Science lesson plan · 10th grade (Year 11 in England) · 30 minutes
How the body warms up and cools down
Human body and health
CCSS NGSS.HS-LS1-3England: GCSE Biology: Homeostasis and response (control of body temperature)
Objective and success criteria
Students will: How the body warms up and cools down.
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: Homeostasis and negative feedback loops
Leads to: the next skill in this area.
Materials: Stopwatches, Body diagrams, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 4 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Homeostasis and negative feedback loops). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- In a control system, what role do these play: muscles that cause shivering? (receptor / coordination centre / effector) → effectorPrompt: Detect → decide → respond.
- Which is NOT controlled by homeostasis in humans? (water levels in the body / blood glucose concentration / body temperature / eye colour) → eye colourPrompt: Homeostasis keeps internal conditions stable when they change.
- Homeostasis: which statement is NOT true? (Body temperature is kept close to 37 °C. / Effectors can be muscles or glands. / Receptors carry out the response. / In negative feedback, a rise in a value triggers changes that lower it.) → Receptors carry out the response.Prompt: Which part detects and which part responds?
Hook · 3 min
- Ask everyone to find their pulse, then jump for 30 seconds and find it again.
- Share the objective: How the body warms up and cools down. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 7 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: When does this happen: shivering?
- Step 1: When too cold, the body reduces heat loss and releases more heat.
- Step 2: So the answer is: response when too cold
- Answer: response when too cold
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 6 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- When does this happen: shivering? (response when too hot / response when too cold) → response when too coldPrompt: Does it help lose heat or keep it?
- How does sweating cool you down? (Sweat makes blood vessels move / Sweat blocks the Sun / Evaporating sweat transfers energy away from the skin / Sweat is cold when it is made) → Evaporating sweat transfers energy away from the skinPrompt: Evaporation needs energy.
You do: independent practice · 7 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 3 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Temperature control: which statement is NOT true? (Sweating cools the body when the sweat evaporates. / Vasoconstriction reduces heat loss from the skin. / Normal human body temperature is about 37 °C. / Shivering cools the body down.) → Shivering cools the body down.Prompt: Do blood vessels actually move?
- When does this happen: hairs lie flat? (response when too hot / response when too cold) → response when too hotPrompt: Does it help lose heat or keep it?
Watch out for
- Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
- Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Homeostasis and negative feedback loops.
- Use concrete materials: stopwatches.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-10.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder