Lesson Plan | Active Learning | Human Body: Muscular System

Assumptions: This Active Lesson Plan assumes: a 100-minute class, prior student study with both the Book and the start of Project development, and that only one activity (among the three suggested) will be chosen to be conducted during the class, as each activity is designed to take up a significant portion of the available time.

Objectives

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The objectives stage serves to guide both the teacher and students on the learning goals of the lesson. By clearly specifying what is expected to be achieved, students can better direct their prior studies and participation in class. This approach helps maximize engagement and learning effectiveness, ensuring that all involved are aligned with the desired outcomes.

Main Objectives:

1. Empower students to understand the human muscular system by identifying its main components, functions, and how they interact for body movement and support.

2. Develop the ability to correlate theoretical knowledge about the muscular system with practical applications and everyday examples.

Side Objectives:

1. Encourage critical thinking by analyzing how muscular dysfunctions can affect health and well-being.

Introduction

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The purpose of the Introduction stage is to spark students' interest and link previously studied theoretical concepts with practical and real-world situations. Problematic situations encourage students to apply their prior knowledge critically, while contextualization highlights the importance of the muscular system in daily life and extreme situations, increasing the relevance of the study and stimulating curiosity.

Problem-Based Situations

1. Imagine you are participating in a 100-meter sprint. How does the muscular system act to allow you to run quickly? Which muscles are most involved and how do they contract to generate movement?

2. Think about a basketball player jumping for a slam dunk. How does the athlete's muscular system respond to the command to jump? Which main muscles are used and how do they work together to produce that explosive movement?

Contextualization

The muscular system is essential not only for athletes but for all daily activities, from walking to holding a glass of water. Surprisingly, the heart, which is a muscle, beats about 100,000 times a day without tiring. Additionally, diseases affecting the muscular system, such as muscular dystrophies, can profoundly impact quality of life. Understanding how this system works allows for a deeper appreciation of how ingenious and adaptable the human body is.

Development

Duration: (70 - 80 minutes)

The Development stage is designed to allow students to practically and interactively apply the theoretical knowledge acquired about the muscular system. By engaging in activities that simulate real situations and require the direct application of biological concepts, students develop a deeper and more lasting understanding of the topic. Through group collaboration, they also enhance teamwork and communication skills.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended to carry out only one of the suggested activities

Activity 1 - Muscle Olympics

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Apply theoretical knowledge about the muscular system in practical situations that simulate daily muscle use and its various functions.

- Description: In this activity, students will be divided into groups of up to 5 people and will participate in a series of mini-competitions simulating different functions of the muscular system. Each station will have a specific challenge, such as lifting weights (representing muscular strength), running on a treadmill to measure endurance, and an agility game to test reflexes and coordination. Each station will have a set of theoretical questions related to the functioning of the muscles that need to be answered before starting the practical challenge.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Briefly explain each station and its respective challenge.

• Each group must correctly answer the theoretical questions in order to participate in the practical challenge.

• Allow each group to go through all stations, recording their results and answers.

• At the end, discuss the results and how different types of muscles contribute to the tested skills.

Activity 2 - Muscle Builders

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Understand the implications of muscular dysfunctions and how they impact the overall functioning of the muscular system.

- Description: Students, in groups, will have the task of 'building' a model of the muscular system using materials such as balloons to represent muscles, strings as tendons, and sponges to simulate adipose tissue. Each group will receive a description of a clinical scenario involving a muscular problem, and they must adapt the model to show how this problem would affect the normal functioning of the muscles.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Provide each group with the necessary materials to build the model.

• Distribute clinical scenarios involving muscular problems to each group.

• Groups must modify their model to represent the problem and explain the changes made.

• Each group presents their model and explains how the problem affects the muscular system.

Activity 3 - Muscle Mania Marathon

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Deepen knowledge about the muscular system through an interactive and playful approach, promoting information retention and collaborative learning.

- Description: In this activity, students will design a knowledge marathon about the muscular system. Each group will be responsible for preparing a learning station that includes a theoretical explanation, a practical experiment, and an educational game related to the muscles. After preparation, the groups will go through each station to learn and teach each other.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Assign each group an aspect of the muscular system to study and prepare a station.

• Allow the groups to prepare their stations, including theoretical material, practical experiments, and educational games.

• Organize a circuit where each group visits all the stations prepared by others.

• Discuss in a large group what was learned at each station.

Feedback

Duration: (10 - 15 minutes)

The purpose of this feedback stage is to consolidate learning, allowing students to articulate and reflect on the knowledge acquired and the practical experiences. By discussing in groups, students have the opportunity to hear different perspectives, enriching the collective understanding of the topic. Additionally, this stage helps identify areas that may need further review, ensuring that all students have a clear and comprehensive understanding of the muscular system.

Group Discussion

After completing the practical activities, gather all students for a group discussion. Start the discussion with a brief recap of the activities performed, emphasizing the crucial points of each station. Encourage groups to share their experiences, discoveries, and any challenges they faced. Ask how practical application helped solidify theoretical understanding of the muscular system. Use this opportunity for each group to briefly present the results of their activities and discuss the answers to the theoretical questions.

Key Questions

1. What were the main discoveries you made while participating in practical activities about the muscular system?

2. How did the different types of muscles behave in the challenges and what does this teach us about their function in the body?

3. In what ways can muscular dysfunctions affect daily activities and overall health?

Conclusion

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The purpose of the Conclusion stage is to consolidate learning, ensuring that students have a clear and complete understanding of the muscular system. Summarizing the contents helps reinforce students' memory and verify whether all learning objectives have been achieved. Additionally, discussing the applicability of knowledge in real contexts and the importance of the topic reinforces the relevance of Biology study for students' daily and professional lives.

Summary

In this stage, the teacher should summarize and recap the main concepts covered during the lesson, emphasizing the structure and function of the muscular system. Review the characteristics of the main types of muscles, how they contract and relax, and their importance for body movement and support.

Theory Connection

The teacher should highlight how practical activities, such as competitions and model building, helped link the theory studied previously with practical applications and everyday situations. It is essential to emphasize how theoretical knowledge manifests in physical activities and in cases of muscular dysfunctions.

Closing

To conclude, the teacher should discuss the importance of the muscular system for daily health and well-being, highlighting how understanding this system can help in the prevention of injuries and the treatment of muscular diseases. It should also emphasize how the knowledge gained in the class applies to various professions, such as medicine, sports, and physiotherapy.