The small intestine is an important part of our digestive system. It helps our body get the nutrients it needs from the food we eat. Let’s explore how the small intestine works and learn about its three main parts: the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.
The small intestine is a long, twisty tube in our belly, about 20 feet long! Its job is to soak up nutrients from our food, which gives us energy and helps us grow and stay healthy.
The first stop in the small intestine is the duodenum. Here, food that has already started to break down, called chyme, gets mixed with special juices from the liver, pancreas, and gallbladder. These juices help break down the food even more, getting it ready for the next part of the journey.
Next up is the jejunum, the second part of the small intestine. This is where most of the nutrients from our food are absorbed into our blood. These nutrients give us the energy and materials we need to do everything from playing to thinking!
The last part of the small intestine is the ileum. It makes sure any leftover nutrients are absorbed before the waste moves on to the large intestine. The ileum finishes up the job of the small intestine, making sure our body gets all the good stuff from our food.
The small intestine is a super important part of our digestive system. It has three parts that work together to make sure we get the nutrients we need. The duodenum gets the food ready, the jejunum absorbs most of the nutrients, and the ileum finishes up the absorption. By understanding how the small intestine works, we can see why eating healthy foods is so important for our bodies!
Build a Model: Create a simple model of the small intestine using household items. Use a long piece of string or yarn to represent the small intestine. Label the three parts: duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. Discuss with your family how each part helps in digestion. You can use different colors or textures to show how food changes as it moves through each section.
Food Journey Experiment: Choose a favorite snack and imagine its journey through your digestive system. Draw a comic strip showing how the snack is broken down and absorbed in the small intestine. Include the roles of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. Share your comic with a friend or family member and explain what happens at each stage.
Observation and Discussion: Next time you eat a meal, think about how the small intestine is working to absorb nutrients. Discuss with a parent or teacher what types of nutrients different foods provide, like proteins, carbohydrates, and vitamins. How do these nutrients help your body? Try to identify which part of the small intestine might be absorbing each nutrient.
