Human Body In Extremes Unit

Human Body In Extremes Unit
Designed by Shawn Willis, John Synnott and Kim Musante of Essex Middle School's Nova Team Grades 7 and 8
Integrated Science and Social Studies Unit

Unit Overview: Following a comprehensive
study of Human Anatomy and Physiology under normal conditions, students will
take a look at what an amazing and adaptive machine the human body really
is!  By considering the limits of   human endurance where the body is subjected
to the most hostile environmental conditions; how do we adapt to places we
really don’t belong?  

Students will select a
person that has survived an extreme condition. 
They will document their experience to include the geographic and
environmental conditions, as well as some of their biographical and
motivational background.   They will
expand their own understanding of the physical and mental ways in which humans
adapt to these kinds of environmental stresses by conducting a literature
search, web expedition and interviews of true survivors.   They will use their prior knowledge (from
the past 16 weeks of study of Human Body Systems), in-depth research on their
specific topic and a self-designed inquiry based experiment to understand the
biology of how the body was affected and reacted. 

Students will communicate
their knowledge portraying the role of the “Survivor” sharing their story using
21st Century Skills and Technology in a Science Fair setting with
their school and an authentic audience.