Muscles are a tissue which pulls part of our skeleton so we can move.

The strength of something is shown by how well it can withstand a force or pressure.

To measure is to use equipment to find numbers to describe a feature of something such as its length, weight, size or time.

A question is a sentence or phrase used to find out information.

Muscle strength: plan (non-statutory)

Science

The human skeleton: support

The human skeleton: protection

Bone length: plan and do

Bone length: review

Animal skeletons

Animals without bones

Muscles for movement

Muscle strength: do and review (non-statutory)

Improving muscle strength (non-statutory)

In The human skeleton and muscles unit, pupils learn that humans and some other animals have skeletons and muscles for support, protection and movement. In The human digestive system unit, they will build on this knowledge to describe the basic parts of the digestive system in humans

In the Human body parts unit, pupils learnt to describe and compare the structure of common animals and identify and name the basic parts of the human body. In this The human skeleton and muscles unit, pupils will build on this knowledge to identify and name some common bones in the human skeleton

This unit explores the role of skeletons and muscles in humans and other animals for support, protection, and movement. It involves setting up practical enquiries, making observations, measuring accurately, recording findings, and using results to draw conclusions and suggest improvements.

Introduction to the human skeleton and muscles

Physical activity and equipment requiring safe use

Use of equipment that may require supervision for safety, e.g. scissors in KS1, needles, paint, knives, cooking.

Risk assessment required - physical activity

To measure how strong someone is, we could think of ways to measure their {{}} strength.

Put these people in order from the strongest muscle strength to the weakest muscle strength.

If you were measuring muscle strength by how far a person can throw a heavy ball, which unit of measurement would you use to measure the distance the ball was thrown?

Measuring the length of your arm that you pick the weight up with.

Measuring who can hold the mass the longest.

Which of the following ways would **not** measure muscle strength?

How far can I push a heavy weight with my feet?

Which of these questions could you ask to carry out an investigation about muscle strength?

When measuring muscle strength we can use the type of enquiry called {{}} seeking.

No, humans do not have muscles but some other animals do.

Yes, they are on the outside of our bodies.

Yes they are on the inside of our bodies.

Where bones meet, around our {{}} we have pairs of muscles which pull in different directions to help us move.

Which of these statements describes the muscles in your body?

Match the muscles with an activity they can be used for.

Match the equipment to its unit of measure.

A scientist can carry out an {{}} to find out an answer to their question.

Starter Quiz

Do humans have muscles?