Young ESL learners can easily learn the names of body organs and understand how some of the systems work and their functions. Begin by introducing the vocabulary and focusing on pronunciation. Break down the syllables and gradually build up to simple, repetitive sentences describing their functions. (More details about this unit, including our readers and structure, will be available soon.)
This unit and the accompanying videos cover five systems: respiratory, circulatory, nervous, digestive, and urinary, and the major organs within these systems: brain, heart, lungs, stomach, liver, pancreas, small intestine, large intestine, bladder, and kidneys.
Digestive System (stomach, esophagus, liver, pancreas, small intestine, large intestine)
This video is about 10 minutes long as it follows a grape going through the Digestive system. Some imaginative and creative storytelling as it explains digestion with interesting facts. Even though the language may be difficult for ESL beginners, it keeps their attention, and kids enjoy watching and re-watching. Plenty of opportunities to pause and elicit the vocabulary of where the grape is in the video (stomach, small intestines, liver, pancreas, large intestines)
A short 1min 30-second video, introducing some of the major organs. You can pause and ask for your students what body organ is being shown as the video plays.
About 5 minutes long. Informative using cartoon characters as well as people to explain the urinary system. A good video to pause as it is shown and ask students what organs are being shown (bladder, kidneys, urethra), and talk about what is happening.
A 5-minute video with some interesting facts explaining the circulatory system. Gives some good visualization for kids to see the arteries, veins and heart as part of the system. As with all these videos make sure to stop and reinforce the vocabulary (heart, arteries, veins).
It's about five minutes long. Includes some good diagrams and visuals of oxygen being taken into the lungs. As always be sure to pause, explain and reinforce the simple vocabulary you are teaching, no need to focus on the more complex language. Keep it simple, even if it's just for learning "lungs", the video gives a good visual understanding of the function of the lungs and respiration.
It's about four minutes long. As with all the videos, pause during the visuals to reinforce the vocabulary (kidneys, bladder) and keep it simple. The videos give a good visual of what the urinary system does.
Once you have taught the body organs with readers and Flashcards. The students should be able to recognize the organs. Although this video initially may seem higher level in terms of style, you can easily guide the students through this quiz (they won't be able to read the answers), and most will be shouting out the answer, you just have to guide them to which one is A, B or C. Later on the video may feature some vocabulary they haven't learned, but you can stop the quiz at any time.
Similar to the above video and the same notes apply. Make sure to guide them, pause, and read out the answers. (Use after they recognize and can say the body organs, read out and guide them to A, B or C)
The kids really enjoyed this song. Especially the visuals. I sang this song quite a few times, and I would often pause as well to ask them what body organ was being shown or sung about.
A fast-paced fun song about the digestive system.
A nice song that sings about the major body organs. You can pause at times to ask what body organ is being shown and sung about if you wish to.
A fun well-written song about the digestive system with a good beat and rhythm. You can sing with actions to show what he is singing about.
An informative song with clear visuals that show the stages of digestion.