How can you tell they’ve got it: Digestion & Enzymes?

If they’ve got it, you’ll see things like: Traces the journey of food from mouth to large intestine, naming each organ and its role; Explains what enzymes do and names where they are produced (salivary glands, stomach, small intestine); Distinguishes physical digestion (chewing, churning) from chemical digestion. Or just try it together: If your child ate a meal with you, could they describe what happens to the food step by step as it travels through the body — naming the organs it passes through and what each one does?

Science Organisms & Life Processes Ages 11–13

Digestion & Enzymes

Your child can trace food from mouth to gut, naming each organ. Special helpers called enzymes break the food into pieces small enough for the body to use.

In curriculum terms

Describe the organs of the human digestive system and how food is physically and chemically digested, including the role of enzymes as biological catalysts

Ages are typical, not deadlines — follow your child’s pace. How to help at home →

How to tell they’ve got it

Tick these off as you see them — no test required.

Traces the journey of food from mouth to large intestine, naming each organ and its role
Explains what enzymes do and names where they are produced (salivary glands, stomach, small intestine)
Distinguishes physical digestion (chewing, churning) from chemical digestion

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Try this together

If your child ate a meal with you, could they describe what happens to the food step by step as it travels through the body — naming the organs it passes through and what each one does?

Where this sits on the map

Stuck here? Check the skills it builds on first. Confident? Here’s what it unlocks.

Builds on

The Digestive Systemages 8–9KS3 digestive system (enzymes, organs in detail) extends KS2 basic digestive system overview

Cells to Organ Systemsages 11–12The digestive system is an organ system — the hierarchy concept gives the structural framework

Nutrients in a Healthy Dietages 11–13Digestion is the mechanism by which nutrients from diet become available to cells

Digestion & Enzymesthis skill · ages 11–13

Unlocks

Gut Bacteria & Digestionages 12–13Understanding gut microbiome requires first knowing the digestive system structure and function

Effects of Drugs & Alcoholages 13–14Drug effects on the body are best understood in context of the organ systems they affect, including the digestive system

solid = must come firstdashed = helps

Curriculum alignment

Where this fits in the official school curriculum — our best automated guess, not yet checked by a person.

This skill sits outside the F–6 Australian Curriculum — no candidate code matched (v0.1). No NSW K–6 outcome code matched (v0.1). No Victorian Curriculum 2.0 code matched (v0.1).

Nearby on the map

Calculating Dietary Energyages 11–13 Cells to Organ Systemsages 11–12 Cells Under the Microscopeages 11–12 Diet Imbalance & Deficiencyages 11–13

All Organisms & Life Processes skills →