Science Experiment: Stomach

Ages: Pre-K-4th grade

Supplies: 

• Toilet paper roll or Paper towel roll
• Plastic ziploc bag
• Water
• 5 crackers
• Stomach print out
• Tape
• Scissors
• Laminator (optional)

Purpose: The purpose of this science experiment is a fun way to teach your little one about how their digestive system works. Teaching your kids about what happens to the food after they swallow it and what stomach acid does. This is also a great way to explain the importance of making sure they chew their food well. 

Directions: Print out the attachment below and cut out the stomach. Tape the stomach face down with the part of the stomach that attaches to the esophagus at the top of the bag pointing up. Make sure you tape it to one side of your ziploc bag. Next, carefully put water a quarter to a third of the way of the zip lock bag. The water represents your stomach acid and the ziploc bag represents your stomach. After the water, take your paper roll which represents your esophagus and insert it in to the bag about 2 inches or so. Then pinch the bag closed up until the paper roll is secure by itself. Be careful not to slosh the water about. Next you will explain to them how digestion works. The steps are below:

When you put food in their mouth these are the step your body naturally takes to start digesting what you eat.

1. Chew food up
2. Swallow food
3. Food travels down your esophagus
4. Food drop into your stomach
5. Stomach acid breaks down your food
6. Then travels to you small intestine where nutrients is absorb
7. Then travels to your large intestine where more nutrients is absorbs

Once you go over the process, then show them  how it works by using the crackers. Follow the step below to execute the experiment. 

1. Crumble the crackers in your hand which will represent chewing.
2. Drop the crumbled crackers down the esophagus. (paper roll)
3. Watch what happens over the course of a few minute once it hit the stomach acid. (water) 
4. The food begins to break down.

Questions to Ask

What do you think is going to happen?

What do you see happening to the crackers once it hits the stomach acid?

Why is it important to chew your food well?

Here is the printout of the link for the Stomach Printout.