The Muscular System: Powering Movement and Health

Health Education SS1 First Term Lesson Note – Week 5

Subject: Health Education
Class: SS1
Term: First Term
Week: 5
Age: 14-16 years
Topic: The Muscular System
Sub-topic: Structure, Function, and Importance of Muscles
Duration: 40 minutes

Behavioral Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Define muscles.
2. Mention types of muscles involved in physical activities.
3. Explain the importance of muscles to the human body.
4. List common muscle injuries, such as strains, wounds, and cramps.
5. Identify the properties of muscles.

Keywords

• Muscles
• Skeletal muscles
• Smooth muscles
• Muscle strain
• Muscle properties

Set Induction

The teacher will engage students by asking them to flex their arms and observe the muscle movement.

Entry Behavior

Students should have basic knowledge of body parts and a general idea of physical activities that involve muscle movement.

Learning Resources and Materials

• Diagrams of the muscular system
• Model of muscle tissue
• Images showing different types of muscles

Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge

The teacher will connect this lesson to the skeletal system from the previous week, explaining how muscles work with bones for movement.

Embedded Core Skills

• Observation
• Critical thinking
• Comparison

Learning Materials

• Charts of the human muscular system
• Models showing different types of muscles
• Diagrams of muscle injuries

Reference Books

Lagos State Scheme of Work for Health Education SS1, Anatomy and Physiology textbooks

Instructional Materials

Muscular system charts, muscle tissue models, visual aids for muscle injuries

Lesson Content

1. Definition of Muscles

• Muscles are tissues in the body that contract and relax to produce movement.
• They are essential for various bodily functions, such as movement, posture, and circulation.

2. Types of Muscles Involved in Physical Activities

• Skeletal Muscles: Attached to bones and responsible for voluntary movements, like walking or lifting.
• Smooth Muscles: Found in internal organs (like the stomach and intestines) and are responsible for involuntary movements.
• Cardiac Muscles: Found only in the heart, responsible for pumping blood.

3. Importance of Muscles to the Human Body

• Movement: Muscles work with bones to allow movement.
• Posture: Muscles help maintain body posture.
• Protection: Muscles protect internal organs by absorbing impact.
• Circulation: Cardiac muscles enable blood circulation throughout the body.
• Heat Production: Muscles produce heat, which helps regulate body temperature.

4. Common Muscle Injuries

• Muscle Strain: Overstretching or tearing of muscle fibers, often caused by sudden movements or overuse.
• Wound: Injury involving skin and muscle, often due to cuts or impact.
• Muscle Cramp: Involuntary muscle contraction causing pain, often due to dehydration or muscle fatigue.

5. Properties of Muscles

• Excitability: Ability to respond to stimuli.
• Contractility: Ability to contract and produce force.
• Extensibility: Ability to stretch without damage.
• Elasticity: Ability to return to original shape after stretching or contracting.

Fill-in-the-Blank Questions

1. ________ are tissues in the body that enable movement.
   • a) Bones
   • b) Muscles
   • c) Skin
   • d) Organs
     Answer: b) Muscles
2. Skeletal muscles are responsible for ________ movements.
   • a) involuntary
   • b) voluntary
   • c) automatic
   • d) passive
     Answer: b) voluntary
3. ________ muscles are found only in the heart.
   • a) Skeletal
   • b) Smooth
   • c) Cardiac
   • d) Voluntary
     Answer: c) Cardiac
4. The ability of a muscle to stretch is called ________.
   • a) contractility
   • b) elasticity
   • c) extensibility
   • d) excitability
     Answer: c) extensibility
5. ________ is a common muscle injury caused by dehydration or fatigue.
   • a) Strain
   • b) Cramps
   • c) Tear
   • d) Cut
     Answer: b) Cramps

[Additional questions continue in this format up to 15]

FAQs with Answers

1. What are muscles?
   Muscles are tissues that enable movement and perform various bodily functions through contraction and relaxation.
2. How many main types of muscles are there?
   There are three main types: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac muscles.
3. What is the primary role of skeletal muscles?
   Skeletal muscles allow voluntary movements such as walking, jumping, and lifting.
4. Why is muscle elasticity important?
   Elasticity allows muscles to return to their original shape after stretching, which helps prevent injuries.
5. What causes muscle cramps?
   Cramps can be caused by dehydration, muscle fatigue, or lack of proper stretching.

[Additional FAQs continue up to 15]

Presentation Steps

Step 1: Revision of Previous Topic

• Review last week’s lesson on the skeletal system and its importance for structure and support.

Step 2: Introduction of New Topic

• Introduce the muscular system, explaining what muscles are and their role in movement.

Step 3: Student Contributions and Corrections

• Encourage students to share experiences with physical activities and any muscle-related injuries they may have observed or experienced.

Teacher’s Activities

1. Explain the definition and types of muscles with examples.
2. Describe the importance of muscles in various body functions.
3. Discuss common muscle injuries and their prevention or treatment.

Learners’ Activities

1. Observe muscle diagrams and identify types of muscles.
2. Participate in discussions about muscle injuries and how to avoid them.
3. Answer fill-in-the-blank and FAQ questions on muscle properties and types.

Assessment

1. Define muscles and explain their role in the body.
2. List the three types of muscles and give an example of each.
3. Mention two properties of muscles.
4. What is muscle strain and how does it occur?
5. Describe the function of cardiac muscles.

Evaluation Questions

1. What are the three types of muscles?
2. Define skeletal muscles and explain their function.
3. Why are cardiac muscles important?
4. List three common muscle injuries.
5. What property allows muscles to return to their original shape?
6. How can one prevent muscle cramps?
7. Name two functions of muscles in the body.
8. Which type of muscle is found in the stomach?
9. Why is muscle contractility essential for movement?
10. Describe the difference between muscle extensibility and elasticity.

Conclusion

The teacher will summarize the types and functions of muscles, their properties, and ways to avoid common muscle injuries.