Class: 4th Grade

Timeframe periods/
minutes)2 /45

Standard(s):
4-LS4-1.2 -Identify the following types of muscles: cardiac- heart; smooth- stomach; skeletal –biceps

Goal(Objective)Vocabulary:
 Goal: To list, identify, and explain (define) the different types of muscles.
 Extending the lesson by incorporating the essential question for fourth grade
curriculum: How do internal and external structures support the survival, growth,
behavior, and reproduction of plants and animals?

Vocabulary:
 Muscles -a band or bundle of fibrous tissue in a human or animal body that has the ability
to contract, producing movement in or maintaining the position of parts of the body.
 Cardiac - These are the muscles of the heart.
 Heart- a hollow muscular organ that pumps the blood through the circulatory system by
rhythmic contraction and dilation. In vertebrates there may be up to four chambers (as in
humans), with two atria and two ventricles.
 Smooth- – Found in the hollow walls of the body organs (colon, small intestine, rectum, etc.),
the blood vessels, and the respiratory passageways.
 Stomach- the internal organ in which the major part of the digestion of food occurs, being
(in humans and many mammals) a pear-shaped enlargement of the alimentary canal
linking the esophagus to the small intestine.
 Skeletal - These are the muscles that attach to bones and produce movement at the joints.
Skeletal muscles attach on the rough places, protrusions, and hollows on the bones
 Biceps - a muscle having two points of attachment at one end, in particular.

Catholic Identity:

In this lesson it is valuable to recognize God our Creator and how he created us. That the human body is
amazing and God was amazing in his Creation. In addition, as Catholics we should have respect for all
human life. It is important to help students understand how important our muscles are to our body.
While emphasizing our responsibility to take care of God’s Creation.
Method:
Day 1:
Show students a picture of a muscle.
Ask students, “What is this?”
Listen to student's responses, replying to each one
Ask students, “What else is in a human body besides muscle?” (bone, fat, organs, veins, etc.)
Ask students, “How many muscles do you think we have?”
Engage in conversation with students
Ask students, “Do you think all our muscles are the same (size, shape, etc) in our body?'
Engage in conversation with students
Ask students, “Why do they think we need muscles?” (their function)

Have students explore: Give students pictures of body diagram with muscles and have students
use three different colors (specific color for type of muscle) to color what type of muscle they
think it is. *(have them put in folder to pull out next day to see how they did)

After discussion and exploration show students a short video on our muscles.

Wrap up: Review what was discussed, have students write a short explanation of muscles, the
types, why we need them and what do they think our bodies would be like if we didn’t have
muscles (this question for critical thinking).

Day 2:
Review with a PowerPoint on Muscles. Pass out picture of body with muscles (colored) for
students to compare their diagram they made the day before. Have students compare and
discuss how they did. On PowerPoint with key vocabulary, ask students to write out definitions
and draw pictures to reference. After reviewing, play a game with students. Give students note
cards with the three types of muscles. Show students PowerPoint slide of muscles or different
parts of the body and have students name the muscle that would be in that location. Have them
hold up the card in the air to assess students. (Can play game twice first let students refer to
notes, then have them try without the notes).

Wrap Up: After Game review key vocabulary and concept with students.

Assessment:

Day 1: Pre-Assessment: Handing out picture of inside of body and asking students where they
would put the muscle. In addition, discussing with students and exploring will be an
assessment.

Day 2: During review, comparing diagrams and the PowerPoint game students will be assessed.

Final Assessment will be a Test which will include key vocabulary, concepts students learned ,
and diagrams (pictures) to label.

SLE:
Life Long Learner Faith Follower
Complex Thinker
Assist students in While incorporating
Assist in the process effectively Catholic Identity,
of complex thinking communicating students will develop
by asking questions. information learned. and expand their
Assist students to Assessing students in faith in God.
interpret information the following formats:
learned. Guide speaking, listening and
students to evaluate
writing both
data and apply this
independently and
knowledge.
cooperatively.
Point out to students these main points:
 Muscles are the main organs of the muscular system.
 They consist primarily of long, thin cells called muscle fibers.
 There are three types of muscle tissues: cardiac, smooth, and skeletal muscle tissues.
 Most muscles are skeletal muscles, which are attached to bones by tendons. Skeletal
muscles work in pairs to move bones back and forth at joints.
 Regular resistance exercise and aerobic exercise, preceded by warming up and
stretching, can help keep the muscular system strong and healthy.

Types of Muscle Tissue

There are three different types of muscle tissue in the human body: cardiac, smooth, and skeletal
muscle tissues. All three types consist mainly of muscle fibers, but the fibers have different
arrangements. You can see how each type of muscle tissue looks in Figure below.

Cardiac muscle is found only in the walls of the heart. It is striated, or striped, because its muscle fibers
are arranged in bundles. Contractions of cardiac muscle are involuntary. This means that they are not
under conscious control. When cardiac muscle contracts, the heart beats and pumps blood.

Smooth muscle is found in the walls of other internal organs such as the stomach. It isn’t striated
because its muscle fibers are arranged in sheets rather than bundles. Contractions of smooth muscle are
involuntary. When smooth muscles in the stomach contract, they squeeze food inside the stomach. This
helps break the food into smaller pieces.

Skeletal muscle is attached to the bones of the skeleton. It is striated like cardiac muscle because its
muscle fibers are arranged in bundles. Contractions of skeletal muscle are voluntary. This means that
they are under conscious control. Whether you are doing pushups or pushing a pencil, you are using
skeletal muscles. Skeletal muscles are the most common type of muscles in the body.

Interesting information about muscles to share with the students:

• Muscle makes up the vast majority of everything underneath the skin.
• Muscles account for about half of a person’s total body weight. Connect to math – have students
weigh themselves and determine what that half amounts to for each of them.
• There are more than 600 skeletal muscles in the body.
• Muscles come in many shapes, sizes, and thicknesses.
• The smallest muscles are in the middle ear.
• The largest is the gluteus maximus muscle that forms the buttock.
• There is a very interesting muscle called the diaphragm. This muscle is attached along the edge and
inside of the ribcage. The diaphragm is the primary muscle for breathing.
• While most muscles attach to bones, the muscles in your face are attached to the skin. Facial muscles
are the muscles that put a smile on your face when you are laughing, or wrinkle your brow when you are
puzzled.