Update and New Assignment: Human Body Corporation

Hello Everyone,

Division 5 students have been doing a great job investigating the human body through hands-on body stations, reading, watching videos, and class discussion. We have lots of great questions already about how the system of the body works!

We are discussing the Universal Systems Model and how every system has an INPUT, PROCESS, OUTPUT, and FEEDBACK. We are identifying the many INPUTS our human body system needs to work correctly, such as sleep, exercise, good nutrition, and balance. We will continue these discussions over the next few weeks.

Part of taking care of the human body SYSTEM is making good decisions. We are talking about what we have control over in terms of personal choices that will help us grow, learn, and feel better each day. If you want to make a good decision, how do you do it? Maybe you have to consider the DATA, to find out if the input into the system is a good one. Or, perhaps you need to find out if a certain OUTPUT/OUTCOME is more likely based on your investigations. This is all connected to our math discussions about data and probability!

If you missed these recent videos shown in class, here you go!

Real Science Circulatory and Respiratory System

Ted Ed The Benefits of a Good Night’s Sleep

Now, we will work on the Human Body Corporation!

Today, we worked on why and how you would write a business letter. Everyone wrote a sample letter to prepare for doing our first assignment with a rubric — Human Body Corporation!

Each person will choose an organ to represent in the human body. If you haven’t chosen one yet, please let Ms. D know which one as soon as you can.

As a body organ, we will pretend you are an employee of the Human Body Corporation.  Due to recent cost increases, the Human Body Corporation needs to fire workers.  Uh oh! You might lose your job! You need to write a letter to the Human Body Corporation explaining why you are very important to the human body and should not be fired!  In your letter, you need to describe to the Corporation the following characteristics of your organ:

  • Tell what the name of your organ is and where you are located
  • Identify what systems of the body you work with
  • Describe how you work with these systems
  • List the other organs that work with you in your system
  • Describe your main functions or jobs as a Human Body organ
  • Tell the Corporation how you perform those functions or jobs
  • Tell the Corporation why you are important and why they should not fire you
  • Explain what might happen to the Human Body Corporation if they fired you

You will need to use a proper BUSINESS LETTER format to write your letter.  After writing the letter, you will read your letter to the Human Body Corporation (the rest of the class.)

The letter notes and draft can be in your journal. We will use laptops to type out the final version.

You may use the book resources in the classroom to find out information that supports your position AND include this evidence in your letter.  You can also use Internet resources, and we have a list of websites, on a USB that we will share with you, that may help.

Along with your letter, please have a visual aid ready to show, which will be a piece of blank paper with a picture (drawn or found on the internet) labeled with all the important parts of your organ.

Remember, I showed you a business letter sample in class, and it had specific parts to be included:

  1.  Addresses and dates
  2.  An opening/greeting with a colon
  3.  No indents
  4.  A first paragraph introducing yourself, who you are, and what you are asking of the Human Body Corporation
  5.  A second paragraph really pleading your case about why you are important. If you need two paragraphs for this, it is okay. Remember to avoid big blobs of text. The Human Body Corporation is busy and likes to read its information in quick, easy-to-digest parts.
  6.  A final paragraph summing up what you have said and thanking the Human Body Corporation for being gracious about reading your letter.
  7.  A closing (Respectfully, With respect, Sincerely)
  8.  A signature

The Human Body Corporation looks forward to hearing your case!

Ms. D