Four everyday actions show how body systems cooperate on this 4-page 5th grade science worksheet. In Part 1 students write at least two systems and what each one does for running a race, eating a sandwich, catching a ball and taking a deep breath before diving. Part 2 is a flow diagram of four steps for running, with a word bank of five systems. Pages 3 and 4 hold the sample answers.
“Name the body systems involved in an everyday action and say what each one does.”
The table on page 1 asks for at least two systems per action.
“Follow a sequence of body responses to exercise.”
The flow diagram on page 2 links the nervous, muscular, skeletal, respiratory and circulatory systems in running.
A table with the four actions down the side. Students fill in the systems involved and what each system does, with three lines in each cell.
Four boxes joined by arrows: brain sends a signal, muscles pull bones, lungs breathe faster, heart pumps faster. Students write the system for each step from a five-system word bank. Step 2 asks for two systems.
A filled table of systems and explanations for all four actions on page 3, and the four flow diagram answers on page 4.
Act it out
Have students catch a soft ball and describe what happened step by step before they fill in row 3. The nervous system step is the one they usually leave out.
Compare tables
Answers will differ, so ask pairs to swap tables and find one system their partner added that they missed. The sample key is a guide, not the only answer.
Link to heart rate
Run the flow diagram right before a heart rate activity. Step 4, heart pumps faster, then comes from something students have just felt.
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