The Digestive System
Statement Notation
MS-LS1-3
Description
From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes
Students who demonstrate understanding can:
Use argument supported by evidence for how the body is a system of interacting subsystems composed of groups of cells.
Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on the conceptual understanding that cells form tissues and tissues form organs specialized for particular body functions. Examples could include the interaction of subsystems within a system and the normal functioning of those systems.
MS-LS1-3
Description
From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes
Students who demonstrate understanding can:
Use argument supported by evidence for how the body is a system of interacting subsystems composed of groups of cells.
Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on the conceptual understanding that cells form tissues and tissues form organs specialized for particular body functions. Examples could include the interaction of subsystems within a system and the normal functioning of those systems.
KNOWLEDGE: Functions of the digestive system
Activity: Label and write the functions of our digestive system.
Digestive System PPT
Digestive System PPT Worksheet
How do Astronauts Eat in Space?
Have you ever wondered how astronauts manage to eat in outer space? Can you imagine trying to eat your breakfast while it is floating away from you? Today we are going to talk about the difference between eating on Earth and eating in outer space. The bodily system that enables us to eat and digest our food is called the digestive system, and today we are going to learn how it works. We are also going to learn how astronauts are able to eat in outer space.
Many things are different when you travel into outer space, and eating is one of them. Since there are special challenges associated with eating in microgravity (meaning, there is almost no gravity in space), engineers and scientists working for NASA must solve this problem by figuring out what the astronauts can eat while in space. They design special devices to help them eat during their space travel, making their lives a little easier.
When astronauts first began traveling in space, the food they ate did not taste very good. Many of their meals were packed in aluminum tubes, which they squeezed to get the food out, similar to a toothpaste tube. Over time, scientists and engineers have developed tastier and healthier foods for the astronauts to eat, and they now have more variety for their meals.
Before they go up in outer space, the astronauts meet with nutritionists to sample different kinds of foods to see which ones they like best. Then, the astronauts put together their own menus, which are then checked by the nutritionists to make sure their selections are healthy and that the astronauts get enough vitamins while in outer space. Obviously, neither the NASA engineers nor the nutritionists want the astronauts to get sick while in space.
Once the nutritionists confirm that the menus are acceptable, the food is packaged and stowed in special refrigerated food lockers, designed by engineering, to keep it fresh until launch. The food does not actually get loaded onto the space shuttle until two to three days before launch. Since each astronaut has her/his own set of meals, each food package is marked with a colored dot indicating its owner (consumer). (Note: A bit of interesting trivia: the commander of the space vessel always is issued the red dot.) On the space shuttle, the food stays in special locker trays, with a net restraint to keep it from floating away.
Did you know that engineers help design the packages of food that astronauts eat while traveling in space? There are several types of food that the astronauts can choose from, such as rehydratable, thermostabilized, irradiated, and natural form foods. Rehydratable foods have had the water taken out of them. To eat this type of food, astronauts just add water.Thermostabilized foods have been heat processed to destroy microorganisms. They are ready to go; they just need to be warmed up before eating. Irradiated meat items are also ready to go and just need to be warmed up. Natural form foodsare foods that can be eaten the same way we eat them on Earth, without any special processing. Natural form foods include nuts, cookies and granola bars. Since the astronauts' food does not need to be refrigerated, there is not a refrigerator on the space shuttle, but there is a special oven that engineers have added. One food you probably will not find on the space shuttles is bread. Can you guess why this is? Bread is crumbly, and the crumbs can float away and get stuck in equipment. So, instead of eating bread, astronauts eat flour tortillas, which are less likely to crumble.
Engineers are also responsible for designing the way astronauts eat their meals in space. When the astronauts want to eat a meal, they select their food package combination and then prepare it. Some food needs to be heated, and other food needs to have water added. The food packages are tightly sealed, so they have to be opened with scissors. A meal tray holds the food containers (see Figure 3), and the tray is then attached to the wall or the astronaut's lap with Velcro® strips. Once the meal is over, the astronauts put the food packaging in the trash and clean their silverware and meal trays with sanitizing towelettes. And that is how engineers have created solutions to eat in outer space!
Have you ever wondered how astronauts manage to eat in outer space? Can you imagine trying to eat your breakfast while it is floating away from you? Today we are going to talk about the difference between eating on Earth and eating in outer space. The bodily system that enables us to eat and digest our food is called the digestive system, and today we are going to learn how it works. We are also going to learn how astronauts are able to eat in outer space.
Many things are different when you travel into outer space, and eating is one of them. Since there are special challenges associated with eating in microgravity (meaning, there is almost no gravity in space), engineers and scientists working for NASA must solve this problem by figuring out what the astronauts can eat while in space. They design special devices to help them eat during their space travel, making their lives a little easier.
When astronauts first began traveling in space, the food they ate did not taste very good. Many of their meals were packed in aluminum tubes, which they squeezed to get the food out, similar to a toothpaste tube. Over time, scientists and engineers have developed tastier and healthier foods for the astronauts to eat, and they now have more variety for their meals.
Before they go up in outer space, the astronauts meet with nutritionists to sample different kinds of foods to see which ones they like best. Then, the astronauts put together their own menus, which are then checked by the nutritionists to make sure their selections are healthy and that the astronauts get enough vitamins while in outer space. Obviously, neither the NASA engineers nor the nutritionists want the astronauts to get sick while in space.
Once the nutritionists confirm that the menus are acceptable, the food is packaged and stowed in special refrigerated food lockers, designed by engineering, to keep it fresh until launch. The food does not actually get loaded onto the space shuttle until two to three days before launch. Since each astronaut has her/his own set of meals, each food package is marked with a colored dot indicating its owner (consumer). (Note: A bit of interesting trivia: the commander of the space vessel always is issued the red dot.) On the space shuttle, the food stays in special locker trays, with a net restraint to keep it from floating away.
Did you know that engineers help design the packages of food that astronauts eat while traveling in space? There are several types of food that the astronauts can choose from, such as rehydratable, thermostabilized, irradiated, and natural form foods. Rehydratable foods have had the water taken out of them. To eat this type of food, astronauts just add water.Thermostabilized foods have been heat processed to destroy microorganisms. They are ready to go; they just need to be warmed up before eating. Irradiated meat items are also ready to go and just need to be warmed up. Natural form foodsare foods that can be eaten the same way we eat them on Earth, without any special processing. Natural form foods include nuts, cookies and granola bars. Since the astronauts' food does not need to be refrigerated, there is not a refrigerator on the space shuttle, but there is a special oven that engineers have added. One food you probably will not find on the space shuttles is bread. Can you guess why this is? Bread is crumbly, and the crumbs can float away and get stuck in equipment. So, instead of eating bread, astronauts eat flour tortillas, which are less likely to crumble.
Engineers are also responsible for designing the way astronauts eat their meals in space. When the astronauts want to eat a meal, they select their food package combination and then prepare it. Some food needs to be heated, and other food needs to have water added. The food packages are tightly sealed, so they have to be opened with scissors. A meal tray holds the food containers (see Figure 3), and the tray is then attached to the wall or the astronaut's lap with Velcro® strips. Once the meal is over, the astronauts put the food packaging in the trash and clean their silverware and meal trays with sanitizing towelettes. And that is how engineers have created solutions to eat in outer space!
Activity: Let's eat some food!
Today we are going to sample a variety of freeze dried food to see how our pallets enjoy the type of food an astronaut may eat!
We are going to write a food review based on a sample of scores.
Today we are going to sample a variety of freeze dried food to see how our pallets enjoy the type of food an astronaut may eat!
We are going to write a food review based on a sample of scores.