Journey through the Digestive System

Theme Park Project

Objective: Students work in cooperative groups to design a theme park called Gastro World, based on the anatomy and physiology of
the digestive system. Students prepare a portfolio of the park's attractions and construct a model of it.

Introduction: Your group is the design team for Gastro World, a theme park based on the human digestive system. The proposed park
will contain at least eight attractions, such as rides, games, shows, and simulations, each of which will allow participants to experience
some aspect of the digestive system and/or the digestive process.

Directions:
1. Discuss theme parks you have visited, read about, or seen on television. Talk about the most memorable attractions, what
made them memorable, and how you might incorporate ideas from those parks into the design of Gastro World.
2. Select a group leader. The leader's responsibility is to keep the group on task and to make sure that everyone participates in a
fair and equitable manner. The leader should also be aware of what everyone in the group is doing so that when the elements
of the project are finally put together, nothing will be missing.
3. Brainstorm aspects of the digestive system you might want to include in your attractions. Examples might include organs of
the alimentary canal, accessory organs, mechanical digestion, peristalsis, enzymes, absorption, and elimination. From your
brainstormed list, decide on 10 to 15 aspects that you wish to discuss further.
4. Talk about how each idea you have chosen could become an interesting theme park attraction. Select the best ideas to use in
the design of your park. Keep in mind that your attractions should be original, creative, and represent a variety of types.
5. Decide how to divide the work. Because conflicting schedules may make it difficult for all the members of the group to get
together at the same time, you might want to form subgroups to work on individual attractions outside of class. Design each
attraction. Determine how the attraction will teach about the digestive system.
6. Decide on the layout of Gastro World, and construct an approximate scale model showing the entire park. Include aspects of
theme parks besides the attractions, such as trees, benches, fountains, signs, information directories, and ticket booths.
7. Use any materials that will make the entire display solid and sturdy enough to be moved around without falling apart.
(Styrofoam, balsa wood, poster board, plastic, metal, glue, ice-cream sticks, straws, foil, beads, craft supplies, paint, clay, etc.)

Design Portfolio: The final design portfolio must contain the following
A cover that has the name of the theme park, the names of the design team, and a picture(s) of scenes in the park.
A typed introduction to the theme park, stating its purposes and providing a general overview of the attractions.
Colored drawings or computer generated advertisements that illustrate each attraction in a clear, detailed manner.
A complete description of the attraction, including how it is set up, how it operates, its unique features, and so on.
A complete description of whatever aspect of digestive anatomy or physiology is featured in the attraction.
SCORE DURABILITY APPEAL AGREEMENT WITH
PORTFOLIO
SCIENTIFIC
ACCURACY
APPEARANCE ORGANIZATION
AND CONTENT
SCIENTIFIC ACCURACY
4 Practically
indestructible
when moved
around in
normal use
Dazzling.
Layout, scale,
detail, variety,
colors, shapes
and textures
are striking
and consistent.
Outstanding. Model
elements are
perfectly aligned
with design
portfolio pictures
and descriptions.
Exceptional. Eight
or more
attractions
completely and
accurately show
aspects of the
digestive system.
Stunning. Each
attraction is
depicted in rich,
colorful and
striking detail.
Portfolio is done
with outstanding
precision.
Superior.
Descriptions of all
attractions are
richly detailed
and leave no
doubt about their
purpose.
Extraordinary. Scientific
aspects of digestion are
completely accurate and
precisely explained for
all attractions.
3 Sturdy. Holds
together well
in normal use.
Eye-catching.
Layout, scale,
detail, variety,
colors, shapes
and textures
are impressive.
Satisfactory. Most
elements
correspond
accurately with
portfolio pictures
and descriptions.
Appropriate. Six or
more attractions
completely and
accurately show
aspects of the
digestive system.
Suitable. At least
six attractions are
shown in rich,
colorful and
striking detail.
Portfolio is done
with precision.
Adequate. Most
descriptions of
attractions are
detailed and clear
as to their
purposes.
Satisfactory. Scientific
aspects of digestion are
completely accurate
and precisely explained
for at least six
attractions.
2 Somewhat
flimsy. Some
parts do not
hold up well.
Pleasing. Many
artistic
elements are
noteworthy.
Acceptable.
Elements are more
often than not
aligned with
portfolio pictures
and descriptions.
Somewhat
adequate. At least
four attractions
accurately show
aspects of the
digestive system.
Somewhat
suitable. At least
four attractions
are shown in rich,
colorful and
striking detail.
Portfolio shows
some precision.
Mostly
satisfactory. At
least half of the
descriptions are
detailed and clear.
Mostly adequate.
Scientific aspects of
digestion are
completely accurate
and precisely explained
for at least half of the
attractions.
1 Falls apart
easily.
Unappealing.
Few artistic
elements are
significant.
Unacceptable.
Model elements
have little or no
correspondence
with portfolio
descriptions and
pictures.
Inadequate. Less
than four
attractions
accurately show
aspects of the
digestive system.
Deficient. Less
than four
attractions are
shown in neat,
colorful and
striking detail.
Portfolio shows
little precision.
Unsatisfactory.
Less than half of
the descriptions
are detailed and
clear.
Insufficient. Scientific
aspects of digestion are
completely accurate
and precisely explained
for less than half of the
attractions.
0 No model
constructed
and submitted.
No model
constructed
and submitted.
No model
constructed and
submitted.
No model
constructed and
submitted.
Portfolio and
Illustrations lack
so much as to be
useless.
Descriptions lack
so much as to be
essentially
useless.
Scientific aspects are
mostly inaccurate and
unexplained.