Skeletal System Complete Lesson Plan - MS

This complete unit equips middle school teachers with everything needed to teach the structure and function of the skeletal system. Students explore how bones provide support, protection, and movement, as well as how the skeletal system interacts with other body systems. The resource includes editable presentations, worksheets, student-choice projects, a differentiated station lab, and assessments. Designed for multiday instruction with minimal prep, it emphasizes student-led, differentiated learning, giving teachers more time to focus on student success.

Essential Questions for Students

• What is the main function of the skeletal system and how is it structured?

• What are the main organs associated with this system?

Note for Texas teachers: This lesson aligns with the 2017 TEKS and will not be updated for the 2021 standards.

Key Features

• Differentiated resources for students who need additional support

• Multimodal activities to engage different learning styles

• Maximum flexibility—resources available in both printable and digital formats

• Editable PowerPoints for classroom customization

• Spanish translations of vocabulary, a station lab passage, and interactive notebook pages

Instructional Framework: The 5E Model

This lesson is designed around the 5E instructional model—Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate—providing a balance of inquiry, guided practice, and assessment.

Engage

• Objectives and Word Wall Cards (English & Spanish)

• Teacher file with ideas for discussions, activities, and notes on misconceptions

Explore

• A nine-station, student-led lab introducing the skeletal system’s functions and structures

Input Stations:

• Explore It! – Hands-on demonstration or experiment

• Read It! – Differentiated passages (English & Spanish) with comprehension questions

• Research It! – Guided online activity with structured student tasks

• Watch It! – Short video with discussion prompts

Output Stations:

• Organize It! – Card sorts and categorization (printable and digital)

• Write It! – Open-ended responses in complete sentences

• Illustrate It! – Sketching/drawing skeletal system concepts

• Assess It! – Vocabulary-in-context and mastery-based questions

Bonus Station:

• Challenge It! – Puzzles, crosswords, and mini-projects for enrichment or early finishers

Explain

• Editable PowerPoints in standard and interactive versions

• Interactive Notebook templates (digital & print, English & Spanish)

• Guided note-taking templates

Elaborate

• Student-choice projects on the skeletal system for extended learning in class or at home

Evaluate

• Assessments updated for STAAR 2.0, available in standard and modified versions

• Review worksheets and class discussion questions for practice, homework, or test review

Flexible Learning Options

This lesson is designed for both in-person and virtual instruction. The digital station lab and interactive notebook resources are fully compatible with PowerPoint and Google Slides, making them simple to use in blended or online classrooms.

This is a finished product; it will be updated with formatting or corrections as needed. Future improvements and new features will be sold as a separate product.