Exploring the human body systems (video-based lesson)

In this lesson, intermediate to advanced ESL learners will dive into the fascinating world of the 11 major human body systems.

By the end of this 60-75 minute session (shorten time by assigning pre-class activities), students will confidently describe the basic functions of these systems, use key vocabulary in context, and engage in discussions about how these systems work together to keep us alive and thriving. Having the student watch the video before class will greatly reduce time.

Through interactive activities like discussions, comprehension tasks, and creative poster-making, students will not only build their language skills but also gain a deeper appreciation for the incredible complexity of the human body. Let’s get started by exploring what lies beneath the skin.

ESL lesson plan: Exploring the human body systems

Level: Intermediate to Advanced (B1-B2+)
Duration: 60-75 minutes
Objective: By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

• Understand and describe the basic functions of the 11 major human body systems.
• Use key vocabulary related to the human body in context.
• Engage in discussions about how body systems work together.

Materials:

• Audio or video clip of the transcript, Human Body Systems Overview (Updated 2024).
• Handout with vocabulary and comprehension questions
• Whiteboard or projector
• Blank paper for group activity

Lesson Plan

Warm-up (10 minutes)

Activity: Quick discussion

• Objective: Activate prior knowledge and introduce the topic.
• Instructions:
  1. Write the phrase “I know this like the back of my hand!” on the board.
  2. Ask students:
     • What does this phrase mean?
     • Do you really know the back of your hand? What’s under the skin?
  3. Elicit responses and guide the discussion toward the human body (e.g., skin, cells, systems).
  4. Introduce the lesson topic: “Today, we’ll learn about the 11 major systems of the human body and how they work together.”

Vocabulary introduction (10 minutes)

Activity: Key vocabulary

• Objective: Familiarize students with essential terms from the transcript.
• Instructions:
  1. Provide a handout with the following 10 key vocabulary words from the transcript (definitions simplified for ESL learners):
     • Cell: The smallest unit of life in the body.
     • Tissue: A group of cells that work together.
     • Organ: A part of the body with a specific job (e.g., heart, lung).
     • System: A group of organs that work together (e.g., circulatory system).
     • Nutrient: A substance from food that the body needs to grow and work.
     • Hormone: A chemical messenger in the body that controls actions.
     • Metabolic waste: Unneeded substances produced by the body’s processes.
     • Pathogen: A germ (like a virus or bacteria) that can make you sick.
     • Neuron: A cell that carries messages in the nervous system.
     • Gas exchange: The process of taking in oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide.
  2. Read each word aloud, have students repeat, and briefly discuss the meanings using examples from the transcript (e.g., “The heart is an organ in the circulatory system”).
  3. Ask students to match the words to their definitions or use them in simple sentences.

Listening/Reading activity (15 minutes)

Activity: Comprehension of the transcript

• Objective: Develop listening/reading comprehension and identify key information.
• Instructions:
  1. Option 1 (Listening): Play the audio/video of the transcript (if available) or read it aloud slowly. Students listen and take notes on the main function of each body system.
  2. Option 2 (Reading): Provide the transcript and have students read silently or in pairs, highlighting key functions of each body system.
  3. Distribute a comprehension handout with questions like:
     • What does the circulatory system do with blood?
     • Which system helps break down food? Where does digestion start?
     • What is the largest organ in the integumentary system?
     • How do the respiratory and circulatory systems work together?
  4. Discuss answers as a class, encouraging students to use the new vocabulary.

Speaking activity (15 minutes)

Activity: Group discussion – Systems working together

• Objective: Practice speaking and using new vocabulary in context.
• Instructions:
  1. Divide students into small groups.
  2. Assign each group a scenario where body systems interact (e.g., running a race, eating a meal, fighting a cold).
  3. Ask groups to discuss:
     • Which body systems are involved in this scenario?
     • How do they work together? (Use the example from the transcript about racing a friend.)
  4. Each group presents their ideas to the class, using at least 3 vocabulary words.

Extension activity (15 minutes)

Activity: Create a body system poster

• Objective: Reinforce vocabulary and comprehension through a creative task.
• Instructions:
  1. In pairs or small groups, assign each group one of the 11 body systems.
  2. Provide blank paper and markers. Ask students to create a poster that includes:
     • The name of the system.
     • Its main function (in their own words).
     • One or two key structures (e.g., the heart for circulatory, the lungs for respiratory).
     • A simple drawing or diagram.
  3. Students present their posters to the class, explaining their system in 1-2 minutes.

Wrap-up (5-10 minutes)

Activity: Quiz and reflection

• Objective: Review key concepts and assess understanding.
• Instructions:
  1. Conduct a quick oral quiz with questions like:
     • What system helps you breathe? (Respiratory)
     • What carries nutrients around the body? (Circulatory)
     • What system protects your organs with skin? (Integumentary)
  2. Ask students: “What was the most interesting thing you learned about the human body today?”
  3. Encourage students to use one new vocabulary word in their response.

Homework/extension

• Task: Write a short paragraph (5-7 sentences) about a daily activity (e.g., eating, exercising, sleeping) and explain how at least three body systems work together during this activity.
• Vocabulary extension: Provide the following 10 additional vocabulary words for advanced learners to explore. Ask them to find definitions and use each in a sentence:
  1. Artery: A blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart.
  2. Vein: A blood vessel that carries blood back to the heart.
  3. Capillary: A tiny blood vessel where gas exchange happens.
  4. Enzyme: A substance that helps chemical reactions in the body (e.g., in digestion).
  5. Villi: Tiny structures in the small intestine that absorb nutrients.
  6. Gland: An organ that makes and releases substances like hormones.
  7. Nephron: A unit in the kidney that filters waste from blood.
  8. Alveoli: Tiny sacs in the lungs where gas exchange occurs.
  9. Antibody: A protein that helps the immune system fight pathogens.
  10. Gamete: A reproductive cell (e.g., egg or sperm).

Assessment

• Formative: Monitor participation in discussions and group activities, checking for accurate use of vocabulary and comprehension of body system functions.
• Summative: Evaluate the posters and homework paragraphs for clarity, accuracy, and use of vocabulary.