Inside Out: Body Basics

Michelle Melick

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Inside Out Body Basics Lesson Plan

By the end of this 45-minute lesson, 8th-grade students will identify the major human body systems, describe their primary functions, and collaboratively build a model showing how these systems interact to maintain overall health.

Understanding body systems fosters health literacy, critical thinking about physiology, and collaboration, empowering students to make informed health decisions.

Audience

8th Grade Students

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Hands-on collaborative learning

Materials

Paper, - Colored Pencils, - Scissors, - Glue Sticks, - Human Body System Cards, - Body Teamwork Diagram Worksheet, and - Exit Ticket: Body Basics Quiz

Prep

Material Preparation

10 minutes

Review the Inside Out Body Basics Lesson Plan to familiarize yourself with the lesson flow.
Print and cut the Human Body System Cards for each group.
Print copies of the Body Teamwork Diagram Worksheet for each group.
Photocopy the Exit Ticket: Body Basics Quiz for each student.
Gather craft supplies: scissors, glue sticks, colored pencils.

Step 1

Hook: Body Teamwork Challenge

5 minutes

Pose the question “How does our body work as a team?” to spark interest.
Conduct a 1-minute think-pair-share where students list as many body systems as they can.
Collect responses on the board to highlight known systems and identify gaps.

Step 2

Introduction to Body Systems

10 minutes

Distribute the Human Body System Cards to students.
Invite volunteers to read each card aloud, summarizing the system and its main function.
Create an anchor chart listing all major systems and their functions for reference.

Step 3

Group Model Building Activity

15 minutes

Organize students into groups of 3–4 and provide each group with cards, worksheet, glue, scissors, and colored pencils.
On the Body Teamwork Diagram Worksheet, groups cut out system cards and arrange them to demonstrate interactions.
Draw arrows and labels to show how systems work together (e.g., respiratory and circulatory systems).

Step 4

Real-Life Connections Discussion

10 minutes

Have each group present their diagram and explain key interactions between body systems.
Facilitate a class discussion on real-life examples (e.g., how systems collaborate during exercise or digestion).
Clarify misconceptions and emphasize teamwork among systems.

Step 5

Exit Ticket Assessment

5 minutes

Hand out the Exit Ticket: Body Basics Quiz to each student.
Students answer three short questions: identify a system’s function, explain a system interaction, and reflect on why system teamwork is vital.
Collect exit tickets to assess individual understanding.

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Activity

Human Body System Cards

Use these cards in your group activity. Cut along the dotted lines to distribute one card per student or to each small group.

Circulatory System

Function: Transports oxygen, nutrients, and blood cells throughout the body to provide nourishment and help fight diseases.
Key Organs: Heart, blood vessels (arteries, veins, capillaries), blood.

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Respiratory System

Function: Brings oxygen into the body and removes carbon dioxide through breathing.
Key Organs: Lungs, trachea, bronchi, diaphragm.

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Digestive System

Function: Breaks down food into nutrients the body can absorb and uses; excretes waste.
Key Organs: Mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, liver, pancreas.

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Nervous System

Function: Controls body activities with electrical signals; processes information from the senses.
Key Organs: Brain, spinal cord, nerves.

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Skeletal System

Function: Provides structure and support; protects vital organs; works with muscles for movement.
Key Organs: Bones, cartilage, ligaments.

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Muscular System

Function: Enables movement of the body and internal organs; maintains posture; produces heat.
Key Organs: Skeletal muscles, smooth muscles, cardiac muscle.

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Endocrine System

Function: Produces hormones that regulate growth, metabolism, and sexual development.
Key Organs: Glands (pituitary, thyroid, adrenal), pancreas, ovaries/testes.

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Excretory (Urinary) System

Function: Removes waste products from the blood; maintains water and chemical balance.
Key Organs: Kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra.

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Worksheet

Body Teamwork Diagram Worksheet

Instructions:

Cut out the system cards from the Human Body System Cards.
Arrange and paste each card in the body outline below where you think it belongs.
Draw arrows to show at least three interactions between systems and label each arrow.

Part A: Body Outline (Paste & Draw)

Paste your system cards and sketch arrows here to show interactions:

Part B: Label Interactions

For each interaction you drew, write the two systems involved and explain how they work together.

Interaction 1: _______________ and _______________ work together because _______________.

Interaction 2: _______________ and _______________ work together because _______________.

Interaction 3: _______________ and _______________ work together because _______________.

Part C: Reflection

How does showcasing system interactions in a model help you understand body teamwork better?

Describe one real-life situation (like exercise or digestion) and explain which systems collaborate and why.

Quiz

Exit Ticket: Body Basics Quiz