Inquiry Lesson Plan

Teacher: Content & Title: Grade Level:

Taryn Johnston Mysteries of the Musculoskeletal System 6th

Standard:
Strand 4: Life Science
Concept 1: Structure and Function in Living Systems
PO 7. Describe how the various systems of living organisms work together to perform a vital function:
respiratory and circulatory
muscular and skeletal
digestive and excretory
Objective:
SWBAT explain how the muscular and skeletal system work together to perform essential functions.
Evidence of Mastery:
(formative)- The formative assessment will be completed during the Explore phase of the lesson.
The assessment will be a simple check-off of students based on their presentations and
completion of the KWL chart.
(summative)- The summative assessment will be completed duing the Evaluate phase of the lesson.
The assessment will be an exit ticket in which students will explain: The 3 essential functions of the
musculoskeletal system and how muscles and bones work together to perform these functions.
Sub-objectives:
SWBAT explain the functions and purpose of the musular system.
SWBAT explain the functions and purpose of the skeletal system.
Lesson Summary and Justification:
The students are learning about various systems of the body and how those systems work together in a 3
week long unit. This lesson is in the midst of the body systems unit; after students have learned about the
structure and fuctions of each system individually. Now that students understand the structure and
functions of the skeletal and muscular systems, they are ready to study how those two systems work
together to help perform vital functions such as sitting, walking, standing, etc.
Background Knowledge:
Students will need to know the essential functions of the Muscular and Skeletal Systems.
Misconception:
Students may not understand that a joint is made up of muscles and bones.
Students may not understand that the musculoskeletal system is simply the muscular and skeletal
system combined. There is no difference.
Process Skills:
Introducting
Reinforcing
Compare and Contrast
Relating
Communication
Applying
Safety:
Be careful with scissors. No playing with scissors while they are being used and close and put
scissors flat on the table when not being used.
Be careful with brads. They are to be used when building the joint only and will not be used as toys
or used to poke neighbors.
Be careful when researching online. Limit search to the websites provided.
Inquiry Questions:
1. (to explore) - What are the essential functions of the musculoskeletal system?
2. (to elaborate) - How do joints, bones, and muscles work together to perform essential function
functions?
Key vocabulary: Materials:
1. Musculoskeletal Relating to or meaning the 1. KWL Chart (1 per Student)
muscles and skeleton together. 2. Your Super Skeleton! Video
2. Tendon A tough band of connective tissue that (htt ps://youtu.be/vRuh9aBwUdM )
connects muscle to bone. 3. Chrombook
3. Ligamnet A tough band of connective tissue that 4. Joint Template (1 per Student)
connects bones to bones. 5. Red Yarn 12 (2 per Student)
4. Joint The area where two bones attach allowing 6. Scissors
body parts to move. 7. Hole Punch
5. Essential (Vital) Fuction Any function of the body 8. Glue Stick
that is essential for life (breathing, walking, sitting, 9. Clear Tape
standing, etc.). 10. Metal Brads (1 per Student)
11. Large White Construction Paper (1 per
Student)
12. Markers, Crayons, Colored Pencils
Engage

Teacher Will: Students Will:

Present students with their KWL Chart. This will On their own, students will complete the
be used to activate prior knowledge. K or Know section of the KWL chart.
Have students complete the K or Know Volunteers will share with the class.
section of the KWL chart alone. Ask students, With their shoulder partner, students will
What do you know about muscles and bones complete the W or Want to Know
and their function? Have students share with section of the chart. Volunteers will share
the class. with the class.
Then, have students work with their shoulder Students will watch Your Super Skeleton!
partner to complete the W or Want to video.
Know section of the chart. Ask a few
volunteers to share what they hope to learn
about muscles and bones.
Now, show Your Super Skeleton! video.
(htt ps://youtu.be/vRuh9aBwUdM )
IQ #1: What are the essential functions of the
musculoskeletal system?
Best Teaching Practice Strategy/Differentiation/ELL and Teacher Notes
The purpose of the first E, Engage, is to hook the students attention and activate prior knowledge. I utilize
the KWL chart to activate prior knowledge and get an idea of what the students remember from previous
lessons and their overall knowledge of the subject. There is very little instruction from myself during this
time because I dont want to put ideas in their heads, I want to know what they personally understand. I
also plan to show a quick video after students begin their KWL chart to recap what they have already
learned about the musculoskeltal system and introduce, briefly, what they will be exploring in this lesson.
There are no ELL students in the class this lesson will be taught in; however, there are several, high
functioning, Autistic students in the class and those students come with their own personal aid who helps
them through the class.
Explore

Teacher Will: Students Will:

IQ #1: What are the essential functions of the Students will get with assigned group.
musculoskeletal system? Students will each use a Chromebook to
Put students in groups of 4. research what a joint is and how they help
Have groups use their Chromebooks to perform essential functions.
research what a joint is and how they help Students will use the following websites
perform essential functions. for research:
Ideas for research may include, but arent 1. http://www.theschoolrun.com/home
limited to; what is a joint, major bones and work-help/bones-and-muscles
muscles around joint, major actions performed 2. http://kidshealth.org/en/kids/center/
by joint, how are bones, muscles, and joints htbw-main-page.html
related. 3. http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/bon
Provide students with specific websites they es-muscles-joints.html#
can use for their research: 4. http://www.ck12.org/book/CK-12-
1. http://www.theschoolrun.com/homework Life-Science-Concepts-For-Middle-
-help/bones-and-muscles School/section/11.10/
2. http://kidshealth.org/en/kids/center/htb Once research is completed, students will
w-main-page.html build their elbow joint using the template
3. http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/bones- and materials provided.
muscles-joints.html#
4. http://www.ck12.org/book/CK-12-Life-
Science-Concepts-For-Middle-
School/section/11.10/
Once students have completed their research,
students will build their elbow joint using the
template and materials provided. They will
work with their group; however, each student
will build their own.
Best Teaching Practice Strategy/Differentiation/ELL and Teacher Notes
During the Explore phase of the lesson, I will pose IQ #1 for students to begin researching and exploring. I
tried to give students a few guidelines to focus and guide their research; however, I was intentionally vague
in what specific information I expected students to discover in order to see what they found important. I did
give examples of information they could research if they were stuck however. I have students working in
groups because I believe that two heads are better than one and students should explore together and
build off of each others knowledge. They can also help each other without me having to give explicit
instruction. As far as building their elbow joint model, students have instructions on how to assemble the
joint because I want them to have a tangible model so they can visibly see how muscles interract with
bones to create movement.
Explain

Teacher Will: Students Will:

Once students have completed their notes and
joint model, have each group share what they
learned, how they would answer IQ #1, and
demonstrate ONE way muscles and bones work
together to help us move. Students cannot use
the elbow joint they built or a joint or action
demonstrated by another group. Each group
Once students have completed their notes
and joint model, each group shares what
they learned, how they would answer IQ
#1, and demonstrate ONE way muscles
and bones work together to help us move.
Each student will participate in sharing.
After each group shares, students will,
 member must participate in sharing. independently, complete the L or
Suppliment students research as necessary to Learned section of the KWL chart based
clarify, ensure accurate content explanations, on their research and group presentations.
and fill in any gaps. Volunteers may share.
After each group shares, have students,
independently, complete the L or Learned
section of the KWL chart based on their
research and group presentations. Allow
volunteers to share.
Formative assessment will be completed at
this time. The assessment will be a simple
check-off of students based on their
presentations and completion of the KWL
chart.
Best Teaching Practice Strategy/Differentiation/ELL and Teacher Notes
I have students sharing their findings and coming up with one demonstration for the class because, again, I
believe that students learn best from one another. I think it is helpful for students to hear information from
their peers even if they have redundant information. I do; however, believe that simply allowing the
students to teach the majority of the lesson is not always beneficial for everyone which is why I will clarify
and jump in when necessary. It is also required that each student participates and shares something during
this time; this holds everyone accountable for their learning and also allows me to hear each student and
perform a, quick, formative assessment. Students will also complete the last section of their KWL chart so
that they have concrete notes and can see what they have learned.
Elaborate

Teacher Will: Students Will:

IQ #2: How do joints, bones, and muscles work
together to perform essential function functions?

Have you ever broken a bone, strained a muscle, or Students will share their stories about
sprained a ligament? How did it happen and how did it bone and muscle related injuries they have
affect your movement? What if we were playing a sustained and how it affected their
sport or exercising; how do our muscles and bones movement.
work together to keep us safe and our joints healthy? Help , brainstorm ways our muscles and
Have students share their stories about bone bones work together to prevent injury and
and muscle related injuries they have sustained keep us safe during physical activity.
and how it affected their movement. Work with small group to brainstorm how
As a class, recap what students found regarding to be safe and protect our bones and
muscle and bones working together to perform muscles during physical activity.
essential functions. Write main points on the Each student will pick one safety tip and
board. (primary functions include support of create a poster illustrating their safety tip.
the body, providing movement, and protecting
vital organs.)
Then, as a class, brainstorm ways our muscles
and bones work together to prevent injury and
keep us safe during physical activity. Write
ideas and main points on the board for class.
Now, have students brainstorm, in their groups,
how to be safe and protect our bones and
muscles during physical activity.
 Have each student pick one safety tip and
create a poster illustrating their safety tip.
Hang the posters on the PE bulletin board!
Best Teaching Practice Strategy/Differentiation/ELL and Teacher Notes
The Elaborate phase provides an opportunity for me to extend the activity and elaborate on what the
students have learned. This also gives the class a chance to apply their new knowledge and relate it to their
personal experiences. I have the students creating a safety poster as a quick and fun extension activity in
which they can relate what they have just learned to their every day lives.
Evaluate

Teacher Will: Students Will:

Provide students with an exit ticket. Students will complete exit ticket and turn in
Explain exit ticket to students. before leaving class.
1. Explain 3 essential functions of the
musculoskeletal system. Possible
Answer: 1. Support of the body 2.
Providing movement 3. Protecting vital
organs.
2. How do muscles and bones work
together to perform these functions?
Possible Answer: Bones provide basic
postural support because of their solid
structure and muscle contractions also
provide postural support and enables us
to remain in a particular position. Bones
provide a place for muscles to attach and
muscles contract and relax in order to
move bones and joints to create
movement. Bones such as the rib cage
provide protection by enclosing vital
organs such as the heart and lungs and
muscles act as an overall covering.
Simply put; What does the musculoskeletal
system do and how?
Have students turn in exit ticket before they
leave.
Closure:
The closure of my lesson will be wrapped up in the Elaborate phase. Asking students to relate the content to
their own personal lives and experiences helps students understand the content more deeply as well as
understand its relevance and importance in their own lives. Students will revisist and demonstrate their
knowledge of the content while completing their exit ticket.