Sliding filament theory (Edexcel A-level PE)

This fully-resourced lesson builds on the previous lesson where the structure of a muscle fibre was introduced and explains how muscle contracts according to the sliding filament theory. Both the PowerPoint and accompanying resources have been designed to cover the 3rd part of points 1.3.5 & 1.3.6 of the Edexcel A-level PE specification. The wide range of activities included in the lesson will engage and motivate the students whilst the understanding checks will allow them to assess their progress.

The lesson begins by getting them to reveal the prefix myo so that they can recognise that myology is the study of muscles. This leads into the next task, where they have to identify two further terms beginning with myo and are the names of structures involved in the arrangement of skeletal muscle. Key terminology is used throughout the lesson so that students feel comfortable when they encounter this in questions. Students were introduced to the sarcomere and the bands and zones that are found within a myofibril in a previous lesson and they are challenged to discuss how the sarcomere can narrow but the lengths of the myofilaments remain the same. The main task of the lesson involves the formation of a bullet point description of the sliding filament model where one event is the trigger for the next. Time is taken during this section to focus on the involvement of calcium ions and ATP. The final part of the lesson involves students having to apply their knowledge by describing the effect on muscle contraction when a part of a structure is unable to function correctly.