Bones and muscles
In this lesson for grade seven, students draw bones inside an outline of a human body, and then conduct experiments exploring how muscles work.
A lesson plan for grade 7 Science
Provided by CareerStart
Learning outcomes
Students will gain an understanding of how muscles and bones work together.
Teacher preparation
Time required for lesson
Two class periods (45-55 minutes each)
Materials needed
- Sheets of butcher paper long enough for one student to lie down — enough for two sheets per group of 3-4 students
- Markers
- “Making Muscles Move” handout — one copy for each student
- Two 2″x 6″ cardboard strips for each group (cereal boxes work well for this)
- Two paper fasteners for each group
- Tape
- Hole puncher
- One red balloon and one blue balloon for each group (any two different colors will work)
Activities
- Divide the class into groups of 3 to 4.
- Have one student in each group lie on the butcher paper and have the other students in the group trace the outline of the student’s body.
- Ask the students to draw the skeleton in the outline of the body. Instruct students to label the bones that they draw in. (You may decide to let the students use a visual aid such as a diagram or skeleton model, or you may ask the students to work from their own knowledge. If you have the students work from their own knowledge, prepare a class version students can use to compare with their work.)
- Ask students what holds bones together and helps them move.
- At the beginning of the second class period, introduce the “Making Muscles Move” activity and distribute the student handouts. Guide students through the activity, in which students use cardboard and balloons to make models of their arm muscles. Students then do a series of stretches and try to determine which muscles are being stretched.
- After students have completed this activity, ask them what careers would need to learn about bones and muscles. (Answers may include radiologists, fitness instructors, recreational therapists, radiation therapists, physicians, coroners, etc.)
Websites
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Optional resources for more information on the topics covered in this lesson
- Mr. Bones: Human Body Module
- Students can learn how the human skeleton and muscles work, then reassemble a human skeleton after he falls apart.
- The Virtual Body
- In both English and Spanish, students can tour the human skeleton and learn about its function, build a skeleton, and get more details on bones.
- Your Gross and Cool Body: Muscular System
- This FAQ page about the muscular system gives students basic information about what muscles do.
- NASA: Why Do Workouts Work?
- Because muscles atrophy in space, it is important for NASA scientists to explore how and why exercise causes muscles to grow to help astronauts.
- Careers in Orthopaedics
- The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons provides information about the scope of orthopaedics, educational requirements, and options for practice.
North Carolina curriculum alignment
Science (2005)
Grade 7
- Goal 4: The learner will conduct investigations, use models, simulations, and appropriate technologies and information systems to build an understanding of the complementary nature of the human body system.
- Objective 4.01: Analyze how human body systems interact to provide for the needs of the human organism:
- Musculoskeletal.
- Cardiovascular.
- Endocrine and Nervous.
- Digestive and Circulatory.
- Excretory.
- Reproductive.
- Respiratory.
- Immune.
- Nervous system.
- Objective 4.02: Describe how systems within the human body are defined by the functions it performs.
- Objective 4.01: Analyze how human body systems interact to provide for the needs of the human organism:
- North Carolina Essential Standards
- Science (2010)
Grade 7
- 7.L.1 Understand the processes, structures and functions of living organisms that enable them to survive, reproduce and carry out the basic functions of life. 7.L.1.1 Compare the structures and life functions of single-celled organisms that carry out all of...
- Science (2010)
