LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Science — 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.

Additional related resources

We’re in the process of aligning our content for students to the Standard Course of Study. As we do, you’ll find it here.

General resources

Aligned lesson plans

Bones and muscles
In CareerStart lessons: Grade seven, page 3.4
In this lesson for grade seven, students draw bones inside an outline of a human body, and then conduct experiments exploring how muscles work.
Format: lesson plan (grade 7 Science)
By John Boyd.Adapted by Mitzi Talbert.
Anatomy of the heart
Students develop their knowledge of the circulatory system by studying the structure and function of the heart and its vessels.
Format: lesson plan (grade 7 English Language Development and Science)
By Daniel Isenberg and Sharon Mcdonald.

Resources on the web

Young blood
In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear about how young blood can help old muscles heal faster. An experiment found that blood from younger mice stimulated stem cells in the muscles and livers of older mice. (Learn more)
Format: activity/lesson plan
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Skin as an organ
In this Science NetLinks lesson, students examine the science behind skin. Students will examine the skin and how it functions as an organ and as part of a larger body system. In order to do this lesson, students should be aware of other organ systems and... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 7 Science)
Provided by: Science Netlinks
LIFE: From diversity to DNA
A collection of four units for seventh and eighth grade science covering human body systems, genetics, cells, and microbes and disease. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 7–8 Science)
Provided by: Kenan Fellows for Curriculum and Leadership Development
Gum and heart disease
In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear about how scientists have found two kinds of oral bacteria in human artery plaque, a sticky substance that clogs blood vessels. (Learn more)
Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 7 Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Fever chill
In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear Dr. Matthew Kluger, of the Medical College of Georgia, explain why fevers give people the chills. (Learn more)
Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 6–7 Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Coping with changes
The purpose of this lesson is to understand how the nervous system allows us to learn, remember, and cope with changes in the environment. In grades 3–5, students start viewing the body as one whole system, as one whole organism. In the 6th... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 7 and 9–12 Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Cold sensors
In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, University of Florida neuroscientist Jiango Gu explains how he and his colleagues are looking for sensory molecules, called receptors, that can sense cold. (Learn more)
Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 6–8 Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
The busy brain
The purpose of this lesson is to understand how the brain receives and sends signals to the body. Until third grade, children view organs of the body as individual parts, e.g. the eyes are for seeing; the stomach digests food. At this level students are... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 7 Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Bottled model lungs
Students will learn about the respiratory system by comparing and contrasting models, building their own models, and giving one another feedback. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 7 Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Body temperature
In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear about how our bodies constantly generate heat because of our metabolism. We have to constantly lose heat to maintain our normal temperature. (Learn more)
Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 7 Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Big heads
In this Science Update from Science NetLinks, students hear about the role brain size plays in intelligence. If somebody is really smart, other people might say: “She's got a really big brain.” But when it comes to brains, does size really matter? (Learn more)
Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 7 Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Bear bones
This Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear about how hibernating bears avoid bone loss and why this may be relevant to human osteoporosis. (Learn more)
Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 7 Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science