Life Science · Body Structures & Movement
Finger & Muscle Model: How Do Pulling Structures Move Joints?
Build and test a finger model to explain how bones, joints, tendons, and muscles work together to produce bending and straightening.
Lesson plan
Finger & Muscle Model: How Do Pulling Structures Move Joints?
A step-by-step guide to help you teach this lesson.
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Lesson overview
What students will learn
- Use a physical model to connect bones, joints, tendons, and muscle pulling to finger movement.
- Collect evidence from model tests showing that pulling on different sides produces different joint motion.
Key science ideas
- Bones provide rigid structures that can move at joints.
- Muscles pull when they contract; they do not push bones from a distance.
- Tendons connect muscles to bones and transmit pulling force.
Lesson at a glance
- Grade 5
- 55 min
- ~15 min prep
- 7 materials
What’s included
- Lesson Plan
- Investigation
- Teacher Slides
- Printable Worksheet
- Teacher Answer Key
- Interactive Activity
- Vocabulary