======Length of the Digestive System======


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**Materials: **{{$demo.materials_description}}\\
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**Safety: **{{$demo.safety_description}}\\
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**Alternative titles:** The Long Journey of Your Food
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====Summary====                   
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====Procedure====  
  - Measure sections of rope: mouth (2 inches), esophagus (10 inches), small intestine (22 feet), and large intestine (6 feet).  
  - Use tape, ties, or scissors to mark or cut the rope into these lengths.  
  - Place a jug or container between the esophagus and small intestine to represent the stomach.  
  - Arrange the rope sections in a hallway or spiral formation if space is limited.  
  - Have students "travel" the path of the digestive system, stopping at each section to discuss its role.



====Links==== 
Digestive System - Amoeba Sisters: 
{{youtube>1UvuBYUbFk0?}}\\

📄 The Long Journey of Your Food - APH: [[https://www.aph.org/blog/the-long-journey-of-your-food/]]\\


====Variations====
  * Convert the lengths into centimeters and meters for a math extension.  
  * Smush half a banana in a sealed bag to model mechanical digestion in the stomach, then bake it into muffins or bread.  
  * Compare human digestive lengths with those of other animals.



====Safety Precautions====
  * Use scissors carefully when cutting rope.  
  * Wash hands before and after handling food items.  
  * Ensure space is clear of tripping hazards when laying out long ropes.




====Questions to Consider====
  * Why does the digestive system need to be so long? (To give food more time and surface area for digestion and nutrient absorption.)  
  * How can 28 feet of intestine fit inside our abdomen? (It folds and coils many times within the body.)  
  * What is the difference between mechanical digestion and chemical digestion? (Mechanical breaks food into smaller pieces, chemical changes it into new substances.)  
  * Which organ absorbs most nutrients? (The small intestine.)  
  * What happens to food once nutrients are absorbed? (They enter the bloodstream and travel to where the body needs them.)