The Gut Detective

Overview

Year Level: Year 10
Subject: Technology – Emphasis on Nutrition and Digestion
Australian Curriculum Area and Level: Design and Technologies – Australian Curriculum Content Descriptor ACTDEK045
"Investigate and make judgments on how the characteristics and properties of food determine preparation techniques and presentation when designing solutions for healthy eating."

Timeframe: 40 minutes
Class Size: 11 students

This lesson plan integrates technology and the scientific study of nutrition and digestion. It involves exploring the digestive process practically and creatively, while evaluating healthy food through a design lens.

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Lesson Outcomes

By the end of the lesson, students will:

1. Understand and articulate the stages of digestion and corresponding components of the digestive system.
2. Evaluate the nutritional value of Australian foods and make informed choices about designing healthy meals for teenagers.
3. Propose and present a creative solution (using digital tools) to explain the relationship between digestion and nutrition in a format suitable for their peers.

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Preparation & Resources

Teacher Preparation:

1. Print a labelled poster of the human digestive system diagram for display.
2. Load a short, engaging video about digestion (no longer than 3-4 minutes).
3. Set up tablets or laptops with basic animation, infographic, or presentation software (e.g., Canva, PowerPoint).

Materials Needed:

• Laminated sticky labels with parts of the digestive system (mouth, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, etc.).
• Real or plastic Australian food items (e.g., lamingtons, Weet-Bix, kangaroo meat, bush tucker foods such as native berries).
• Assessment rubric (self-reflection and peer review checklist – provided below).

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Lesson Plan Detail

1. Introduction: Quick Fire Digestive Journey (5 mins)

• Begin with "A Day in the Life of a Lamington."
  Pose this question to students:
  “What happens to this lamington once it begins its journey in our digestive system?”
• Show the short 3–4 minute video summarising digestion. Stop at key moments to ask guiding questions (e.g., "Where does chemical digestion begin?" or "Which organ absorbs most nutrients?").
• Highlight how the digestive system links to nutrition by breaking the lamington into its basic nutritional components (e.g., sugars, fats, etc.).

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2. Hands-On Activity: Digestive Pathway Mapping (10 mins)

• Divide the class into two teams and conduct an interactive labelling session.
• Provide each team with laminated parts of the digestive system and ask them to collaboratively stick them onto an unlabelled diagram (poster or digital diagram on screen). Time the activity to speed up engagement.

Extra Challenge: Include a twist by asking which Australian foods may require slower digestion (e.g., high-fibre Weet-Bix) versus faster digestion (e.g., sugars in a lamington).

Tie it back to the curriculum: Discuss how preparation techniques, like steaming vegetables or marinating kangaroo meat, might affect these foods' digestibility and nutrient absorption.

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3. Collaborative Creation: Digital Digestive Explainer (20 mins)

• Scenario for Students:
  "Imagine you're pitching an educational explainer video to your peers. You need to create a 1-minute digital slide or animation that explains one part of the digestive system and how it links to nutrition. Think of ways to make it visual, accurate, and engaging!"

Steps:

1. Assign each student a specific organ or part of the digestive system (e.g., mouth, stomach, etc.).
2. Students use tablets or laptops to create a concise, illustrated slide or animation focussing on their assigned part, including:
   • Function of the organ.
   • How it contributes to digestion.
   • Its impact on nutrient absorption (choose Australian foods as examples).

Example: Student explains how the stomach produces acids to break down a Weet-Bix for better carbohydrate absorption.

3. Students work individually but are encouraged to check in with a friend for peer feedback before finishing.

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4. Showcase & Reflection: Peer Presentations (5 mins)

• Students present their slides or animations to the class in chronological order (i.e., mouth to large intestine). As they present, encourage everyone to “map the journey” on the classroom diagram or make notes on clarity and creativity.
• Ask reflection questions:
  • “What did you find most surprising about the digestive process?”
  • “How does knowing about digestion change how you think about designing healthy meals?”

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Assessment Strategy

• Self-Reflection Rubric: Students complete a checklist evaluating their work:

  1. Did I accurately represent the digestive process?
  2. Did I connect the organ's function to nutrition?
  3. Was my explainer clear and engaging?

• Peer Feedback: Students use the same rubric to assess one other student's presentation.

• Teacher Observation: Evaluate student engagement during activities and final presentations using the following criteria:

  • Demonstrated understanding of digestion.
  • Effective use of Australian foods to explain nutrient absorption.
  • Creativity in using digital tools to demonstrate learning.

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Extension Activity: Gamify It!

Create a Kahoot quiz about the digestive system and Australian foods for students to compete in during a future lesson. This helps reinforce key learning outcomes while fostering collaboration and a bit of fun.

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Teacher Summary

This lesson combines interactive learning, digital storytelling, and real-life applications of the digestive process, aligned with Australian Technologies curriculum standards. By connecting digestion to Australian nutrition and encouraging creativity, students develop a deeper understanding of the topic in a fun, challenging, and tech-savvy way. It's sure to leave both students and teachers impressed!