The Digestive System Project
This project will require you to create a children’s book describing what happens when you eat. You will
identify the structures, discuss what happens to food at each structure (including enzymes that are
involved), and discuss the processes that occur at each structure as food enters the mouth, makes its way
through the digestive tract, and exits via the anus. Although the format of this assignment is a children’s
book, I am expecting you to use correct terminology.
You will create a character, use a picture from the internet or clip art as your main character. This
character can follow the food through, explaining what happens or, it can be the food itself, again
explaining as it moves through the digestive system. You will need to show the food in each structure along
the way, and have pictures of the structures that you talk about that aren’t part of the digestive tract, such as
the liver, gall bladder, etc.
Include the following structures:
-Anal sphincter
-Anus
-Cardiac sphincter
-Cecum
-Colon
-Duodenum
-Esophagus
-Gall bladder
-Ileocecal valve
-Ileum
-Jejunum
-Large intestine
-Liver
-Oral cavity
-Pancreas
-Pharynx
-Pyloric sphincter
-Rectum
-Salivary glands
-Small intestine
-Stomach
-Teeth
-Tongue
Include the following enzymes/hormones:
-Bile
-Brush border enzymes
-Gastric lipase
-Gastrin
-Lingual lipase
-Nucleases
-Pancreatic alpha-amylase
-Pancreatic lipase
-Pepsin
-Proteolytic enzymes
-Rennin
-Salivary amylase
-Secretin
Include the following processes:
-Defecation reflex
-Gastroenteric reflex
-Gastroileal reflex
-Peristalsis
-Phases of gastric secretion
Cephalic
Gastric
Intestinal
Include the following terms:
-Bolus
-Chyme
The grading rubric can be found on the back of this sheet.
Digestive System Project Rubric
Common Summative Grade
Topic
Format – fonts and page layout
(project), attractive, organized
and a logical order
Pictures – appealing,
appropriate, and informative.
Each structure is represented
Possible
Points
23
5
Structures of the digestive
system with their functions
23
Processes of the digestive system
(defecation reflex, gastroenteric
reflex, gastroileal reflex,
peristalsis, and the 3 phases of
gastric secretion)
Correct terminolology for
ingested material (bolus, chyme)
used throughout the book
Comments
3
Mechanics – grammar and
spelling
Enzymes of the digestive system
with their functions and with the
appropriate structure
Points
Earned
13
14
2
Picture sources in MLA format
5
Total
75
Grade in Skyward = ______% * 50 = _______
__________ %