This cluster includes the following access points.
Vetted resources educators can use to teach the concepts and skills in this topic.
| Name |
Description |
| Help! What Is Infecting my Body?! Part 2: | Take a microscopic journey into the immune system and the world of infectious fungi and parasites.
This is Part 2 in a two-part series of interactive tutorials. Click to open Part 1. |
| Help! What Is Infecting My Body?! Part 1: | Take a microscopic journey into the immune system and the living and non-living worlds of bacteria and viruses.
This is Part 1 in a two-part series of interactive tutorials. Click to open Part 2. |
| Viral Infections and Pandemics: | Learn about viruses that can infect the human body, how they can cause epidemics and pandemics, and how best to protect yourself against infectious diseases like COVID-19 in this interactive tutorial. |
| Cells: Alike but Different: | Cells are very diverse, but are the foundation of all living things. Take a look at different types of cells and learn how they have similar needs. Cell are alike, but different! |
| Human Body Systems: The Immune System (Part 8 of 9): | Help Igor learn about the immune system as he works to build Dr. Frankenstein’s creature!
This is part 8 of 9, in a series of interactive tutorials on human body systems. Click below to open the others in the series.
|
| Human Body Systems and Homeostasis (Part 9 of 9): | Learn how human body systems work together to achieve homeostasis, a balance between their external and internal conditions.
This is part 9 of 9, in a series of interactive tutorials on human body systems. Click below to open the others in the series.
|
| Investigating Plant and Animal Cells: | Compare and contrast plant and animal cells in this interactive tutorial. You'll learn about the structure and function of major organelles of cells, including the cell wall, cell membrane, nucleus, cytoplasm, chloroplasts, mitochondria, and vacuoles. |
| Human Body Systems: The Excretory System (Part 6 of 9): | Discover how the excretory system removes waste products from your body.
This is part 6 of 9, in a series of interactive tutorials on human body systems. Click below to open the others in the series.
|
| Infectious Agents: Agent Icky: | Help Agent Icky compare and contrast types of infectious agents that may infect the human body, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. By completing this interactive tutorial, maybe you can be a Microbe Buster one day too! |
| Human Body Systems: The Digestive System (Part 5 of 9): | Chew on facts about the digestive system as you help to bring Dr. Frankenstein's famous creature to life.
This is part 5 of 9, in a series of interactive tutorials on human body systems. Click below to open the others in the series.
|
| Human Body Systems: The Reproductive System (Part 7 of 9): | Get answers to your questions about the reproductive systems of biological males and females.
This is part 7 of 9, in a series of interactive tutorials on human body systems. Click below to open the others in the series.
|
| Human Body Systems: The Circulatory System (Part 3 of 9): | Explore the circulatory system as we bring Frankenstein's creature to life.
This is part 3 of 9, in a series of interactive tutorials on human body systems. Click below to open the others in the series.
|
| Human Body Systems: The Musculoskeletal System (Part 4 of 9): | Learn how the musculoskeletal system enables us to run, dance, even chew!
This is part 4 of 9, in a series of interactive tutorials on human body systems. Click below to open the others in the series.
|
| Human Body Systems: The Respiratory System (Part 2 of 9): | Investigate the respiratory system in this interactive tutorial as you help Dr. Frankenstein continue to build his Creature.
This is part 2 of 9, in a series of interactive tutorials on human body systems. Click below to open the others in the series.
|
| Human Body Systems: The Nervous System (Part 1 of 9): | Learn how the nervous system serves as the bridge between the outside world and our bodies.
This is part 1 of 9, in a series of interactive tutorials on human body systems. Click below to open the others in the series.
|
| The Cell Theory: | Learn to identify and explain the three parts of the Cell Theory in this interactive, bee-themed tutorial. |
| Levels of Organization: | Learn how to identify explicit evidence and understand implicit meaning in a text.
You should be able to describe the hierarchical organization of living things from the atom, to the molecule, to the cell, to the tissue, to the organ, to the organ system, and to the organism. |
| Name |
Description |
| Don't Eat That!: | Using the Case Study, "Would you like some Pathogens with that meal?", students will expand their knowledge of food-borne pathogens. They will develop an understanding of the importance of using safe practices in food preparation and create a visual representation of their new knowledge. |
| Why Oh Why So Many Alveoli?: | Lung's use of alveoli to maintain homeostasis
structure and function
concepts - surface area |
| Body in Balance : | The student will create explanations that fit evidence in science relating to how the human body maintains homeostasis. Students will discover body system interactions and how the organ systems work together to maintain homeostasis. |
| Inside the Human Body!: | The teacher will open with a Predict, Observe, and Explain (P.O.E) scenario by asking students the following question: "What will happen to your body temperature as you play outside on a hot summer day, or a cold winter day?" (depending on the weather for that day). Students will write their responses on a sheet of paper and after about 5 minutes the teacher should allow the students to share out. After hearing student responses, the teacher will present the attached PowerPoint on the human body systems. While the instructor uses the PowerPoint to explain each human body system, students will fill in the guided notes worksheet that is attached. Once the PowerPoint is complete students will be able to start the interactive activity called "Inside the Human Body."
For the activity "Inside the Human Body," the teacher should already have the classroom set up like the human body (directions on how to do this are attached). The directions for completing the interactive "Inside the Human Body" activity are also attached. |
| Cell Recycling: Nobel Awarded for Unveiling How Cells Recycle Their Trash: | In this lesson, students will analyze an informational text intended to support reading in the content area. Cell biologist, Yoshinori Ohsumi, won the Nobel Prize for medicine for his research of how cells recycle unused materials in order to maintain homeostasis. The text describes his research and contains statements from other scientists supporting Ohsumi as the right choice for the award. This lesson includes a note-taking guide, text-dependent questions, a writing prompt, answer keys and a writing rubric. |
| Waste Not, Want Not: | Students will explore the excretory system through a variety of activities that include an inquiry lab, a reading excerpt, an engineering design challenge, and creating an infomercial. Students will build a simulated kidney and explore what factors improve the filtering ability. Students will analyze the data and formulate findings. |
| All Living Organisms Have Cells - Prove It! : | This lesson is inquiry-based and is centered around the 5-E Model. This lesson allows students to see that all living things have cells. Students will be able to use microscopes to determine whether something is alive or not. This lesson only addresses the idea that living things are made of cells. |
| Zika Virus Arrives in the Americas: | In this lesson, students will analyze an informational text that describes the spread of the Zika virus through the Americas and its arrival in the United States. The text describes how the virus is carried by specific species of mosquitoes that are common in Florida and other warmer areas of the United States. An added concern with Zika is the link to microcephaly, a neurological disorder affecting fetuses and infants from infected mothers. The text also describes other viruses in the larger group that Zika belongs to and how these viruses affect the human body. This lesson is designed to support reading in the content area. The lesson plan includes a reading guide, text-dependent questions, a writing prompt, answer keys, and a writing rubric. Options to extend the lesson are also included. |
| Laws and Theories in Nature: | This lesson will begin with a presentation to discuss the major differences between hypotheses, theories and laws in science and society and identify several examples of laws and theories. The students will then go outside and make/write down/photograph examples of nature supporting these laws/theories. |
| Organelles to Scale: | In this lesson, students will analyze an informational text that addresses organelles in terms of their size, characteristics, and functions. This article, designed to support reading in the content area, "shrinks" the student to put the size of certain organelles in perspective with familiar objects/places. It also describes the characteristics and functions of the nucleus, certain membranes, endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes, Golgi apparatus, and the mitochondria. This lesson plan includes a note-taking guide, text-dependent questions, a writing prompt, answer keys, and a writing rubric. Numerous options to extend the lesson are also included. |
| Homeostasis: Can You Survive? : | This lesson begins with a presentation and vocabulary building component. After becoming familiar with the terms, the students get into groups (acting as cells) and use their vocabulary knowledge to survive various environmental changes. |
| Life is a Hierarchy : | Through a variety of hands-on and visual manipulatives, students will discover the building process from a single atom to a complete, independently functioning organism. Students will start with the smallest component and work their way up to the largest and most complex. |
| Life Exposed: | STEM-u-lating science! What are living things composed of? Students will dig deeper into the building blocks of life by researching, designing, and creating a layered transparency book. |
| The Real Story of Where Babies Come From: | Students will observe, explore, and create a story about the main structures of the female/male reproductive systems, describing how these systems interact during the process of fertilization to a create human being. |
| Cell Theory Tic-Tac-Toe: | This is a digital resource in which students will be able to choose three activities to demonstrate their mastery of cell theory. |
| Small but Mighty: The progression of the Cell Theory: | The cell theory has had a major impact on modern science, from the development of the theory to the present day. This lesson will examine strategies students can use to deepen their knowledge and understanding of the development of the cell theory. |
| We are a good fit: | This lesson helps guide the student in understanding the relationship from atoms to molecules and cells to tissues to organs to organ systems to organisms. It is an introduction to the concept that all living things share certain characteristics. |
| Protect Your King/Queen- Building an Immune Defense: | Students will explore the human immune system by creating a castle designed to protect a fictional king/queen and their kingdom from an invading pathogen. |
| Cell Safari: A Tour of Animal and Plant Cells: | Students will compare animal and plant cells in four different stations with hands-on activities, technology applications, and accountable conversations. |
| A Day in the Life as Oscar the Organelle: | In this lesson, students will create a story as if they are a cell organelle going through its day. In this activity, they will show how they interact with their own organelle family or other organelles in a cell. In this two day lesson, students will create a labeled model of a plant and animal cell and write a story. |
| Comparing and Contrasting Plant and Animal Cells: | In this lesson, students will use their prior knowledge of organelle structure and function to compare and contrast plant and animal cells. This lesson includes teacher-facilitated discussion, using a PowerPoint and paper-and-pencil strategies. |
| "Me & My Cells : An Introductory Look at Plant & Animal Cells": | This lesson is intended to make students more knowledgeable about plant and animals, their functions and relevance in our everyday lives. Additionally, a tactile exploratory exercise is presented to reinforce knowledge acquisition. |
| Heart and Lungs and the Systems that Love Them!: | In this lesson, students will learn the parts of the circulatory and respiratory systems and how they work together to maintain homeostasis. |
| Animal Cells And Plant Cells: Just How Different Are We?: | This resource provides students with a web based interactive animal cell and plant cell which they use to learn about the different parts of each cell. Students will summarize information about the structure and function about the organelles required for this standard which are: cell wall, cell membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, chloroplast, vacuole and mitochondria. |
| A Cell is like . . .: | This lesson gives students an overall concept on how to compare and contrast organelles by through an analogy using the parts of the human body. |
| Motion and Position of the Human Body: | In this lab students will explore the interactions of the muscular and skeletal systems and how they contribute to homeostasis. Students will collect data based on their own body movements and identify how movement occurs through muscles, tendons, joints and bones. Finally students will conclude that temperature maintenance, cell production and nutritional factors are all variables controlled, in part, by these body systems for the purpose of homeostasis. |
| Circulatory and Respiratory Systems Working Together to Maintain Homeostasis: | In this lesson students will explore what happens at the cellular level for oxygen and carbon dioxide when the energy demands of the human body are increased. Students will explore how the actions of body are changed as the body struggles to maintain homeostasis. |
| Here's Hoping for Homeostasis!: | Students will examine the importance of homeostasis and how the cell membrane helps the cell maintain homeostasis through a mini-demonstration, gummy bear lab activity, a video and a vocabulary exercise. |
| It's ALIVE!: | This is a 5E style investigation of living and non-living things. Students will use their understanding of "living" to draw conclusions about how a flame should be classified and why. In the extension, students use resources to classify a virus as living or non-living. Their conclusion must be supported by evidence from the sources used. This is an introductory lesson that would be needed to completely cover the cell theory. |
| Passive VS. Active: | Students will explain and contrast how passive and active transport occur within a cell to maintain homeostasis. Creating an anchor chart which includes a labeled diagram, students will be introduced to the passive and active transport in relation to keeping a cell in homeostasis. |
| Edible Cell Analysis: | In this lesson, students compare and contrast the major structures found in plant and animal cells. The will develop drawings and look at prepared slides to get a better understanding of the organelles and function of these cells. Then, students then construct edible models of plant or animal cells, justifying their use of materials to represent various cell components. Student directions and rubric are provided. They will then present these ideas to the class or small groups. Finally, they will take a Quiz (final assessment) to determine if they have mastered this benchmark.
Generally, this is a four day plan (60 minute periods). Day 1 - Is a good day to grab the students attention with a bell ringer about the importance of cells, introduce the organelles and their functions, and complete the microscope lab. Day 2 - Students may construct their drawings and explore the animated cell activity. Day 3 - (Usually a Monday, so students have time over the weekend to gather their materials and make their edible cells) edible cells and their presentations are due. Day 4 - Quiz. |
| Cell Parts and Functions: | This lesson introduces students to the structure and functions of organelles by asking students to find information for an organelle/cell structure, then teach that information to peers. Students then use this knowledge to create a series of analogies likening a cell to a factory. |
| Taking a Look Inside of Cells: | After researching cell organelles, students collaboratively compare and contrast the structures in a plant and an animal cell. They then individually create a plant or animal cell model which communicates their knowledge of the structure and function of each organelle. |
| Out of this World Workout: Exercise in Space to Prevent Bone Loss: | Students will learn how exercise is helping astronauts decrease bone and muscle loss during extended stays in micro-gravity. They will be asked to design an exercise program that utilizes both aerobic and muscle-building workouts while using the 3 exercise machines currently in use on the International Space Station. Then, the students will learn that current research suggests that more intense, short bursts of exercise may be more effective at decreasing bone and muscle loss, and they will be asked to redesign their workout prescription accordingly.
Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom. |
| Body Systems and Homeostasis MEA with Dr. Homeostasis: | In this Model-Eliciting Activity (MEA), using a doctor's report, students will create a checklist and system of identifying organs and body systems affected by the patients symptoms.
Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. MEAs resemble engineering problems and encourage students to create solutions in the form of mathematical and scientific models. Students work in teams to apply their knowledge of science and mathematics to solve an open-ended problem while considering constraints and tradeoffs. Students integrate their ELA skills into MEAs as they are asked to clearly document their thought processes. MEAs follow a problem-based, student-centered approach to learning, where students are encouraged to grapple with the problem while the teacher acts as a facilitator. To learn more about MEAs visit: https://www.cpalms.org/cpalms/mea.aspx |
| The Body's Defense System: | The lesson consists of a series of mini-lessons presented through a PowerPoint presentation with embedded videos, formative assessments, a simulation activity and a writing assignment that can be used as a summative assessment. The components of the lesson include the body's external and internal defenses, information on the white blood cells role in defending the body and in creating immunity, vaccinations and how they work to help produce memory cells and challenges to our immune system. |
| The Fizz Virus: | This is a lesson on viruses and a simulation on how diseases can spread. |
| Investigate Cell Theory: | This lesson allows students to investigate the Cell Theory. |
| Journey through the Body - An Engineering Design Challenge: | This Engineering Design Challenge is intended to help students apply the concepts of the human body and organ systems from SC.6.L.14.5. It is not intended as an initial introduction to this benchmark. |
| Disease "X" MEA: | Solve a problem as a team by designing a procedure to select the best approach to stop the spread of a virus throughout a population.
Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. MEAs resemble engineering problems and encourage students to create solutions in the form of mathematical and scientific models. Students work in teams to apply their knowledge of science and mathematics to solve an open-ended problem, while considering constraints and tradeoffs. Students integrate their ELA skills into MEAs as they are asked to clearly document their thought process. MEAs follow a problem-based, student centered approach to learning, where students are encouraged to grapple with the problem while the teacher acts as a facilitator. To learn more about MEA’s visit: https://www.cpalms.org/cpalms/mea.aspx |
| Cell Parts and "The Real World" Collage: | In this activity students will:
Identify various organelles of the animal cell (nucleus, ER, Golgi apparatus, ribosomes, vacuole, lysosome,) etc.,
State the function of each organelle
Identify each structure on a visual cell diagram
relate each part to a functioning object in the real world |
| Circulatory System Lesson: | The lesson will begin with the teacher engaging the students with a presentation of "How the Blood Gets Around the Body" following a think quest presentation that covers the parts and functions of the circulatory system, including the brain, veins and arteries, heart and blood. Students will explore blood vessels by watching a short video clip, conducting a hands-on investigation about blood pressure. Next the teacher will lead a discussion and explain about the human heart and will use a "Map of the Human Heart" to show the class exactly how the heart pumps blood throughout your body and learn facts about the human heart. Students will get a chance to elaborate by creating a color picture of blood flow to, through and from the heart in their notebooks. To evaluate the students, they will watch a short video clip about the circulatory system and take the accompanying quiz. |
| Skeletal System Lesson: | Students will read an engaging reading passage about what the skeletal system does and has a little activity called "Jumbled Bones" that has the students make a small human skeleton for their notebooks. Students will then explore, in small groups, chicken bones with magnifying glasses. The students will look at the bones for evidence of structure and components and they will speculate about purpose the bone served based on its physical appearance. Next, they will watch a short video clip about how red blood cells are produced. The teacher will follow-up with a class discussion about "How the skeletal, respiratory and circulatory systems work together to maintain homeostasis" and students will write a summary explanation in their interactive notebooks. For further elaboration, students will watch a video clip "Bones Narrated" which is a guided tour of the skeleton and its functions, and do a virtual game called "Build a Skeleton" which allows students to drag bones to create a human skeleton. Lastly, students will be evaluated on their knowledge of the skeletal system and its functions by creating a poster to present and explain to the teacher. |
| Immunity Lesson Plan: | This lesson plan has power point to support it. The lesson requires students to complete a project comparing bacteria, fungus, and viruses. |
| Homeostasis and Human Body Systems: | ***All activities from this lesson, with the exception of free alternative activities, are adapted from Florida Science Fusion Grade 6 Teacher's Manual and Lab Manual ©Holt McDougal***
This lesson addresses the structure and function of human body systems with emphasis on how organ systems collaborate to maintain homeostasis for an entire organism. |
| Agents of Infection: | This is a collaborative lesson design by Lori Kern and Dawn Barone.
This lesson focuses on infectious agents (fungus, bacteria, virus and parasites). Students will be able experience a hands-on activity to reinforce the concepts addressed in this benchmark. |
| Cell Theory: | This lesson is designed to teach middle school students about cell theory. The activity involves using microscopes and looking at living, dividing, and non-living material. |
| Cells 1: Make a Model Cell : | This lesson is the first of two-part series on cells. In Cells 1: Make a Model Cell, students will compare a plant and animal cell, and then make a model of a cell. They will select items to represent various cell structures and justify their choices by describing how the items they have chosen represent the actual parts of a cell. Prior to this lesson, students should have at least been introduced to cells, including the basic differences between plant and animal cells. |
| A Cell-A-Bration of Life: | Students will look at cells of plants and animals and identify the organelles. |
| Are We Like Robots?: | This lesson explores the similarities between how a human being moves/walks and how a robot moves. This allows students to see the human body as a system, i.e., from the perspective of an engineer. It shows how movement results from (i) decision making, i.e., deciding to walk and move, and (ii) implementing the decision by conveying the decision to the muscle (human) or motor (robot). |
| Cell Play: | Students will demonstrate their understanding of the parts and functions of a cell by creating a game. The game can take any form: written, oral etc... Some examples would be cell jeopardy, cell hang man, cell trivia etc... |
| Check Out The Chicken Wing!: | Students will examine a chicken wing to discover the different tissues and organs that make it up. They will relate this to the concept that cells make up tissues, which make up organs, which make up organ systems in the organism. |
| How Viruses Spread: | Teaches three ways viruses can spread: cough, sneeze, and touch. |
| Understanding Cell Membranes through Model Evaluation: | In this lesson, students consider two models of the cell membrane, evaluating them for accuracy in light of text-provided information. |
Vetted resources students can use to learn the concepts and skills in this topic.
| Title |
Description |
| Help! What Is Infecting my Body?! Part 2: | Take a microscopic journey into the immune system and the world of infectious fungi and parasites.
This is Part 2 in a two-part series of interactive tutorials. Click to open Part 1. |
| Help! What Is Infecting My Body?! Part 1: | Take a microscopic journey into the immune system and the living and non-living worlds of bacteria and viruses.
This is Part 1 in a two-part series of interactive tutorials. Click to open Part 2. |
| Viral Infections and Pandemics: | Learn about viruses that can infect the human body, how they can cause epidemics and pandemics, and how best to protect yourself against infectious diseases like COVID-19 in this interactive tutorial. |
| Cells: Alike but Different: | Cells are very diverse, but are the foundation of all living things. Take a look at different types of cells and learn how they have similar needs. Cell are alike, but different! |
| Human Body Systems: The Immune System (Part 8 of 9): | Help Igor learn about the immune system as he works to build Dr. Frankenstein’s creature!
This is part 8 of 9, in a series of interactive tutorials on human body systems. Click below to open the others in the series.
|
| Human Body Systems and Homeostasis (Part 9 of 9): | Learn how human body systems work together to achieve homeostasis, a balance between their external and internal conditions.
This is part 9 of 9, in a series of interactive tutorials on human body systems. Click below to open the others in the series.
|
| Investigating Plant and Animal Cells: | Compare and contrast plant and animal cells in this interactive tutorial. You'll learn about the structure and function of major organelles of cells, including the cell wall, cell membrane, nucleus, cytoplasm, chloroplasts, mitochondria, and vacuoles. |
| Human Body Systems: The Excretory System (Part 6 of 9): | Discover how the excretory system removes waste products from your body.
This is part 6 of 9, in a series of interactive tutorials on human body systems. Click below to open the others in the series.
|
| Infectious Agents: Agent Icky: | Help Agent Icky compare and contrast types of infectious agents that may infect the human body, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. By completing this interactive tutorial, maybe you can be a Microbe Buster one day too! |
| Human Body Systems: The Digestive System (Part 5 of 9): | Chew on facts about the digestive system as you help to bring Dr. Frankenstein's famous creature to life.
This is part 5 of 9, in a series of interactive tutorials on human body systems. Click below to open the others in the series.
|
| Human Body Systems: The Reproductive System (Part 7 of 9): | Get answers to your questions about the reproductive systems of biological males and females.
This is part 7 of 9, in a series of interactive tutorials on human body systems. Click below to open the others in the series.
|
| Human Body Systems: The Circulatory System (Part 3 of 9): | Explore the circulatory system as we bring Frankenstein's creature to life.
This is part 3 of 9, in a series of interactive tutorials on human body systems. Click below to open the others in the series.
|
| Human Body Systems: The Musculoskeletal System (Part 4 of 9): | Learn how the musculoskeletal system enables us to run, dance, even chew!
This is part 4 of 9, in a series of interactive tutorials on human body systems. Click below to open the others in the series.
|
| Human Body Systems: The Respiratory System (Part 2 of 9): | Investigate the respiratory system in this interactive tutorial as you help Dr. Frankenstein continue to build his Creature.
This is part 2 of 9, in a series of interactive tutorials on human body systems. Click below to open the others in the series.
|
| Human Body Systems: The Nervous System (Part 1 of 9): | Learn how the nervous system serves as the bridge between the outside world and our bodies.
This is part 1 of 9, in a series of interactive tutorials on human body systems. Click below to open the others in the series.
|
| The Cell Theory: | Learn to identify and explain the three parts of the Cell Theory in this interactive, bee-themed tutorial. |
| Levels of Organization: | Learn how to identify explicit evidence and understand implicit meaning in a text.
You should be able to describe the hierarchical organization of living things from the atom, to the molecule, to the cell, to the tissue, to the organ, to the organ system, and to the organism. |
Vetted resources caregivers can use to help students learn the concepts and skills in this topic.
