Mississippi Science HAP.5.8
The Standard
- HAP.5
- Students will investigate the structures and functions of the muscular system, including the cause and effect of diseases and disorders.
Enrichment: Use an engineering design process to develop effective ergonomic devices to prevent muscle fatigue and strain (e.g., carpal tunnel, exoskeletons for paralysis, or training plans to prevent strains/sprains/cramps). *
2026 Mississippi College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Science · Muscular System
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students identify a repeated task that tires muscles or puts a joint in an awkward position. They build a grip or support, compare it with the original setup, and revise it using test results.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can explain how a design changes wrist position or reduces effort in the forearm muscles. They test both versions with the same task and time, record results, and revise one feature.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may assume a soft support reduces strain, even if it forces the wrist to bend. They may call carpal tunnel a muscle strain, though it involves pressure on a nerve.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: A worker grips a thin paint roller for hours. Sketch a new handle, explain how it could reduce forearm effort, and name one way to compare it with the original.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Wrap a marker with foam and tape, then compare grip comfort and wrist position during equal one-minute writing trials.
Ask students to write: How did your grip change wrist position, and what evidence supports your design choice?
Give groups three handle sketches to rank by wrist alignment, then have them defend one redesign using a labeled forearm diagram.
Have students inspect a broom handle at home and sketch a clip-on grip that keeps the wrist straighter during sweeping.
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Printable HAP.5.8 Worksheet
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