Tiny Helpers: Microvilli in the Intestines!

What are microvilli? What do they look like and what do they do?

Let’s explore how a puppy’s intestines uses the breakfast he eats! In this lesson, you will learn where the microvilli are located within the GI tract and what they do.

Lesson

Watch this video about Mike the Mighty Microvilli to learn more about where the microvilli are located and what they do!

Activities

Crafting Microvilli Models

Put your knowledge into art! We will pretend that the Play-Doh is the intestinal wall. Roll the Play-Doh out into a long pancake! Use your pipe cleaners and stick them into the Play-Doh. Pretend that these are the microvilli in the intestines. Try and use as many pipe cleaners as possible. There will be many layers, just like in the intestines.

Assessment

Share your Play-Doh creation with your classmates. Make sure to point out the intestines and the microvilli. Partner up with a friend and explain what the microvilli do in the intestines.

Further exploration

Watch this episode of the Magic School Bus GI System and look at the microvilli inside of a human body: