Activities

1. List 3 organelles found in a cell and describe how they help the cell to function.
   
   
2. List the levels of organization from cell to organism in order from least complex to most complex.

3. What do you think would happen if tissue in a human liver became diseased?
   
   
4. Summarize the role of a least 3 components in the digestive system.  How do these components work together?

5. There are many components that comprise the circulatory system.  Make a list of some of these components.  Which component do you think is the most important to the circulatory system?  Use facts to defend your opinion.

Answer Key/Rubric

1. Acceptable responses may include, but are not limited to:
   • Cell membrane – allows materials to enter and exit the cell
   • Nucleus – controls all the functions of a cell; where cell division begins
   • Ribosome – creates proteins
   • Cell wall – protects a plant cell and gives it a rigid structure
   • Mitochondria – makes cell’s energy
   • Chloroplast – site of photosynthesis
     
     
2. The levels of organization from least to most complex are cell, tissue, organ, organ system, and organism.

3. Acceptable responses may include, but are not limited to:
   • The tissue would need to be treated.
   • If left untreated, the disease will infect the whole organ.
   • The organ will not function properly and begin to negatively affect the human body.
   • The liver may die and stop functioning.
   • This can be very harmful, even deadly, to the human.
     
     
4. Acceptable responses may include, but are not limited to:
   • Mouth – first step of digestion takes place here (chewing)
   • Esophagus – transports food from mouth to stomach
   • Stomach – mixes food with stomach acid so body is able to absorb nutrients
   • Small intestine – absorb nutrients
   • Large intestine – absorbs water
   • Example response:  Digestion occurs in a series of steps.  The first step, chewing, breaks food into smaller pieces to be swallowed.  The esophagus transports food to the stomach.  The stomach mixes food with stomach acid.  This breaks food down even further so the body can absorb its nutrients.
     
     
5. Acceptable responses may include, but are not limited to:

• Heart
• Blood vessels (arteries, veins, capillaries)
• Red blood cells
• White blood cells
• Valves
• Platelets
• Plasma
• Example response:  The heart is the most important component of the circulatory system.  It is the motor of the circulatory system.  Without the heart, the blood would not circulate through the body.  The blood brings oxygen and nutrients to your body parts.  Without the heart, these things would not be delivered where they need to go and you would die. 
• Example response:  The red blood cells are the most important component of the circulatory system.  They carry oxygen and nutrients to all of your body parts.  Without them, your body tissues would not get the things they need to function properly.  If your tissues do not get what they need, they will die.  Then the human will need new organs because the tissue has died.  If the human does not get new organs, it will die.