How Long are the Intestines for Kids – Digestive System Experiment

Whether you are diving into an anatomy lesson for kids with a fun human body project or are just helping kids explore what happens to food after they eat it, this intestines for kids project is a MUST. In this digestives system experiment kids will learn just how big their intestines are and how does digestion work. This how we digets food activity is perfect for preschool, pre-k, kindergarten, first grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grad,e and 6th graders too. Grab our human body printables and you are ready to learn about the human body for kids.

Intestines for Kids

We have already learned about the Human Digestive System for Kids with this hands on experiment where you to move food from the stomach through the large and small intestines, colon, and out as poop waste. But in this intestines for kids activity I wanted to help kids really undersatnd how BIG the intestines really are. I mean they are in a relatively small space in your body, but because they are coiled up like a garden hose, children really have no idea how l-o-n-g they are! The small intestine is about 22 to 25 feet while the thicker large intestine is 5 to 6 feet long. I bet you didn’t guess it was that big! Our bodies are truly amazing in the way they are able to use all the nutrients along the digetsive system before getting rid of the waste. The intestines have a special kind of muscle that squeezes and relaxes in a wave-like motion. This motion pushes food and waste through the intestines. This digestive system experiment allows elementary age students from preschoolers, kinderagrtners, grade 1, grade 2, grade 3, grade 4, grade 5, and grade 6 students really visualize how HUGE our intestines really are. This science project for kids is fun for parents, teachers, and homeschoolers alike.

Digestive System Experiment

To try this project all you need are a few simple materials. This can also be a natural extentions to our life-size human body project we did

• butcher paper
• marker
• FREE human body organ templates (optional, but helpful for visualization)
• 22-25 feet of pink crepe paper
• tape measure
• scotch tape or painters tape
• 5-6 feet of yellow crepe paper

Digestive Experiment

Start out by making a life-size model of your students by using a pencil or marker to trace your child on butcher paper, paper roll, or cardboard.  Carefully cut out the figure.

If you like, this is as far as you need to go, but for our project we wanted to add in the organs we’d learned so they could follow the entire digestive system. Draw in or us our free organ printables to add in the digestive system parts.

How Does Digestion Work

Measure 22 feet of pink crepe paper  with a tape measuring. Show kids how LONG the small intestine is. Then roll out 5 feet of yellow crepe paper to represent the large intestine.

How Do We Digest Food

Make sure to tell students the large intestine is a thicker tube, but for our example we are focusing on how long it is. Affix it to your project as well.

Human Body Science Experiments

Next wind it back and forth and affix it to the human body where it would go in the lower abdomen.

This is such a fun, silly, and meaningful way for kids to remember just how big the intestines are!

Human Body Project

This is such a fun, simple way for kids to really understand not only where the intestines are in our body, but how large the intestines are using a simple science activity for kids of all ages.

I love simple projects that are really impactful and memorable for kids. I bet your kids will always remember how long the intestines are because they measured, cut, coiled, and taped them onto their own human body figure.

 

Human Body for Kids

• Grab this free printable 5 senses preschool printables to explore the senses of sight, taste, sound, smell, and touch
• Human Body human body playdough mats – lots of choices to learn about various systems of the body including simple for preschoolers, skeletal system, organs, muscles, nerves, and more!
• Teach kids about human cells for kids with hands on activities, free printable reader, human cell worksheets, and more!
• Human Body Printables makes a printable book that teaches students all about their heart, brain, muscles, cells, skin, bones, lungs, stomach, intestines, and bladder
• 4 EPIC Skeletal System Project ideas for kids – using things like pasta, life saver gummies, lego, and more you can learn about the human body in a fun memorable way
• Free Skeletal System Worksheets for Kids – everything you need to teach kids about their bodies!
• Kids will love learning about the ear with this model of ear for school project

Human Body Projects

• Parts of the Brain for Kids Activity with Playdough Brain Model & Free Brain Worksheets for Kids
• Lungs for Kids Working Model and lesson plan
• Bending Bones – Human Body Experiment Removing Calcium for Kids
• The Digestive System for Kids Experiment
• Blood for Kids – Actiivty to learn about the Human Body
• Amazing 5 Senses for kids lesson to explore with hands on activities, videos, books, and more!
• Try this Jelly Bean sense of taste activities for preschool experiment.
• How do Lungs Work Human Body Project for Kids

Human Body Experiments

• Human Heart for Kids: 2 Fun Heart Models plus Worksheets
• Kids will be amazed by these eye science experiments
• Huge pack of 5 Senses Worksheets to explore the senses and sneak in some math and literacy activities too
• How do Hands Work – Human Body Muscles for Kids Project
• EPIC, Life-size Human Body Project
• How Long are the Intestines for Kids – Digestive System Experiment
• How do Muscles Work – Simply Skeletal Muscle Model that works
• See all of our hands-on ideas to make learning about the human body for kids FUN and more creative printable science experiments for all ages