Diagrams of the digestive system and related organs are an engaging option to reach visual learners. Students can compare, label, draw and create artwork describing the digestive process, or focus on a single organ and work collaboratively to explore the entire digestive tract. For a challenge, students can create three-dimensional models from their research. Visual learners will also benefit most from watching videos or slide presentations.
Auditory learners are most engaged by traditional teaching methods, including direct instruction, class discussions and group reading activities. One effective lesson is a "jigsaw" reading assignment -- where students are each assigned a section of a digestive system article to read, and their job is to report the most important facts to the rest of the class or group. A variation is for each group to pose one or two questions about their assigned reading to the class. Auditory learners can also debate whether commercial probiotics are helpful to children, after learning about intestinal bacteria that help humans digest food.
Kinesthetic learners benefit from hands-on or physical activities. These students can demonstrate their understanding of digestion by creating working models of digestive organs such as the stomach, or conducting experiments to mimic the function of teeth, saliva or gut bacteria. Students could also perform a play or a create a dance that demonstrates digestion.
In some classes, students can be assigned (or even choose) individual activities based on preferred learning styles. If your class requires more structure, activities can be organized in a series of centers, or several lessons can be presented to the entire class.
Online educational sites such as KidsHealth, National Geographic and PBS Kids offer a variety of digestive system articles at different reading levels, as well as free online videos and images.