Excretory System Complete Lesson Plan - MS

This complete unit provides middle school teachers with everything needed to teach the structure and function of the excretory system. Students explore how the body removes waste and maintains homeostasis by learning about the main organs and their roles. The resource includes editable presentations, worksheets, student-choice projects, a differentiated station lab, and assessments. Designed for multiday use with minimal prep, it emphasizes student-led, differentiated learning, giving teachers time to focus on facilitating mastery.

Essential Questions for Students

• What is the main function of the excretory 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 remediation or enrichment

• Multimodal learning activities to engage all learning styles

• Flexible delivery—resources provided in both printable and digital formats

• Editable PowerPoints for classroom customization

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

Instructional Framework: The 5E Model

This lesson is structured 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 discussion prompts, engaging activities, and notes on misconceptions

Explore

• A nine-station, student-led lab introducing the structure, functions, and major organs of the excretory system

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 student tasks

• Watch It! – Short video with discussion prompts

Output Stations:

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

• Write It! – Open-ended written responses

• Illustrate It! – Sketching/drawing excretory system concepts

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

Bonus Station:

• Challenge It! – Enrichment tasks such as puzzles, games, and mini-projects for early finishers

Explain

• Editable PowerPoints in both standard and interactive versions

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

• Guided note-taking templates

Elaborate

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

Evaluate

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

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

Flexible Learning Options

This lesson is designed for both in-person and virtual instruction. The digital station lab and interactive notebook materials are fully compatible with PowerPoint and Google Slides, making them easy 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.