Contextualization

The Excretory System, the main theme of our project, is responsible for eliminating toxic substances and waste from our metabolism, thus maintaining bodily balance. To do this, it relies on a set of organs such as the kidneys, bladder, ureters, and urethra, which work together.

The kidneys, the main component of the excretory system, act as true treatment stations in our body, filtering our blood. The bladder, another key organ of this system, is responsible for storing the urine produced by the kidneys until the moment of excretion. Finally, we have the ureters and the urethra, which are the ducts responsible for conducting urine from the bladder out of our body.

To understand the excretory system, it is necessary to understand how these organs work together, as well as to understand the composition of urine and the role of the substances excreted in it. Additionally, it is also necessary to understand certain diseases that can affect this system, and how important it is to keep it functioning properly for our health.

In this way, it is possible to realize that the excretory system is directly linked to our quality of life and our health. Problems such as kidney failure, for example, can be caused by a malfunction of this system, and this is just one of the many diseases related to it.

Moreover, the excretory system is not limited only to our body. It is present in all living beings, each with its respective specificities. Therefore, studying it is a way to better understand life as a whole, including our own.

Practical Activity - 'From Inside Out: Understanding the Excretory System'

Project Objective

The objective of this project is to deepen the study of the excretory system through a series of practical activities, research, and debates. Students should study and deeply understand the anatomy of the organs of the excretory system, the functioning of the system as a whole, the composition of urine, and diseases related to the excretory system.

Project Description

This project is divided into four main parts:

1. Study and debate: students will deeply study the excretory system theme using the indicated resources and others they find useful. This involves reading sources, analyzing materials, and then having a group discussion to share and discuss the collected information.

2. Clay modeling: students will model the main organs of the excretory system in clay. The goal is to understand and visualize the structure of these organs, facilitating the understanding of their functioning.

3. Simulation: students will simulate the functioning of the excretory system, using the clay model created and daily materials to demonstrate the filtering and excretion of substances.

4. Case study: students will choose a disease related to the excretory system, research about it, and present the study to the group, discussing the causes, symptoms, prevention, and treatment.

The project will be developed by groups of 3 to 5 students, estimating more than 12 hours of work per student.

Required Materials

• Books, articles, and online resources about the excretory system
• Clay
• Coloring materials (paints, pens, colored pencils, etc.)
• Various daily materials (bottles, straws, containers, among others)
• Writing materials and paper

Step by Step

1. Study and debate: students should review the material given in class, the suggested resources, and search for other sources of information. After individual study, the group should meet to discuss and exchange information.

2. Clay modeling: students should model the main organs of the excretory system - kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. These should be properly painted and labeled.

3. Simulation: Students should simulate the functioning of the excretory system. For example, they can use water to simulate blood being filtered by the kidneys (represented by the clay model) and the excretion of 'waste' (which can be simulated by some material chosen by the group) through the ureters, bladder, and urethra.

4. Case study: each group should choose a disease related to the excretory system, research it thoroughly, and prepare a presentation discussing their findings.

5. At the end, each group should prepare a complete report of the project, including the Introduction (with contextualization of the theme, relevance, and objective of the project), Development (with theoretical explanation, description of the activity, methodology used, and presentation and discussion of the results), Conclusions (with the learnings obtained and the conclusions drawn), and the Bibliography used.

Project Deliverables

At the end of the project, each group is expected to deliver:

1. Clay models of the organs of the excretory system, properly painted and labeled.
2. Presentation of a simulation of the functioning of the excretory system.
3. Presentation of the case study of a disease related to the excretory system.
4. Detailed written report of the project, which should address in detail all activities carried out, conclusions drawn, and learning acquired. This document should be structured into four sections: Introduction, Development, Conclusions, and Bibliography.

The preparation of the report should follow the scientific methodology, where each discovery and conclusion should be accompanied by arguments and evidence. In addition to providing a written record of the project, this document aims to develop students' scientific writing skills.