Life Cycle - Human Biology (6A)
Pre Lab 

   
OBJECTIVES:
  • Describing the human body.
  • Exploring the endocrine system.
VOCABULARY:
  • endocrine system
  • gland 
  • organ
  • pituitary gland
  • reproductive system
  • system
MATERIALS:

Students use a worksheet to learn about the endocrine system. 

BACKGROUND:

The next two weeks will concentrate on the human biology, which includes the different organs and  systems in humans.  Students should be familiar with the structure of the human body, as well as the different tissues that combine to make different organs such as the heart and lungs.  In addition, students should know the organs that combine into systems such as the skeletal system or digestive system.  Each student should be familiar with the interior of his or her own body.

Human bodies vary slightly from person to person, not only in the visible aspects of size and shape but also in the placement of internal organs.  Human bodies, however, follow a general pattern and no part of the human body works in isolation.  Each body part does its job, day and night, supported and aided by all the other organs.  It is important for students to understand their bodies in order to take care of them.  The sixth graders need to understand how their bodies grow.  Students are at an age when many changes will be taking place.  A factual presentation of their bodies' structure will help them not only understand but cope with the changes that they will experience.  

Endocrine glands control many of the body's functions through chemical substances called hormones.  Endocrine glands are ductless, pouring hormones directly into the bloodstream.  Some organs, such as the pancreas,  produce hormones.  The hormones produced by the glands of the endocrine system signal the body to grow, sleep, eat, and provide changes needed for reproduction.   

The glands of the endocrine system include the pituitary, thymus, thyroid, and adrenal.  On the worksheet the students can locate these glands.  The thymus gland controls activities of the spleen and the lymph glands which are important in the immune system.  The thyroid gland produces a hormone that regulates the metabolic rate.  Each of the adrenal glands provide hormones for emotions such as fright or anger.  This reaction is responsible for the extraordinary feats of strength that people sometimes perform in emergencies.  

The pituitary gland is important because it produces many growth hormones that are used throughout life.  The hormones in the pituitary signal to the male and female reproductive parts to start developing the adult male and female characteristics. The hypothalamus gland regulates the output of the pituitary gland.  It is the pituitary that signals the testes (male gland) to produce testosterone which tells a male body to grow hair, increase bone growth, have greater muscle strength, and a deeper voice.  The hormones, estrogen and progesterone from the pituitary gland, regulate the work of the female's ovaries.  Estrogens are important in the development of the adult female.  Progesterone along with estrogen is needed to prepare a female body for pregnancy.

PROCEDURE:
  1. If you feel the students lack an understanding, we suggest you do some of the exercises for the lower grades.  Use the Human biology slideshow to review all the systems.
      
  2. Go over the worksheet with the student.  See what parts they know already before showing them the location of each of the organ.  Please note, that students at this age will “giggle,” but if taught in a straight forward scientific way, the giggles will turn into curiosity.  
       
  3. Students will undoubtedly have questions.  We suggest that you have available books on the human body.   You may want students to do a research paper.  It is so important for them to realize that their bodies are human machines with all parts working together to produce an effective and efficient product.

[Dictionary] 
  [Back to Life Cycle Grid]  [Back to Human Biology (6)]