Grade 4 Science

Optional Unit: Nutrition and Digestion

Unit overview:

The unit presents basic information about digestion. That information is extended to cover important ideas related to human nutrition. Students should begin to value the importance of good nutrition, developing healthy, life-long habits, and making decisions about the foods they eat.

Related units:

The Core Unit on Cells and Systems can be integrated, to explain how nutrients travel through the body and are used by the cells. The digestive system is one human body system that can be used to illustrate ideas developed in the Core Unit.

The Core Unit on Forms of Energy can be made more relevant as well, by using it to explain that food is the source for the energy which the human body needs. The digestive system enables food to be converted so that it can be used by the body to provide energy and essential nutrients.

The Optional Unit on Senses is related. The sense of taste can be explained as being related to the human digestive system. Parts of the tongue that respond to different taste sensations can be mapped. Acquired taste preference for certain foods, the use of the sense of taste to assist in detecting things that might not be safe to eat, and the psychological effect of taste preferences on eating habits are among some of the ideas that can be developed to tie these two units together.

The Optional Unit Plant Diversity can be related by examining various different edible plants. The role of agriculture in the production of cereal crops, pulse seeds, oil seeds and forage crops could be made more relevant by explaining how these crops are related to human nutrition.

This Optional Unit also has some strong connections to material that might be covered in Health.

Suggested themes:

agriculture, choices, digestive system, deciding, diet, energy, food, gardening, hunger and starvation, living things, malnutrition, nutrition, senses

Factors of scientific literacy which should be emphasized:

• A1 public/private
• A3 holistic
• B2 interaction
• B4 organism
• B16 system
• C2 communicating
• C4 working cooperatively
• C9 inferring
• E3 using equipment safely
• F1 longing to know and understand
• G1 interest
• G3 continuous learner

Common Essential Learnings foundational objectives which should be emphasized:

• To enable students to understand and use the vocabulary, structures and forms of expression which characterize science. (COM)
• To develop an understanding of how knowledge is created, evaluated, refined and changed within science. (CCT)
• To develop students' abilities to meet their own learning needs. (IL)
• To develop compassionate, empathetic and fair-minded students who can make positive contributions to society, as individuals and as members of groups. (PSVS)

Science foundational and learning objectives:

1. Explain the function of the components of the digestive system.
   1. Identify the main function of the following parts of the digestive system: teeth, saliva, tongue, esophagus, stomach, intestines.
   2. Explain how nutrients in food are transported throughout the body.
   3. Explain the different ways in which the body uses nutrients.
2. Recognize the importance of nutrition to good health.
   1. Identify some sources of food.
   2. Describe the four major food groups.
   3. Recognize the importance of a properly balanced diet.
   4. Identify the nutritive value of different foods.
   5. Identify the additives used in processed foods.
   6. Evaluate different foods based on their nutritional qualities.
   7. Value the importance of foods.
   8. Empathize with people throughout the world who suffer from hunger and malnutrition.
   9. Appreciate the importance of agriculture in food production.