1. The Musculoskeletal System
Unit 5
The Musculoskeletal System

2. Essential Questions
What are the functions of the musculoskeltal system?
What are the main bones of our body, what muscles attach to them, and what movements do they do?
How do joints allow movement?
What are some common sports injuries, and how can a rehab program be developed for them?

3. Day 1: The Skeletal System
Required Readings:
Chapter 6
Learning Objectives:
Describe the basic functions of the skeletal system
Describe the structure of the different types of bones
Identify major bones of the skeletal system

4. Starter Do you agree or disagree with the following statements?
An adult has 206 bones
Bones produce blood
People are born with all their bones
Osteoporosis is caused by falling down
A bone cell is called an osteoblast
Bones help protect your inner organs
Time: 10 minutes

5. Activity 1 The skeletal system performs 5 major functions:
Support
Protection
Attachment sites for skeletal muscles
Blood cell production
Mineral storage
With your group, act out the 5 functions and take photos while doing it. You’ll make a slide show to present at the beginning of next class
Time: 30 minutes

6. Activity 2
With your group, try to label the bones you have been given on the skeletal system diagram
Don’t use your book!
Time: 10 minutes

7. Activity 3
As a class, we will construct a skeleton from the x-rays and label the main bones
Time: 15 minutes

9. Activity 4
Create a song with actions with your group to point out the locations of the following bones:
Skull
Sternum, clavicle, scapula, ribs
Humerus, ulna, radius, carpals, metacarpals, phalanges
Vertebral column, sacrum, coccyx, pelvis
Femur, tibia, fibula, patella, tarsals, metatarsals, phalanges
Time: 15 minutes

10. Closing What are the 5 functions of the skeletal system?
Point out 5 bones to a person in your group

11. Day 2: The Skeletal System
Required Readings:
Chapter 6
Learning Objectives:
Describe the basic functions of the skeletal system
Describe the structure of the different types of bones
Identify major bones of the skeletal system

12. Starter – So what are the answers?
Do you agree or disagree with the following statements?
An adult has 206 bones
Bones produce blood
People are born with all their bones
Osteoporosis is caused by falling down
A bone cell is called an osteoblast
Bones help protect your inner organs
Time: 5 minutes

13. Activity 1 Get your slide show ready to show to the class
Hand in your song about the bones
Optional! Present to the class!
Time: 15 minutes

14. Activity 2 There are 4 types of bones:
Long, Short, Irregular, flat
For each of the bones we looked at last lesson, classify them as one of the above
Skull
Sternum, clavicle, scapula, ribs
Humerus, ulna, radius, carpals, metacarpals, phalanges
Vertebral column, sacrum, coccyx, pelvis
Femur, tibia, fibula, patella, tarsals, metatarsals, phalanges
Time: 15 minutes

15. Activity 3 How do bones heal?
Read through the article “How do broken bones heal?”
With your group, use this information to show how Humpty Dumpty could have been put back together if all the King’s men knew what you do now
Look at the x-rays showing broken bones to help you
Time: 20 minutes

16. Activity 4 Create a “pasta man/woman” out of the pasta provided
Include all the main bones we looked at last lesson
Skull
Sternum, clavicle, scapula, ribs
Humerus, ulna, radius, carpals, metacarpals, phalanges
Vertebral column, sacrum, coccyx, pelvis
Femur, tibia, fibula, patella, tarsals, metatarsals, phalanges
Decide what type of pasta to use for the type of bone it is
Time: 30 minutes

17. Closing Share your diagrams with the rest of the class
Any questions or feedback to the other groups?

18. Day 3: Joints Required Readings: Learning Objectives: Chapter 6
Compare immovable, slightly movable, and freely movable joints

19. Starter Complete the table:
When finished, get your slide show ready to present to the class
Time: 10 minutes
Joint Classification
Description
Example
Immovable
Slightly Movable
Freely Movable

20. Activity 1 Video: Musculoskeletal system
As you watch the video, make note of the functions and structures of the muscular and skeletal systems
Write down any questions you have that the video did not answer for you
Time: 20 minutes

21. Activity 2 Complete the “movable joints charades” activity sheet
The actions are on cue cards throughout the room
It is possible to have more than one answer, different groups may interpret the movement differently than other groups
Time: 20 minutes

23. Activity 3
Look around the classroom (and school if necessary) and take pictures of objects that act like the following joints:
Gliding, hinge, saddle, pivot, ball and socket, condyloid
Create a word document with a table as follows:
Time: 30 minutes
Type of Joint
Photo
Description
Example in the body

24. Closing What are the different joints in our body?
What movement do the joints do?
Give an example, and what bones are involved.