Muscles for movement
I can explain why humans have muscles
Muscles for movement
I can explain why humans have muscles
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Humans and most other animals have muscles throughout their bodies which help them to move and balance
- Different muscles move different parts of the body
- Muscles work in pairs around our joints to help us move
- One muscle pulls in one direction, and another pulls in the opposite direction
Keywords
Muscle - A muscle is a part of the body which pulls part of our skeleton so we can move.
Movement - Movement is the act of moving.
Direction - Direction is the course along which someone or something moves.
Joint - The place that two bones meet is a joint.
Common misconception
Students may think that there is just one huge muscle that moves the body.
Use diagrams that explain how muscles work in pairs, and also that muscles are different sizes throughout the body.
To help you plan your year 3 science lesson on: Muscles for movement, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 3 science lesson on: Muscles for movement, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 science lessons from the Introduction to the human skeleton and muscles unit, dive into the full secondary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
See addtional materials for further guidance
Content guidance
- Risk assessment required - equipment
- Exploration of objects
- Risk assessment required - physical activity
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
skull
spine
rib cage
non-living
living
non-living
living
living
Exit quiz
6 Questions
leg and feet muscles
jaw and cheek muscles
hand and arm muscles
