Human digestive system
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Threads
Why this why now
This unit builds on pupils’ prior learning from Diffusion, where they explored how substances move in and out of cells. It deepens their understanding by examining the human digestive system, focusing on how nutrients are broken down and absorbed through diffusion into the bloodstream. This prepares pupils for the next unit, Breathing and respiration, where they will apply their understanding of diffusion to explore gas exchange in the lungs, further connecting the role of diffusion in vital body processes.
Prior knowledge requirements
- [Y2] Animals, including humans, need water and food for survival.
- [Y4, Y6] Humans are made up of different parts with different functions, including organ systems such as the digestive system and circulatory system.
- [Y4] Basic parts of the human digestive system and their simple functions.
- [Y6] The main parts of the human circulatory system, including the blood vessels and blood.
- Specialised cells in animals and plants have shapes, sizes and structures that are adapted for the jobs the cells do.
- Muscles have important roles in organ systems.
Threads
Why this why now
This unit builds on pupils’ prior learning from Diffusion, where they explored how substances move in and out of cells. It deepens their understanding by examining the human digestive system, focusing on how nutrients are broken down and absorbed through diffusion into the bloodstream. This prepares pupils for the next unit, Breathing and respiration, where they will apply their understanding of diffusion to explore gas exchange in the lungs, further connecting the role of diffusion in vital body processes.
Prior knowledge requirements
- [Y2] Animals, including humans, need water and food for survival.
- [Y4, Y6] Humans are made up of different parts with different functions, including organ systems such as the digestive system and circulatory system.
- [Y4] Basic parts of the human digestive system and their simple functions.
- [Y6] The main parts of the human circulatory system, including the blood vessels and blood.
- Specialised cells in animals and plants have shapes, sizes and structures that are adapted for the jobs the cells do.
- Muscles have important roles in organ systems.
Biology
Human digestive system
This unit examines the human digestive system, including the roles of tissues, organs, enzymes, and beneficial bacteria. It also focuses on evaluating risks, interpreting data, identifying patterns, and suggesting improvements to enhance the reliability of investigations.
5 lessons in unit
slide decks, worksheet PDFs, quizzes and lesson overviews. You can select individual lessons from the Human digestive system unit and download the resources you need, or download the entire unit now. See every unit listed in our secondary science curriculum and discover more of our teaching resources for secondary science programmes.