Description

Life is a series of complex interactions. The anchor phenomenon for this course, the human body, is no exception. The basis of the human body is the cell. Associations of cells work together to form tissues, which form organs. Organs work together to perform specific functions in organ systems. And finally, the array of organ systems make up a human body.

Middle school students are prepared to explore how organ systems interact to support each and every cell in the body. The driving question for the course is how do humans live, grow, and respond to their environment? What happens when the body is attacked by an invader or an organ system malfunctions? How do cells get the resources they need to live? How do cells gain access to the energy stored in energy-rich compounds? How do systems support the human organism as it senses and interacts with the environment?

These questions inspire students to find out more, and may spawn a lifetime of learning about their body systems and the environmental factors that affect them. Questions like these have the potential to help students understand and appreciate what may be of highest importance to them, themselves.