• Describe the importance of the pancreas in regulating blood sugar.
• Explain that cells use glucose to create energy.
• Model the function of the pancreas

Students will explore the function of the pancreas as it relates to regulating blood sugar. This lesson is meant to occur in small pieces throughout a day. It includes reading, math, writing, and science to create an intercurricular exploration of a phenomenon.

Part 1 - Phenomenon and Engage- 25 minutes
Part 2 - Explore-40 minutes
Part 3 - Explain- 30 minutes
Part 4 - Extend- 40 minutes
Part 5 - Evaluate- 20 minutes

Teacher Preparation:
Follow the directions on the Blood Sugar Activity Instructor Guide to set up for the science portion of the lesson. Most ingredients needed for the experiment can be found at your local grocery store. You will need pH test strips which can be ordered online or borrowed from the Sanford PROMISE lending library (for those within 60 miles of Sioux Falls, SD)

Lesson:
Start by showing students the Get To Know Your Pancreas Slide Show.

Phenomenon:
Ask students what they know about what happens to food when they eat it. Create a KWL chart to fill in information about this question. Students can draw a picture or write a description. Have students share ideas with the class.

Engage:
Show the video The Digestive System for Kids | A fun engaging overview of what happens when we eat! When the video is finished, pass out the Digestive Basics printable. Ask students to fill in the empty squares with information they learned from the video. Go over this printable as a class and discuss any misconceptions or missing ideas. Note: Glucose can also be absorbed in the mouth as people with Type 1 Diabetes are taught to put sugar under their tongue in cases of low blood sugar.

Explore:
Tell students that the digestive system removes sugar from the food they eat as it passes through the small intestine. The glucose moves into their blood. Ask students where they think the glucose goes. Explain to students that glucose is a needed molecule for all cells, so the blood carries it around to every cell in your body. When glucose travels in the blood stream it is dissolved, just like what happens when you add a lemonade packet into water and stir. In preparation for the science experiment, explain to students that their body is always trying to reach homeostasis (literally meaning to stay steady). Our body processes food through metabolism, which allows our cells to make energy.

Refer to the Blood Sugar Activity Instructor Guide to set up the experiment. Break students into groups of two or three. Each group should get:

1. Blood Sugar Activity Student Guide printable.
2. 15 mL of dissolved baking soda in a cup labeled “Insulin”
3. 5mL of vinegar in a cup labeled “glucose”
4. 10mL of water in a cup labeled “blood”
5. Eight test strips- The test strips can be cut down into two-inch segments from their original length to allow for more usage of one strip.
6. Two droppers or pipettes

Follow the directions in the instructor guide to complete the experiment. Ask students to record their data in the student guide.

fit choices option- Check out this video The Scoop on Sugar that helps students to understand how many foods they eat have added sugar. Note: It is important to emphasize that eating sugary foods will not cause Type 1 Diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disorder. fitis the Children's Health Initiative from Sanford Health and the connections made with this lesson are intended as suggested extensions to the lesson plan.

Explain:
Pass out the printable What Does the Pancreas Do? Ask students to read this paragraph and underline words they don’t know. Ask students to discuss with a partner or discuss as a class or reading group. At this point students may have questions about the differences between Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes. Use the graphics in the slideshow to explain the difference. Overall, Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disorder in which your own immune system attacks the beta cells of the pancreas. Therefore, insulin stops being produced, and the glucose builds up in the blood. This is why Type 1 Diabetics need to take insulin through a pump or a shot. Type 2 Diabetes occurs when cells are not able to use insulin efficiently. They still produce insulin, but the cell doesn’t recognize it. Type 2 Diabetics manage their diabetes through lifestyle changes and medication.

Extend:
Ask students to complete the Daily Blood Sugar printable. This activity asks students to create two line graphs of two brothers throughout the day. They should pick two colored pencils and identify the two colors in the key. Note: This represents the difference between someone with Type 1 Diabetes and someone without it. These numbers are representative of daily fluctuations, but everybody is different. Hyperglycemia is when there is too much sugar in the blood (over 180mg/dL). Symptoms of hyperglycemia include excessive thirst, frequent urination, blurry vision, and increased hunger. If someone remains hyperglycemic, they can develop ketoacidosis which can be life threatening. Hypoglycemia is when someone’s blood sugar falls below 70 mg/dL. Symptoms of hypoglycemia include sweating, dizziness, shaking, blurry vision, nausea, and anxiety. Low blood sugar can be treated by eating/drinking 15grams of fast-acting carbohydrates like a glass or juice or package of fruit snacks.

fit Choices Option- Check out this lesson from Sanford fit that teaches students how to read food labels. 

Evaluate: Use the Get to Know your Pancreas Check-in printable to check for student understanding. Use it as is as a worksheet or use the questions to design a project for students such as a poster presentation or a story.

Discussion:
The pancreas has many functions. One function is in digestion. It excretes digestive enzymes into the small intestine to break down food after the stomach. It also has an endocrine function where it secretes insulin and glucagon. These two molecules are important in regulating blood sugar. Alpha cells of the pancreas make glucagon and beta cells make insulin. The small intestine absorbs glucose from all the food that has been digested and moves it into the blood stream. The glucose needs to be moved into the body’s cells such as muscle cells. In order to move into the cell, a glucose channel needs to be opened. Insulin is the molecule that allows that channel to open. When the pancreas detects glucose in the blood stream it releases insulin, which moves the glucose into cells. If cells need glucose but there is not enough glucose in the blood stream, the pancreas releases glucagon. This molecule frees up stored glucose (glycogen) from the liver and puts it into the blood stream. Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disorder where the body’s immune system attacks beta cells. This causes insulin production to stop. Many kids find out they have Type 1 Diabetes after they experience ketoacidosis, a condition where they are hyperglycemic for too long. Patients with Type 1 Diabetes need to keep track of the sugar they eat and monitor their blood sugar so they can inject the proper amount of insulin.

Sanford Connection:
Dr. Kurt Griffin has established the PLEDGE study at Sanford Health. The goal of the study is to offer screenings to all children to identify Type 1 Diabetes risk. Parents are sent a notice via Sanford My Chart inviting them to participate in the study. Parents can then decide whether or not to enroll their child in this study. The blood test identifies markers in the blood that could predict Type 1 Diabetes. A blood sample is taken and analyzed for biomarkers. If the child has two or more diabetes-related autoantibodies, they will be monitored closely.

Learn more about the PLEDGE study.

Learn more about other clinical trials.

Did you try this lesson? Tell us about your experience.

View Survey