Muscular System Functions Complete Science Lesson - New TEKS 7.13A

This complete unit equips middle school teachers with everything needed to teach the functions and importance of the muscular system. Students investigate how muscles support survival by enabling both voluntary and involuntary movements and by protecting the body. 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 so teachers can focus on guiding student success.

Essential Questions for Students

• What is the main function of the muscular system?

• How can we model the main functions of these tissues and organs?

Standards Alignment: Meets 2021 TEKS standard 7.13A.

Key Features

• Differentiated supports for students who need remediation or enrichment

• Multimodal activities to sustain engagement and accommodate diverse learners

• Maximum flexibility—resources provided 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 follows the 5E instructional model—Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate—providing a balanced mix of inquiry, guided practice, and assessment.

Engage

• Objectives and Word Wall Cards (English & Spanish)

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

Explore

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

Input Stations:

• Explore It! – Hands-on demonstration or experiment

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

• Research It! – Guided online activity with structured tasks

• Watch It! – Short video with discussion prompts

Output Stations:

• Organize It! – Categorization and card sort activities (printable and digital)

• Write It! – Open-ended written responses

• Illustrate It! – Drawing/sketching muscular system concepts

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

Bonus Station:

• Challenge It! – Puzzles, games, and mini-projects for early finishers

Explain

• Editable PowerPoints in both standard and interactive versions

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

• Note-taking templates for guided learning

Elaborate

• Student-choice projects on the muscular system’s parts and functions to extend or apply learning

Evaluate

• Assessments updated for STAAR 2.0, with both 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 implement in blended or online learning environments.

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