The Secret Lies Within
Better health, safer cities, tastier food. The key for the future may be inside of us all.
Introduction
The key for the future may be inside of us all. Ever wondered why your skin glows or how your taste buds know what you're eating, and which cells help them send the message to your brain? If your cells could talk, what do you think your brain cells would say to your muscle cells? Join us on an adventure to understand our body.
In this 12-week expedition, students will study the human body, its organs, tissues, and cells. However, they will not stop in simple understanding: they will develop projects as diverse as our species itself. Using the liver to design an ideal factory, cells as the basis for therapies, and circulatory systems as inspiration for a new plumbing or transit system.
We will explore how and why the body makes millions of new cells every second. And why skin cells regenerate quickly, but nerve cells can't. As we do this, we will be making analogical comparisons to what makes factories, companies, and cities successfully operate and run day to day, and what organs, systems, and cells represent different parts of these analogies. Through hands-on investigations using Foldscopes, interactive discussions, and project-based learning, students will discover the specialized roles of cells and their real-world significance.
Essential Questions
What is a cell, and why is the study of cells important?
What is cellular respiration?
What makes up tissue and organs?
What are the various organs, and why are they important for human survival?
How does the body communicate with the brain and vice versa?
What are atoms and molecules?
What is a chemical reaction?
Learning Objectives
Describe a cell and relate the cell to the larger organism.
Describe tissue and organs.
Explain how nerves use signals to share information.
Describe atoms and subatomic particles.
Describe chemical reactions.