Integumentary System Functions Activities for Middle School Science

This engaging 5E lesson guides students through the integumentary system's role in protection and health maintenance. Designed for differentiated, student-led learning, it includes editable presentations, worksheets, assessments, and student-choice projects, all aligned with TEKS 7.13A. Students explore the system through hands-on labs, reading passages, research tasks, and interactive activities. Explanation resources feature editable PowerPoints and note-taking templates, while elaboration encourages deeper learning with student-choice projects. STAAR 2.0-aligned assessments and review materials support evaluation. Available in digital and print formats, with Spanish translations for key materials, this lesson is adaptable for in-class or virtual learning. The resources below will give students a comprehensive understanding of the integumentary system. All of the following materials are also included in the Kesler Science Membership.

The Kesler Science Integumentary System 5E Lesson is a comprehensive unit covering the role of the integumentary system in protecting and maintaining health. It includes editable presentations, worksheets, assessments, and student-choice projects designed for differentiated, student-led learning with low to no prep. The lesson is aligned with the 2021 TEKS 7.13A science standard and available in both digital and print formats, with Spanish translations for key materials.

Following the 5E Model, the lesson begins with engagement activities, including vocabulary word walls and discussion prompts. Students explore the integumentary system through a differentiated station lab with nine multimodal stations, such as hands-on demonstrations, reading passages, research tasks, video discussions, and interactive activities. Explanation resources include editable PowerPoints, interactive notebooks, and note-taking templates. Elaboration extends learning through student-choice projects on the system’s functions and protective role. Evaluation features STAAR 2.0-aligned assessments, review questions, and worksheets for test practice or homework.

The lesson is adaptable for in-class or virtual learning, ensuring flexibility for all teaching environments.

Engage your middle school students with this student-led station lab aligned to TEKS 2021 standard 7.13A. This interactive lesson explores the functions of the integumentary system through nine differentiated stations, allowing students to direct their own learning in-class or virtually.

Students engage with new concepts through multimodal input stations, including hands-on exploration, video analysis, reading comprehension, and research activities. They then demonstrate their understanding at output stations by organizing information, illustrating models, writing responses, and completing assessments. A bonus challenge station offers extension activities for advanced learners.

This modular, low-prep resource encourages active learning and critical thinking while supporting differentiated instruction with English and Spanish reading passages.

The Integumentary System Functions Student Choice Projects align with the 2021 TEKS standard 7.13A, allowing middle school students to demonstrate their understanding in a format that suits their learning style. A project page outlines six student-led options plus a “design your own” project, all supported by an editable rubric for teacher, peer, or self-assessment. This resource is also part of the Integumentary System Functions Complete Lesson for TEKS 7.13A.

These flexible, multimodal projects provide creative ways for students to showcase their knowledge. Two versions of the project page support differentiation, with modified options for students needing remediation and challenge opportunities for advanced learners. Teachers can customize the rubric to meet grading needs.

Projects use common classroom supplies such as paper, markers, and scissors, with many options available for digital completion.

Lesson Extensions provide engaging, student-choice activities designed to challenge early finishers and deepen their understanding of body systems. These activities support critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving while aligning with NGSS and TEKS standards. They are perfect for wrapping up lessons, filling downtime, and keeping students engaged with rigorous yet enjoyable learning opportunities.

Each extension includes four interactive components: Puzzler for problem-solving, Maker Space for hands-on STEAM activities, Tech Connection for digital demonstrations, and Word Master for creative writing. With teacher directions, answer keys, and both print and projection versions, these extensions provide flexible, high-level resources for independent learning and enrichment.

Covering topics such as the circulatory, digestive, endocrine, excretory, integumentary, muscular, nervous, respiratory, and skeletal systems, as well as sensory information, these extensions ensure students explore middle school anatomy and physiology in a meaningful way.

This Amazing Anchors Phenomenon Lesson introduces and reinforces the integumentary system through the real-world connection of sunburns. It begins with an introductory reading on sunburns, followed by comprehension and extension questions to prepare students for deeper learning. An explanatory reading breaks down the science behind sunburns and the integumentary system, with additional questions to reinforce understanding.

Aligned with TEKS, this no-prep resource includes teacher directions, answer keys, projection slides, and both print and digital formats for Google Classroom and other LMS platforms. A differentiated version provides sentence starters for student support. Designed to bookend a lesson, these engaging readings serve as supplements to reinforce learning in any in-person or virtual classroom.

Year-Round Resources

These year-round activities will increase your students' understanding of many middle school science topics. All of these activities are also included in the Kesler Science Membership.

Visual Data & Graphing

You're not alone if your students struggle with understanding graphs, charts, and tables. It's a skill that takes an enormous amount of practice. This resource will help students build a strong foundation in analyzing data and creating their own data visualizations.

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Bell Ringers and Warm-Ups

These middle school science bell ringers are an excellent way to engage your students as soon as they walk into your classroom. This comprehensive FULL YEAR resource includes everything you need to start off each science class with an interesting warm-up activity.

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Review Board Games

Each game board has been carefully designed to keep students engaged. There are 10 different action spaces on each board and dozens of question cards. All of the actions are related to science concepts and keep the students motivated throughout the game.

Each game is ready to play. Simply print out the board and the cards and let the students enjoy reviewing nine different units.

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Essential Questions and Standards

Below are the essential questions and standards associated with the lessons and activities included in the atoms unit. This topic is only one of more than 100 middle school science topics included in the Kesler Science Membership.

Essential Questions

What are the main organs and tissues found in the human integumentary system?
How can we model the main functions of these tissues and organs?

Standards

TEKS Science - 7.13A Integumentary System Functions