Objectives (5 - 7 minutes)

1. General Understanding of the Endocrine System: The main objective is for students to acquire a solid understanding of what the endocrine system is, what are the main organs and glands that compose it, and how it functions to regulate the functions of the human body.

2. Connections with Other Systems: Students should be able to understand and explain how the endocrine system connects and interacts with other systems of the human body, such as the nervous, circulatory, and immune systems. This includes understanding how hormones are produced, transported, and affect different parts of the body.

3. Identification of Diseases and Disorders: In addition, students should be able to identify some of the main diseases and disorders that can affect the endocrine system, and how they can impact health and overall well-being.

   Secondary Objectives:

   • Stimulation of Critical Thinking: During the learning process, students should be encouraged to think critically about how the endocrine system affects their own lives and the importance of keeping this system healthy.

   • Development of Research Skills: Students should be encouraged to research more about the endocrine system and related diseases outside the classroom in order to deepen their understanding and develop independent research skills.

Introduction (10 - 15 minutes)

1. Review of Previous Content: The teacher should start the lesson by reminding students about the human body systems that have already been studied, with a special focus on the nervous and circulatory systems. This review is essential for students to establish the necessary connections to understand the endocrine system. (3 - 5 minutes)

2. Presentation of Problem Situations: Next, the teacher should present two problem situations that stimulate students' curiosity and prepare them for the content that will be covered in the lesson. For example, "Why do some people have a faster metabolism than others?" and "What causes teenagers to go through such significant physical and emotional changes during puberty?". (2 - 3 minutes)

3. Contextualization of the Subject's Importance: The teacher should explain that the endocrine system is responsible for regulating a wide variety of functions in the human body, from growth and development to mood and metabolism. Understanding this system is crucial to understanding how our body works and how we can maintain our health. (2 - 3 minutes)

4. Introduction to the Topic: To capture students' attention, the teacher can share some curiosities about the endocrine system. For example, "Did you know that the pituitary gland, which is the size of a pea, is known as the 'master of the body' because it controls other endocrine glands?" and "Did you know that the growth hormone, which is produced by the pituitary gland, is what makes us grow during childhood and adolescence?". (2 - 3 minutes)

5. Statement of Lesson Objectives: Finally, the teacher should state the learning objectives of the lesson, giving an overview of what students should be able to do or understand by the end of the lesson. (1 minute)

Development (20 - 25 minutes)

1. Activity 'Create Your Own Gland' (10 - 12 minutes)

   • Activity Description: Students will be divided into groups of 3 to 4 people. Each group will receive a large sheet of paper, colored markers, colored pencils, and post-its. They will have to draw and name a fictional 'endocrine gland,' creating a story about it, including where it is located in the body and what it does (which hormones it produces, what its function is, etc.). Then, they will have to 'attach' post-its to the drawing, representing the 'diseases' or 'disorders' that can affect that gland and how it would impact the body.

   • Step by Step:

     1. Each group must decide on a name for their gland and create a short story about it.
     2. Next, they should draw the gland and the story on the large paper, using the markers and colored pencils.
     3. Finally, they should add the post-its, representing the diseases or disorders that can affect the gland and how it would impact the body.

2. Activity 'Lost Hormone Game' (10 - 12 minutes)

   • Activity Description: Still in groups, students will participate in a customized board game. The board will have a path representing the human body, with different organs and glands scattered along the way. Each gland will have a question related to it, and if the group answers correctly, they advance in the game. The goal is to reach the end of the path, finding all the glands and answering the questions correctly.

   • Step by Step:

     1. The teacher must prepare in advance the game board, the questions, and the pieces for each group.
     2. Each group will choose a piece and place it at the beginning of the path on the game board.
     3. The starting group will be determined by a predetermined method of choice.
     4. The teacher will ask the question related to the first gland on the path. If the group answers correctly, they move one space. If they answer incorrectly, the teacher will explain the correct answer and no movement will be made.
     5. The game continues until a group reaches the end of the path. If time allows, groups can play again, exchanging questions and glands.

3. Discussion and Reflection (3 - 5 minutes)

   • Step by Step:
     1. After the conclusion of the activities, the teacher should promote a classroom discussion, where each group will have the opportunity to share their 'gland' and the diseases that affect it.
     2. The teacher should facilitate the discussion by asking questions to deepen students' understanding of the endocrine system and how diseases can affect the body.
     3. Finally, the teacher should summarize the discussion, highlighting the main learning points and how they relate to the lesson content.

Return (8 - 10 minutes)

1. Group Discussion (3 - 5 minutes)

   • Activity Description: The teacher should gather all students and promote a group discussion about the solutions or conclusions found by each group during the activities. The goal is to allow students to share their ideas and learn from each other.
   • Step by Step:
     1. The teacher should randomly select some groups to share their solutions or conclusions with the class.
     2. Each group will have up to 3 minutes to present, being encouraged to use the drawings and post-its made during the 'Create Your Own Gland' activity to assist in their presentation.
     3. During the presentations, other groups should pay attention and ask questions, if necessary.
     4. The teacher should facilitate the discussion by asking questions to stimulate critical thinking and deepen students' understanding of the endocrine system.

2. Connection to Theory (2 - 3 minutes)

   • Activity Description: After the presentations, the teacher should provide a brief summary, highlighting the main connections between the activities carried out and the theory discussed at the beginning of the lesson.
   • Step by Step:
     1. The teacher should review the drawings and post-its made by students during the 'Create Your Own Gland' activity, and highlight how they relate to the real glands of the endocrine system.
     2. Next, the teacher should review the questions and answers from the 'Lost Hormone Game' and explain how they connect to the function of endocrine glands and the hormones they produce.
     3. The teacher should reinforce the importance of understanding the endocrine system to comprehend how our body works and how we can maintain our health.

3. Individual Reflection (3 - 5 minutes)

   • Activity Description: To conclude the lesson, the teacher should propose that students reflect individually on what they have learned. This will help them consolidate their learning and identify any questions or concepts they may not have fully understood.
   • Step by Step:
     1. The teacher should suggest that students close their eyes and think for a minute about the following questions: 'What was the most important concept you learned today?' and 'What questions have not been answered yet?'.
     2. After a minute, the teacher should ask students to open their eyes and share their answers. They can do this orally, if they feel comfortable, or in writing, on a piece of paper that will be collected at the end of the lesson.
     3. The teacher should thank the students for their participation and encourage them to continue exploring the topic outside the classroom if they are interested.

Conclusion (5 - 7 minutes)

1. Summary of Contents (2 - 3 minutes)

   • Activity Description: The teacher should recap the main points covered during the lesson, reinforcing the importance of the endocrine system in regulating the functions of the human body. Additionally, they should highlight the main glands and hormones of the endocrine system, as well as some of the related diseases and disorders.
   • Step by Step:
     1. The teacher should remind students of the activities carried out and the concepts discussed, highlighting the key ideas and main outcomes.
     2. Reference should also be made to the connections established between the endocrine system and other systems of the human body, such as the nervous and circulatory systems.
     3. The teacher should conclude the recap by summarizing the lesson objectives and how they were achieved.

2. Connection of Theory with Practice (1 - 2 minutes)

   • Activity Description: The teacher should emphasize how the lesson connected the theory about the endocrine system with the practice of the activities carried out. They should explain how the 'Create Your Own Gland' activity allowed students to apply theoretical knowledge in a creative way and how the 'Lost Hormone Game' helped reinforce learning in a fun and interactive way.
   • Step by Step:
     1. The teacher should briefly review the activities carried out, highlighting how they allowed students to explore and apply theoretical knowledge in a practical and engaging way.
     2. It should be emphasized that understanding the endocrine system is essential to comprehend how our body works and how we can maintain our health, and that the activities carried out helped reinforce this understanding in a meaningful way.

3. Suggestion of Extra Materials (1 minute)

   • Activity Description: The teacher should suggest extra materials for students who wish to deepen their understanding of the endocrine system and related diseases and disorders. These materials may include books, documentaries, reliable health websites, online educational games, among others.
   • Step by Step:
     1. The teacher should share a list of extra materials with students, briefly explaining what each one covers and why they may be useful. For example, a biology book that explores the endocrine system in detail, a documentary showing the endocrine system in action, a health website providing reliable information on endocrine diseases, etc.
     2. Students should be encouraged to explore these materials outside the classroom if they are interested, and to share any findings or insights in the next lesson.

4. Relevance of the Subject (1 minute)

   • Activity Description: To conclude, the teacher should emphasize the importance of the endocrine system in students' daily lives. They should explain how the proper functioning of the endocrine system is crucial for health and well-being, and how knowledge about the endocrine system can help understand and better manage certain aspects of life, such as growth and development, mood, metabolism, among others.
   • Step by Step:
     1. The teacher should briefly summarize the key points about the importance of the endocrine system, reminding students that this system is responsible for regulating a wide variety of functions in the human body.
     2. It should be emphasized that knowledge about the endocrine system can be applied in various everyday situations, such as understanding why some people have more difficulty losing weight than others, why teenagers go through such significant physical and emotional changes during puberty, among others.