Exploring Human Movement

Overview

This lesson plan is designed for Year 10 students in New Zealand and focuses on the Biology component of movement, specifically exploring the musculoskeletal and locomotor systems. Curriculum links will be detailed, and activities will encourage active participation, critical thinking, and collaborative learning tailored to New Zealand education standards.

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Curriculum Links

New Zealand Curriculum Area: Science
Strand: Living World
Achievement Objective: Life Processes – Level 5 of NZ Curriculum

• Recognise and explain why humans have body systems for movement.
• Understand the interactions between structures in the musculoskeletal system and their role in human movement.

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Lesson Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will:

1. Identify the key components of the human musculoskeletal system (bones, muscles, joints, ligaments, and tendons).
2. Understand how muscles and bones work together to enable movement.
3. Demonstrate how joints and muscles function during particular movements.

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Resources Required

• Skeleton model or diagram (poster or digital image to display on a screen).
• Plasticine or Play-Doh (for creating simplified muscle-and-bone models).
• Resistance bands (lightweight) or an alternative like rubber bands.
• Large sheets of paper and markers.
• Printable diagrams of major joints in the human body (e.g., knee, elbow).
• Stopwatch or timer (optional).
• Clean open space for practical activities.

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Lesson Structure (80 minutes)

1. Warm-Up Activity: Joint Hunt (10 minutes)

Purpose: Activate prior knowledge and set the scene.

1. Begin with an energiser: Ask students to stand and identify movable joints on their own body by moving them (e.g., elbows, knees, shoulders, wrists).
2. Share with students a fun fact about the human body (e.g., "Did you know the human body has 206 bones, but you started with about 300 when you were born?").
3. Ask questions like:
   • "Which of these joints can move in all directions?"
   • "Where do you think the muscles are attached to the bones to make this happen?"

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2. Learning Activity: Human Movement 101 (15 minutes)

Purpose: Teach the foundational knowledge about the musculoskeletal system in an interactive way.

1. Display a diagram of the skeleton and briefly introduce the key parts associated with movement:

   • Bones (e.g., femur, humerus).
   • Joints (types such as ball-and-socket, hinge).
   • Muscles (and their pairing system for contraction).
   • Ligaments and tendons.

2. Hand out plasticine or Play-Doh to students. Challenge them to create a simplified model of how muscles attach to bones via tendons. (Quick demo: Roll two "bones" and use a small strand of "muscle" to connect them.)

3. Explain how antagonistic muscles (e.g., biceps and triceps) work, using simple arm movements (bending and straightening).

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3. Hands-On Exploration: Body in Motion (25 minutes)

Purpose: Apply the knowledge of movement through physical activities and observation.

1. Stretching Station: Provide resistance bands to demonstrate how muscles contract and relax. Ask students to observe which muscles are in use during different stretches or movements.
2. Joint Models: Using printable diagrams of specific joints (e.g., elbow, knee), guide students to identify:
   • Type of joint (hinge, ball-and-socket, etc.).
   • Movement allowed (e.g., flexion, extension).
3. Movement Challenge (Fun Group Activity):
   • Each student selects a movement (e.g., throwing a ball, running, squatting).
   • Observe the movement: Which joints and muscles are involved? Which muscles are contracting or relaxing?
   • Students present their observations in small demonstrations.

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4. Reflection and Consolidation: Movement in Action (20 minutes)

Purpose: Consolidate learning and assess understanding.

1. Provide students with large sheets of paper and markers to work collaboratively:
   • Draw a diagram linking muscles and bones used during one movement.
   • Annotate it with terms like "hinge joint," "biceps contract," etc.
2. Facilitate a brief discussion: How does understanding human movement connect to sports, health, or everyday activities? (Encourage links to te ao Māori perspectives, for example, the importance of movement in kapa haka or traditional Māori sports.)

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5. Cool Down: Fascinating Facts and Quick Quiz (10 minutes)

Purpose: Reinforce learning and end on a high note.

1. Share a few fascinating facts about movement (e.g., "Your strongest muscle, pound for pound, is the masseter—or jaw muscle!").
2. Conduct a Quick Quiz:
   • Name one muscle group that works during a squat.
   • What type of joint allows rotational movement?
   • True or false: Ligaments connect muscles to bones.

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Differentiation and Adaptations

• For advanced learners: Include an extension task to discuss injuries (e.g., torn ligaments) and how the body repairs itself.
• For kinaesthetic learners: Emphasise hands-on activities (e.g., resistance band demonstrations).
• For visual learners: Use diagrams, videos (if available), and models effectively.

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Homework/Extension

Challenge students to research how technology supports human movement (e.g., prosthetics or robotic technology). Alternatively, they could observe and record the movement mechanics of an animal and identify similarities or differences with humans.

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Teacher Notes

• Embrace culturally responsive teaching by linking the lesson to the unique relationship Māori have with physical well-being, active bodies, and kapa haka traditions.
• Build in moments for student voice and reflection to personalise the lesson.
• Monitor student engagement, especially during hands-on tasks, and offer prompts if needed.

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This lesson plan brings biology to life, offering a multi-sensory approach to human movement that encourages active involvement and critical thinking. It incorporates age-appropriate, fun, and challenging activities aligned with the curriculum.