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1. Question
There are seven biomechanical principles that
assist in movement. It is crucial to understand
what role they play in physical activity and how
they can improve your performance.
Image Source:
Teddy via tooloop.com
View a video clip about how biomechanics
came to be. You will need your internal BCPS
login to access this video in Safari Montage:
The History of Science: What is the Secret of
Life? Chapter 5: Giovanni Borelli, The Mechanics
of the Human Body.
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What are those biomechanical principles?
How do they assist in the body’s movement?
How can improving one of the principles
improve a particular skill?
Giovanni Borelli’s “Lim Joints”
from De Motu Animalium
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
Why are biomechanical principles essential to either
skill performance or the analysis of the skill?
2. Information Sources
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You will use the resources below to
complete the activity on Slide 3. These will
to help you with your research and
understanding of biomechanical principles.
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Applying Biomechanics to Sport
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Sports Performance
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Going Through the Motions
Use the BCPS databases to search for
additional information, for example:
NBC Learn, Discovery Education, Safari
Montage, Science in Context, SIRS
Knowledge Source, World Book, or
netTrekker.
Image Source: clipart.com by subscription
Why are biomechanical principles essential to either skill performance or the analysis of the skill?
Next
3. Student Activity
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You will choose to focus on one of the seven
biomechanical principles.
Use the Cornell Notes Template to gather
relevant information to the essential question.
Image Source: clipart.com by subscription
While researching, think about:
1. Selecting a biomechanical principle and
explaining how it works.
2. Explain how that principle pertains to a
skill using the correct terminology and
concepts.
3. Identify which biomechanical principles
will help improve skill performance.
Why are biomechanical principles essential to either skill performance or the analysis of the skill?
4. Assessment Activity
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Using what you have learned you will
need to create a video of a sportspecific skill and analyze the
biomechanical principle that is involved.
Use the following questions to guide your
video:
1.
What biomechanical principle is
being used in the movement?
2.
How do they assist in the body’s
movement?
3.
How can improving one of the
principles improve a particular skill?
4.
Why are biomechanical principles
essential to either skill performance
or the analysis of the skill?
Image Source: clipart.com by subscription
Why are biomechanical principles essential to either skill performance or the analysis of the skill?
Next
5. Enrichment Activities
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How are biomechanics used in different
careers?
Making Robotic Arms (video)
Ice Skate Design (video)
Tank Chair (Web site)
Creating Gollum (Article)
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You can use any of the
following presentation
creators:
Prezi
 PowerPoint
 Popplet (click Try it Out
at the top, then Sign
Up)
 Animoto
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Using these resources create a
presentation to share with your class about
how the biomechanical principles have
been applied to these different careers.
For Popplet and Animoto, you will need to use your
own email address.
6. Teacher Support
Materials
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Physical Education / Grades 9 – 12
Time Frame: Two- 50 minute lessons.
PE Standards
Standard 2: Applies knowledge of concepts, principles, strategies and tactics related to movement and performance.
Differentiation strategies for this lesson:
S2.H2 Movement concepts, principles, and knowledge
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S2.H2.L1 Uses movement concepts and principles (e.g., force, motion, rotation) to analyze and improve performance of
self and/or others in a selected skill.
Common Core State Standards |
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.9-10.1
Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts, attending to the precise details of
explanations or descriptions.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.9-10.7
Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question) or
solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject,
demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.9-10.5
Make strategic use of digital media (e.g., textual, graphical, audio, visual, and interactive elements) in presentations to
enhance understanding of findings, reasoning, and evidence and to add interest.
Standards for the 21st Century Learner
1.1.6 Read, view, and listen for information presented in any format (e.g. textual, visual, media, digital) in order to make
inferences and gather meaning.
2.1.3 Use strategies to draw conclusions from information and apply knowledge to curricular areas, real-world situations,
and further investigations.
2.1.6 Use the writing process, media and visual literacy, and technology skills to create products that express new
understandings.
ISTE NETS - National Educational Technology Standards for Students
3. Research and Information Fluency: Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information.
b. Locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and
media.
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Direct students to use learning tools included in our
BCPS-licensed databases, such as: audio readaloud, labeled reading levels/Lexiles, and
embedded dictionaries.
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Students can work in partners.
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Resources available to students are on all levels.
Learning Styles addressed in this lesson:
Visual, auditory, kinesthetic, tactile, active, reflective, global,
analytical
Notes to the teacher:
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Collaborate with your school library media specialist to
implement this lesson.
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Have login information for databases available,
including Safari.
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Headphones will be needed for students to listen to
videos.
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In order for students to complete the assessment activity,
students will need to use a flipcam or webcam.
4. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making: Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research,
manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources. c.
Collect and analyze data to identify solutions and/or make informed decisions.
Last updated: October 2014
Created by Marlena Aumen, Library Media Intern
BCPS Slam Dunk Research Model, Copyright 2013, Baltimore County Public Schools, MD, all rights reserved. The models may be used for educational, non-profit school use only.
All other uses, transmissions, and duplications are prohibited unless permission is granted expressly. This lesson is based on Jamie McKenzie’s Slam Dunk Lesson module.