Mississippi Science HAP.13.1
The Standard
- HAP.13
- Students will investigate the structures and functions of the digestive system, including the cause and effect of diseases and disorders.
Analyze the structure-function relationship in organs of the digestive system.
2026 Mississippi College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Science · Digestive System
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students connect the shape and parts of digestive organs to the jobs they do. They explain, for example, how stomach muscles churn food and how villi help the small intestine absorb nutrients.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can name an organ feature, explain its job, and predict what happens if it stops working. They can explain why damaged villi make it harder to absorb nutrients.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think the stomach absorbs most nutrients. They may also think food moves through the esophagus only because of gravity, rather than muscle contractions.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: A patient has flattened villi in the small intestine. Explain how this change affects nutrient absorption, using surface area in your answer.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Line two equal-width cardboard tubes with smooth and folded paper; compare how many small stickers fit on each lining.
Ask: Why does the stomach have thick muscle walls while the small intestine has villi? Write one job each feature helps it do.
Match organ cards to structure cards, such as esophagus to muscle and small intestine to villi; explain each match to a partner.
Read a patient note about acid reflux and explain how a weak lower esophageal sphincter lets stomach acid move upward.
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Printable HAP.13.1 Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to HAP.13.1, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
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