Unit Cover Page

Topic:______Muscular System____________
Title:_____Muscular System_____
Subject/Course:__Human Biology______

Grades:___11-

12__

Stage1---Desired Results
Content Standards:
Arizona Science Standard
S3, C5, PO1 Describe the levels of organization of living things from cells, through tissues,
organs, organ systems, organisms, populations, and communities to ecosystems.
Next Generations Science Standards
LS1.A: Structure and Function

HS-LS1-1: Systems of specialized cells within organisms help them perform the essential
functions of life.
Enduring Understanding/Big Idea:
The structure and function of muscle in the muscular system work together to insure proper body
movement.
Essential Questions: Write 2- 4 questions..
What provocative questions will foster inquiry, understanding and spark more questions? What
questions will help students develop and deepen their understandings?
1. What is the difference between dark meat and white meat on a chicken?
2. Why does a dead body undergo rigor mortis?
3. Why is your bottom named Gluteus Maximus?

Performance tasks:
Muscle model- Students will show that they understand muscle anatomy by building a clay model
of a skeletal muscle. This model will include the muscle belly, 3 fascicles, 9 muscle fibers and 27
myofbrils.
Sliding filament theory or contraction cycle presentation- Students will show their understanding
of the sliding filament theory or contraction cycle by creating a project (can be a physical model,
PowerPoint, or other presentation). Students will have the option of working with up to two
partners.
Muscle microscope lab- Students will examine pre-prepared slides of different muscle tissues and
try to Identify the type of muscle tissue and provide reasons for their decision?
the Rigor mortis model-Given the Rigor mortis scenario each lab group of four students will be
asked to use what they have learned regarding the biochemical processes in muscle contraction
to hypothesize a cause of this phenomenon and support their hypothesis with evidence to argue

their point of view to the class.

Muscular activity research-Students will write a paper or provide a presentation explaining the
muscular activity that takes place during a physical activity. This activity is self-selected by the
student according to their interest it can be a sporting, dance, or exercise activity. In their
description students will use the technical vocabulary learned over the course of the unit in
context.

Stage 3----Learning Plan

Learning Activities:
See attached calendar for detailed lessons and activities.
Attach a detailed planning calendar that maps out activities and lessons for a 2+ week unit. Use
a variety of instructional strategies (modeling, interactive lecture, discussion, primary document
analysis, debate, simulation, graphic organizers, student presentations, etc).

Resources and Materials

Resources:
Short animation on smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and skeletal muscle:
http://www.learnerstv.com/animation/animation.php?ani=242&cat=biology
Muscle contraction video clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2p73iuKJGY&feature=related
Neuromuscular junction video clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZscXOvDgCmQ
Muscle movement video clip:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=origin%20insertion%20muscle
%20movement&qs=n&form=QBVR&pq=origin%20insertion%20muscle%20movement&sc=024&sp=-1&sk=#view=detail&mid=E991F649DCF9F42BC059E991F649DCF9F42BC059
Sliding filament theory video clip:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?
q=How+Muscles+Work+Animation&Form=VQFRVP#view=detail&mid=0B8D018735A6F310F337
0B8D018735A6F310F337
Connective tissue wrappings video:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?
q=Endomysium&qs=n&form=QBVR&pq=endomysium&sc=810&sp=&sk=#view=detail&mid=3CDC4E6D79D640EB856F3CDC4E6D79D640EB856F

Unit Calendar
For each class period, list the topic of the day, as well as main learning activities.
(Insert or delete days of the week as appropriate for your school district calendar. Add
or delete weeks depending on the length of your unit.)

MONDAY
Introduction
Small group work
Model creation
Group
introduction to
the puzzling
phenomenon of
why does a body
undergo rigor
mortis after
death? Students
work in small
groups to come
up with some
ideas as to why
this happens.
They document
their thinking on
poster paper.

TUESDAY
Discussion
Lab activity
Presentation of
new material
Student note
takers
Three types of
muscles
(skeletal,
Cardiac,
Smooth). Brief
anticipatory
class discussion
about the three
types of muscles
and their
functions.
Mystery muscle
lab. White board
share-out FA.
Discussion and
presentation of
material
(students using
note-taker) to
insure the
correct ideas are
understood.

WEDNESDAY
Project intro
Small group
activity
Animation
Exit ticket
Muscular Activity
project
introduction and
description.
Project due at the
end of the unit.
Worksheet on the
three different
muscle tissues.
Intro to muscle
characteristics
small group
activity followed
by group sharing
and discussion.
Short animation
on smooth
muscle, cardiac
muscle, and
skeletal muscle.
3 types of muscle
exit ticket

THURSDAY
Small group lever
activity
Class discussion
Video clip
Presentation of
new material
Student note
takers
Exit ticket
Skeletal muscle
functions, muscle
and body
movement, types
of skeletal
muscles (primary
mover,
antagonist,
synergist,
fixator).
Hands on
lever activity in
partner groups.
Class discussion
on muscles and
movement.
Video clip on
muscles and
movement.
Presentation of
material with
students

FRIDAY
Quiz review
game
Quiz
Presentation of
new material
Student note
takers
Class discussion
Muscle color
code activity
Class Quiz
Review Game.
Instructional &
functional
organization of
muscle quiz.
Naming
convention
introduction &
class discussion
with students
completing notetaker.
Discussion of
essential
question: Why is
your bottom
named Gluteus
Maximus?
Begin Anterior

completing notetaker.

Continue Anterior
and posterior
muscle color
coding activity.
Round robin
activity with a
different muscle
model set up at
each lab station
with one or two
questions.

Video reviewing
how the body
reflexes work.
Reflex Arc, nerve
stimulus/action
potential,
neuromuscular
junction
presentation with
students filling
out note-taker.
Reflex arc-out of
seat small group
activity.
Neuromuscular
junction video
clip.
Muscle
contraction video
clip.

Quiz Review
Game Anterior
muscle quiz
Revisit rigor
mortis model
and modify and
discuss as a
class.

Microscopic
anatomy of
skeletal muscle
introduction.
Sliding filament
theory video clip.
Class discussion,
Start sliding
filament theory
presentation with
students
completing notetaker.
Introduce sliding
filament project
and select
partners.
Exit ticket.

Class Quiz Review

Game. Posterior
muscle quiz
Connective tissue
wrapping
anticipatory
activity.

Continue sliding
filament theory
presentation.

Skeletal muscle
functions, muscle
and body
movement, types
of skeletal
muscles exit
ticket
Introduction to
connective tissue
wrappings and
attachments.
Students
complete notetaker.
Short video
whole class
discussion.

Small group
sliding filament
theory activity.

Contraction cycle
presentation with
student
completing notetaker.
Contraction cycle
animation.

Whole class
discussion on
sliding filament
theory.

Whole class
game on
muscle
physiology.
Exit ticket

and posterior
muscle color
coding activity.

Muscle model
clay activity
Exit ticket.

Class Quiz
Review Game.
Muscle
physiology quiz.
Work with
partner on sliding
filament theory
presentation.

Exit ticket.

Muscular activity
presentations.

Introduce effects
of exercise and
fast vs slow
twitch muscle,
students
competing
notetaker.
Small group
activity.
Discussion of
essential
question: What is
the difference
between dark
meat and white
meat on a
chicken?
Exit ticket.

Finalize rigor
mortis model
followed by class
discussion and
thorough
explanation.
Discussion of
essential
question: Why
does a dead body
undergo rigor
mortis?
Muscular system
round robin
review.

sliding filament
presentations

Written unit
exam.