Cut out the organs and place them where they belong. Easy and challenge versions.
Free for personal use and classroom or childcare use. Please don't resell or redistribute commercially. If you're a teacher or childcare provider, you're warmly welcome to print and use these with your kids.
Every time you eat, your food travels through a system of organs that break it down, pull out what your body needs, and pass along the rest. Here are eight stops on that journey.
Digestion starts the moment you take a bite. Your teeth break food into smaller pieces while saliva starts breaking down the starches. By the time you swallow, digestion is already underway.
The oesophagus is a muscular tube that connects your mouth to your stomach. It squeezes food downward in waves, so it works even if you're upside down.
The stomach is a stretchy, muscular bag that churns your food and mixes it with strong acid. It breaks everything down into a thick paste before sending it on.
The pancreas makes enzymes that help break food down even further, and it controls how much sugar stays in your blood. It works quietly behind the scenes, but nothing runs without it.
The small intestine is the first stretch right after the stomach. This is where enzymes from the pancreas and bile from the liver mix in and the real work of digestion happens.
The inside of your small intestine is covered in millions of tiny, finger-like bumps called villi. They give the intestine a huge surface area so it can absorb as many nutrients as possible into the blood.
By the time food reaches the large intestine, most of the nutrients have been absorbed. What's left is water and waste. The large intestine pulls out the water your body can still use.
Your gut is home to trillions of bacteria, and most of them are helpful. They break down fiber, make vitamins, and help keep your immune system strong. You couldn't digest properly without them.
Prop a card up during tummy time, about 20–30 cm from your baby's face. Hold the card steady and let your baby focus on the bold shapes. Try placing one at eye level wherever your baby spends time, and rotate cards every few days to keep things fresh.
Start with just 3 or 4 pairs, face up. Ask your child to find the two that look the same. As they get the hang of it, add more pairs. Older toddlers can try turning them face down for a memory game.
Cut out the organs and let your child place them where they belong. Start with the easy version, where shaded guides show where each piece goes, then move to the challenge version without the guides. Laminate the pages and use Velcro dots or Blu Tack so they can do it again and again.
