Multicellular Organisms

Lyrics

Chorus
This song is about the differentiated cells
That make up your body and other animals in the world

You gotta see these things in a wide lens
‘Cause all differentiated cells come from a fertilized egg
Each cell differentiates differently
Performing different functions for your body with efficiency
So take note and learn how multicellular organisms are built to work

Verse I
Cells compose tissue, a collection of interconnected cells
That work together in the same way,
Which you use to your advantage every day
The lining of your stomach and your skin are called
epithelium tissue—layers of cells, the basics
So now we move on to connective tissue and extracellular matrix
An inorganic material holding your
connective tissue like bone and blood together
For you when you walk, your jaw when you talk
Don’t get behind

There’s three kinds of muscle tissue:
smooth muscle in the linings of the organs;
skeletal muscle on your bones and your nervous system,
That’s the cells in your brain and your spinal cord;
And finally, the cardiac
That’s where your heart is at
The cells form the tissue from where the first beat started at
So listen up and let me bring the chorus back

Chorus

Verse II
As organisms we are complex—it’s a compliment
Our bodies work for us so we live confidently
Whether you’re ridin’ in a Bentley Your organs better work or your life would end, see
Multiple tissues form organs that work specific functions in your body
Independently—but at the same time
Helping you survive

The skin is the largest human organ—surprise!
And organs comprise organ systems that carry out
Functions in your body so when you wear it out

Your heart pumps when you do sprints and long jumps
And when you eat a sandwich for lunch your digestive system helps you out
Your circulatory system, it helps your heart
Your respiratory system, it helps you breath
You got immune and lymphatic,
excretory, endocrine, reproductive, and integumentary

Listen carefully
There’s a couple more organ systems there for me
The nervous system in your spine and your brain
If you weren’t listening better rewind what I’m saying

And finally, we got the skeletal and muscular systems
That help you stand up, simple and plain

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Description

This song teaches students the interconnected parts of the body, from cells to tissue to muscles, organs, and other body systems. By learning about the three types of cells and muscle tissues, students will better understand how different parts of the body work together and become more conversant in describing what composes the human body.

The additional teaching materials help generate instructive ideas for classroom or home study use. This science song is suitable for teaching about cells, tissues, muscles, and body systems to advanced elementary school students, middle school, high school, college, and medical school classes.

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Related Reading and Activities

Reading

Bartleby.com
Anatomy of the Human Body

This online edition of Henry Gray’s Anatomy of the Human Body features 1,247 vibrant engravings from the classic 1918 publication, as well as a subject index with 13,000 entries. It is truly a comprehensive work. Good for serious students.
Grades 9-12

BodyQuest
Find
This website provides a listing of different body parts and systems with links to complete descriptions. Good illustrations. Quiz is available.
Grades 5-12

About.com
human body tissue
This site has good information and illustrations of different kinds of tissue. Excellent illustrations of smooth, skeletal and cardiac muscle tissue.
Grades 3-12

cell anatomy
This site provides good information and illustration of cell anatomy and reproduction. Ads on the site may not be desirable in the classroom so teachers should vet the site before using.
Grades 7-12

Innerbody.com
Human Anatomy Online
This website allows students to choose a system of the human body, and to then navigate in depth through diagrams and explanations. Good information, but dense.
Grades 7-12

MEDtropolis
The Virtual Body
This website gives you a virtual tour of the human body, focusing on the brain, heart, skeleton and digestive track. Good pictures and information. Available in Spanish and English
Grades 4-12

Lesson Plans & Activities

Discovery Education
Muscles in Motion
This activity requires the use of dumbbells. The goal is to help students understand how muscles work together, but also have unique capabilities.
Grades 2-12

Discovery Education
The Ultimate Guide: The Human Body
This activity helps students to see the body as a collection of systems that work together for the success of the whole entity. (The activity was written for high school students, though it definitely seems to be applicable to middle school. It also recommends purchasing a supplementary video from Discovery Education, but that also does not seem necessary.) Lots of links to other sites.
Grades 4-12

Education World: The Educator’s Best Friend
Human Body Simon Says Game
This website provides detailed instructions for a body-themed game of Simon Says. Good game for all grade levels.
Grades 2-12

Education World: The Educator’s Best Friend
The Human Body: An Online Tour
This website has activity ideas, trivia, links to other resources, and detailed information about the human body and its systems.

Science Museum of Minnesota
Tissues of Life
This interactive website will teach students more about tissues, and provide photos and demonstrations for deeper understanding. Excellent site for curious students. Ability to manipulate illustrations adds to understanding.
Grades 2-12

Science Spot
Human Body Adventure
This website provides a worksheet of word games related to the human body. Detailed and well written this is an excellent study sheet or activity.
Grades 7-12

Teach-nology.com
The Cardiac 100
This activity asks students to imagine that they are blood cells that need to teach new blood cells the way around the circulatory system. Good activity for groups or a class to do together.
Grade 5-12

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State Standards

State standards listed here are representative of school standards across the United States.

California

5th Grade
2a - Know many multicellular organisms have specialized structures to support transport of materials.

7th Grade
5a - Know plants and animals have levels of organization for structure and function, including cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, and whole organism.
1f - Know many multicellular organisms have specialized structures to support transport of materials.

Florida

5th Grade
SC.5.L.14.1 - Identify the organs in the human body and describe their functions, including the skin, brain, heart, lungs, stomach, liver, intestines, pancreas, muscles and skeleton, reproductive organs, kidneys, bladder, and sensory organs.

6th Grade
SC.6.L.14.1 - Describe/identify patterns in hierarchical organization of organisms from atoms to molecules and cells to tissues to organs to organ systems to organisms.
SC.6.L.14.5 - Identify and investigate general functions of the major systems of human body (digestive, respiratory, circulatory, reproductive, excretory, immune, nervous, and musculoskeletal) Describe ways these systems interact with each other to maintain homeostasis.

Illinois

3rd Grade
12.A.1a - Identify and describe the component parts of living things (e.g., birds have feathers; people have bones, blood, hair, skin) and their major functions.

7th-8th Grades
12.A.3a - Explain how cells function as “building blocks” of organisms and describe the requirements for cells to live.

9th-10th Grades
12.A.4a - Explain how genetic combinations produce visible effects and variations among physical features and cellular functions of organisms.
12.A.4b - Describe the structures and organization of cells and tissues that underlie basic life functions including nutrition, respiration, cellular transport, biosynthesis and reproduction.

11th- 12th Grades
12.A.5a - Explain changes within cells and organisms in response to stimuli and changing environmental conditions (e.g., homeostasis, dormancy).

Massachusetts

6th-8th Grades
5 Life - Describe hierarchical organization of multicellular organisms from cells to tissues to organs to systems to organisms.
6 - Identify general functions of major systems of human body (digestion, respiration, reproduction, circulation, excretion, protection from disease, and movement, control, and coordination). Describe ways systems interact with each other.

New York

5th-8th Grades
1.1d - Some organisms are single cells; others, including humans, are multicellular.
1.1e - Cells are organized for more effective functioning in multicellular organisms. Levels of organization for structure and function of a multicellular organism include cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems.
1.1g - Multicellular animals often have similar organs and specialized systems for carrying out major life activities.

Texas

6th Grade
b, 10c - Identify how structure complements function at different levels of organization including organs, organ systems, organisms, and populations.

9th-12th Grades
c,10a - Interpret the functions of systems in organisms including circulatory, digestive, nervous, endocrine, reproductive, integumentary, skeletal, respiratory, muscular, excretory, and immune.

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