The Digestive System A “Poop” Lab

materials 6 funnels/cardboard tubes 6 droppers Cups Food Food coloring Bags Panty hose Paper towels

Let’s make poop! In your group, mash the food in your cup with your utensil Add couple of drops of water What do you think this represents?

Step 1: The Mouth Digestion begins in the mouth Saliva (spit) contains an enzyme called amylase which starts breaking down the food.

Making poop continued Funnel the food in your cup into your cardboard tube One person needs to push the food down the cardboard into the baggy Knead your baggy What does the cardboard represent? The bag?

Step 2: The Stomach Pushing food down the esophagus is called peristalsis Your stomach breaks down food by churning and using enzymes, stomach acid, and mucus. The new mixture is called chyme. The gall bladder creates bile which breaks down fat Add food coloring to the mixture to represent these 3 things!

Making poop… Push the mixture in the baggy to the corner Add green food coloring (Bile) Your mixture is now called chyme Cut a hole in the corner and pour into the hose (over the paper towels!)

Step 3: The Small Intestine Your food has now entered the small intestine! Nutrients are now taken through the villi Blood vessels send it to the body

Making poop… Set the small intestine on a paper towel What does the paper towel do? What does this represent?

Step 4: The Large Intestine Here, water is drained from the excess waste If there is not enough time for water to be absorbed-diarrhea Too much water absorbed-constipation

Step 5: Cut a hole in the panty hose. Squeeze the remaining contents out on your paper towel. And we have…..