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Texas Science Teacher Resource Hub

Free scope and sequences, TEKS breakdowns, phenomenon ideas, and engagement activities for the 2024 Texas science standards.

I'm Chris Kesler, a former award-winning Texas middle school science teacher. This is the site I wish I'd had in the classroom. One hub with TEKS breakdowns, scope and sequences, phenomenon starters, engagement ideas, and resources, all aligned to the standards you actually teach.

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All standards updated for the 2024 TEKS revision

TEKS Details | Texas Hub Module

7th Grade TEKS Standards

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TEKS S.7.13A • Organisms & Environments

Body Systems & Functions

The Standard

"Identify and model the main functions of the systems of the human organism, including the circulatory, respiratory, skeletal, muscular, digestive, urinary, reproductive, integumentary, nervous, immune, and endocrine systems."

💡 What This Standard Actually Means

The Key Verb

"Identify and model". Students are identifying the main functions of the systems of the human organism and creating models that show those functions. The 2024 TEKS lists eleven systems by name: circulatory, respiratory, skeletal, muscular, digestive, urinary, reproductive, integumentary, nervous, immune, and endocrine. The two main shifts are the addition of the reproductive system and the explicit verb "model." Kids need to be able to draw or build a representation of each system in action, not just describe it on paper. Instruction can take many forms, such as body system poster projects, lifesize human outline modeling, function-matching card sorts, and short build activities like a paper bag respiratory system.

The human body is a collection of eleven systems working together. Each one has a specific main function, but no system runs on its own. The 2024 TEKS calls out all eleven by name, including the reproductive system, which is a new addition for this standard.

The circulatory system moves blood, oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and waste around the body. The respiratory system handles gas exchange, taking in oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide. The skeletal system provides support, protects organs, and stores minerals. The muscular system produces movement and generates body heat. The digestive system breaks down food into nutrients the body can absorb. The urinary system filters waste out of the blood and removes it as urine. The reproductive system produces sex cells and supports the creation of new offspring. The integumentary system (skin, hair, and nails) is the body's outer barrier and helps regulate temperature.

The nervous system sends and receives electrical signals to coordinate everything the body does, fast. The immune system defends the body against bacteria, viruses, and other threats. The endocrine system uses hormones to send slower, longer-lasting signals that regulate growth, metabolism, and stress responses. The big idea students should walk away with is that these systems work together. When a kid runs in gym class, the muscular system needs more oxygen, so the respiratory system breathes faster, the circulatory system pumps faster to deliver it, the nervous system coordinates the whole response, and the integumentary system sweats to dump heat. When students model the systems, they should show both the structure and what it actually does.

💬 From Chris's Classroom

I used to teach body systems one at a time, quiz on each, and move on. Kids could name parts but had no idea how anything connected. The fix was a weekly "what happened in your body?" question. After PE, I'd ask, "You ran the mile. Tell me three systems that worked together to make that happen." They'd argue it out. Muscular used the energy. Respiratory pulled in oxygen. Circulatory moved it. Nervous told everybody when to start. Skeletal gave them something to push off of. Once they started seeing systems as a team, the unit summary was almost an afterthought. They just knew it.

⚠️ Misconceptions Your Students May Have

These are some of the most common misconceptions. Knowing what to look for can help you get ahead of them.

"Each body system works on its own"

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This is the biggest trap. Students learn the systems one at a time and assume they run independently. In reality, almost nothing in the body happens without multiple systems pitching in. Taking a breath uses respiratory, muscular, nervous, and skeletal. Eating a sandwich involves digestive, circulatory, endocrine, and nervous. The systems are a team.

"The heart makes oxygen"

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Students mix up the jobs of the heart and the lungs. The lungs bring oxygen into the body from the air. The heart pumps the oxygen-carrying blood around. The heart doesn't create oxygen, and the lungs don't pump. Two separate systems, two separate jobs, working as a pair.

"Skin isn't really a body system"

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Skin, hair, and nails make up the integumentary system, and it's every bit as important as the others. It keeps pathogens out, holds water in, regulates temperature through sweating, and senses the environment. The integumentary system is often the one students forget on a blank list.

"Homeostasis means staying exactly the same"

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Homeostasis is keeping internal conditions within a stable range, not locking them to a single number. Body temperature, blood sugar, and pH all shift a little throughout the day. The systems work to bring those values back toward normal when they drift too far. Stable does not mean frozen.

📓 Teaching Resources for 7.13A

These resources are aligned to this standard.

Station Lab

Skeletal System Station Lab

9-station hands-on lab covering the bones, structure, and function of the skeletal system. Input and output stations, print and digital.