Human Body Corporation Project

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 have been 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 How Does the Heart Pump Blood

YouTube The Blood Flow Song

Ted Ed How the Digestive System Works

There are more in the Articles of Interest section of the blog and on Kidshealth.org.

Now, we will work on the Human Body Corporation!

In class we will work on practicing effective paragraphs, as well as why and how you would write a business letter. We will write samples together to prepare for doing our first project with a rubric — Human Body Corporation!

Each person will choose an organ to represent in the human body.

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

Do some further research on your organ. In your JOURNAL, make a new page called “Human Body Corporation Notes.” Write down a bullet point from the list above, and then take some notes in your own words from what you read online or in the books you can find in class.

Next step, you will draft your letter. You will need to use a proper BUSINESS LETTER format to write your letter.

Edit the letter carefully and then have a peer do an edit. Do not let the peer fix the mistakes – that is your job. I am looking for careful use of capitalization and punctuation, complete sentences, and sentences that have a variety of starts to them (instead of all I am this, or I do that.) Try to begin using conjunctions to connect ideas (and, but, however, or), and transition words and phrases (furthermore, next, in this case, etc.)

Then, finally, you will type a finished final draft to turn in to Ms. D, and you will read your letter to the Human Body Corporation (the rest of the class.)

Work on this project will mostly be done in class.

You may use the book or online resources in the classroom to find out information that supports your position AND include this evidence in your letter.

Remember, we showed you a business letter sample in class, and it had specific parts to include:

  1.  Addresses and dates  (Make up the address — use something funny)
  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