Respiratory System Complete Lesson Plan - MS

This complete unit equips middle school teachers with everything needed to teach the structure and function of the respiratory system. Students explore how this body system supplies oxygen and removes carbon dioxide, while learning about its major organs and processes. 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 the flexibility to focus on student engagement and mastery.

Essential Questions for Students

• What is the main function of the respiratory 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 supports for students who need remediation or enrichment

• Multimodal activities to keep middle school students motivated and engaged

• 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 built around the 5E instructional model—Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate—balancing inquiry, guided practice, and assessment.

Engage

• Objectives and Word Wall Cards (English & Spanish)

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

Explore

• A nine-station, student-led lab introducing the functions, organs, and processes of the respiratory system

Input Stations:

• Explore It! – Hands-on demo or experiment

• Read It! – Differentiated reading 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! – Printable and digital card sorts for categorization

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

• Illustrate It! – Sketching/drawing respiratory system concepts

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

Bonus Station:

• Challenge It! – Games, puzzles, or mini-projects for enrichment or early finishers

Explain

• Editable PowerPoints in standard and interactive formats

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

• Guided note-taking organizers

Elaborate

• Student-choice projects on the respiratory system to extend learning in class or at home

Evaluate

• Assessments updated for STAAR 2.0, with standard and modified versions

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

Flexible Learning Options

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

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.