An Interdisciplinary Set of Stations Connecting Biology, Chemistry, and Physics

This digital stations lesson uses a football theme to engage students in a series of short, focused investigations across multiple areas of science. Students rotate through five independent activities that apply scientific concepts to familiar real-world contexts.

Rather than completing a single worksheet, students interact with simulations, images, data, and scenarios that require them to analyze, explain, and apply scientific ideas.

What Students Do

Students complete five self-contained station activities:

Muscle Contraction
Students examine how muscle fibers contract by analyzing sarcomere models, videos, and guided questions.

Digestion and Enzymes
Students investigate how macromolecules are broken down in the small intestine and explore how enzyme function relates to digestion and genetic disorders.

Newton’s Laws and Motion
Students apply the equation F = ma to determine which football players are best suited for different positions based on mass and acceleration.

Advertising and Consumer Science
Students analyze logos and commercials to understand how design and psychology influence consumer behavior, then create their own advertisements using scientific principles of persuasion.

Fireworks and Pyrotechnics
Students explore the chemistry and physics behind fireworks and design a model halftime fireworks display based on what they learn.

Each station can be completed independently, allowing teachers to run this lesson as rotations, small groups, or a choice-based assignment.

Key Concepts Reinforced

• Muscle contraction and structure
• Enzymes and digestion
• Force, mass, and acceleration
• Consumer psychology and advertising
• Chemistry and physics of fireworks
• Application of science to real-world scenarios

Why Teachers Use This Lesson

• High engagement without sacrificing content
• Works well for stations or independent work
• Integrates multiple science disciplines
• Supports different interests and learning styles
• Easy to assign digitally
• Minimal prep required

Format

This resource is a digital stations-style lesson (Google Slides compatible) with built-in student tasks.

Includes:
✔ Five independent station activities
✔ Student instructions
✔ Teacher answer key
✔ Printable literacy-based exit ticket

Best Fit For

• Middle school science
• Introductory high school science
• Review or enrichment days
• Holiday or special event lessons
• Sub plans
• Interdisciplinary science classes

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Grade Recommendation

Middle School: 7–8
High School: 9–10 (general biology, conceptual physics, intro chemistry)

Justification:
• Biology stations (muscles, enzymes, digestion) align well with MS-LS1 and HS-LS1
• Newton’s Laws station fits MS-PS2 and HS conceptual physics
• Flame test fireworks station aligns with MS-PS1 and intro HS chemistry
• Commercial science station suitable for MS/HS literacy + media analysis

Cross-Curricular Connections & Extensions

Cross-Curricular Connections

ELA / Media Literacy

• Analyzing commercials (colors, psychology, persuasive techniques)

• Creating a student advertisement (production, script writing)

• Research-based questions (e.g., lactose intolerance symptoms)

Math

• Using F = ma data tables

• Comparing ratios, evaluating patterns, interpreting numerical results

Art / Graphic Design

• Designing original logos

• Applying principles of color theory

• Creating an advertisement or student-designed company branding

Health / Nutrition

• Understanding macromolecules, enzymes, nutrient digestion

• Lactose intolerance & dietary choices

Physical Education

• Sports science & player positions

• Understanding the physics of movement

Possible Extensions

• Flame test lab demo (if appropriate/available)

• Cross-disciplinary project: “Science of Sports Night” event

• Students build a mini-commercial using Canva or Adobe Express

• Inquiry extension: How do fireworks compare across cultures?

• Add real muscle contraction modeling using manipulatives

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NGSS Alignment (PEs, SEPs, CCCs)

Performance Expectations

Because this is a multi-disciplinary resource, it touches several PEs:

Biology PEs

• MS-LS1-2 — Model the structure/function relationship in cells & tissues

• MS-LS1-3 — Provide evidence that body systems interact

• HS-LS1-2 — Develop models illustrating hierarchical organization

• HS-LS1-7 — Use models to show how ATP powers cellular processes (muscles)

Chemistry PEs

• MS-PS1-2 — Analyze properties of substances (flame test colors)

• HS-PS1-3 — Plan investigation to gather evidence of chemical reactions

Physics PEs

• MS-PS2-2 — Use data to determine net forces on an object

• HS-PS2-1 — Analyze data showing mathematical relationships in Newton’s laws

Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs)

✔ Using and developing models (muscle contraction, fireworks)
✔ Analyzing & interpreting data (force calculations, flame test colors)
✔ Constructing explanations (digestion, enzyme specificity)
✔ Engaging in argument from evidence (player position reasoning)
✔ Obtaining, evaluating, & communicating information (ad analysis, enzyme research)

Crosscutting Concepts (CCCs)

✔ Structure & function (enzymes, muscles, nutrient shape)
✔ Cause & effect (ATP & contraction, force & acceleration, salts & flame color)
✔ Systems & system models (digestive system, pyrotechnic systems)
✔ Energy & matter (nutrients, ATP energy use, chemical reactions)
✔ Patterns (flame-test color patterns, player force patterns)

Common Core Standards (ELA + Math)

ELA

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.6-8.1 / RST.9-10.1
Citing textual evidence in explanations (muscle contraction, digestion)

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.6-8.7 / RST.9-10.7
Integrating information from videos + texts

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.6-8.2 / WHST.9-10.2
Writing scientific explanations and procedure-based reasoning

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.6-8.6 / WHST.9-10.6
Using technology to create products (logo or ad creation)

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.8.5 / SL.9-10.5
Presenting visuals strategically (advertisement creation)

Math

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.RP.A.3 — Ratio reasoning (force calculations)
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.7.EE.B.3 — Solving real-world multi-step problems
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.HSN.Q.A.1 — Units & significant digits in calculations (F = ma)