An important aspect of science education is making a connection between science and the student. The connection is easily made when studying anatomy, as seen in this engaging science activity. By creating a tee shirt, students show the size, shape and placement of digestive system organs in relation to where each would be on their own body.
Science Tee Shirt Activity Materials
- white cotton tee shirt for each student
- pencil, fabric markers, or washable markers
- permanent markers or non-washable markers
- newspapers
- posters or diagrams of digestive system, both front and back views
Drawing the Digestive System
Prior to the activity students should receive instruction about the digestive system. This would include not only each organ's function but also it's relative size, shape and location in relation to other organs. Students also need an understanding as to where each organ would be located in their own body.
Once students have their tee shirts they should start by sketching organs with pencil or washable markers. Encourage them to keep in mind where the shirt would be when worn and draw the organs according to their own size. Mistakes can be drawn over or removed at this stage.
After sketching the organs on the front and back of the shirt students then draw and color each organ with a permanent or non-washable marker. First, place newspaper inside the shirt so the shirt lays flat but the markers will not bleed through to the other side. Next, students should carefully draw over their sketching and color in each organ. Students should also add a label to identify each organ. Remind students to be careful throughout this stage since the coloring cannot be removed.
Science Activity Assessment
Creating a digestive system tee shirt is an activity that can be assessed with a variety of methods. Self assessments and peer assessments allow students to examine how well they did both to their own standards and by evaluating each other's work. Analytical rubrics provide more detail than a grade alone and allow for assessment not only of their anatomy knowledge but also creativity, drawing skills, and attention to detail.
Another part to the assessment is a display, not on the bulletin board but with living models. Encourage students to all wear their digestive system tee shirt to school on the same day. This active modeling is a fun way to share their project with the school and demonstrate their understanding of the digestive system.
Creating a digestive system tee shirt is a creative and active way for students to demonstrate their understanding of the digestive system in relation to their own body. Drawing to-scale representations of each organ on the front and back of a tee shirt helps them to not only show what they know but also determine how it relates to themselves.
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