused/on task, using
school appropriate
language, following
instructions, and
engaging in appropriate
interactions with peers.

Digestion of Food Lab

Name:__________________________
Define:

Date:_________________

Mechanical Digestion:
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Chemical Digestion:
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Activity 1: Mechanical and Chemical Digestion in Mouth
Record your observations of the Mechanical Digestion:

Record your observations of the Chemical Digestion:

Activity 2: Mechanical and Chemical Digestion in the

Stomach
Record your observations of the Mechanical Digestion:

Record your observations of the Chemical digestion:

Activity 3:

Chemical Digestion

Mechanical Digestion

Activity 4: Follow-up Questions

1. What happens to your food when it is placed inside
your mouth?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

2. What is the purpose of saliva?

__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

3. How is the food in your stomach chemically

digested?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
4. How do your stomach muscles help digestion?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

5. In your own words, describe the difference between

the mechanical and chemical digestion of food. Use
your observations and Venn Diagram to answer.
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

Lab Procedures:
Step 1: You will get three crackers and one zip-lock bag.
Place two crackers inside the zip-lock bag. Keep one
cracker out.
Step 2: Place one cracker inside your mouth. Start to
chew the cracker. Record your observations in Activity 1.
Jot down a few observations about the mechanical and
chemical digestion of food in your mouth using bullets.

Step 3: Pick up the bag with two crackers inside.

Step 4: Use your hands to mechanically digestion the
food in your stomach (crush up the crackers inside the
bag).
Record your observations in Activity 2.
Step 5: Pour the stomach acid (Lemon Lime Soda) into
the stomach (bag). Observe what happens as you do this.
Use your muscles to digestion the food with the stomach
acid. Record your observations in Activity 2.
Step 6: Record your observations in the Venn Diagram to
compare and contrast between the chemical digestion
and mechanical digestion of food.
Step 7: Answer questions 1-5 using your observations
and the Venn Diagram.