Science The Human Bodyusually ages 7–9

How Muscles Move Bones

Understand that muscles work in pairs to move bones: when one muscle contracts (gets shorter and pulls), the opposite muscle relaxes, and that some muscles are voluntary (we choose to use them) while others like the heart are involuntary (they work automatically)

How to tell they’ve got it

Tick these off as you see them — no test required.

Demonstrate or describe how biceps and triceps work as a pair to bend and straighten the arm
Explain the difference between voluntary muscles (we control them) and involuntary muscles (they work automatically)
Name the heart and muscles of the digestive system as examples of involuntary muscles

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Try this together

Can your child bend their arm and explain that one muscle is pulling while the other is relaxing — and that their heart muscle works without them thinking about it?

Where this sits on the map

Stuck here? Check the skills it builds on first. Confident? Here’s what it unlocks.

Builds on

Bones & Musclesages 5–7Understanding muscle pairs builds on knowing muscles attached to bones allow movement

Naming Major Bonesages 7–9Muscle pairs contract to move bones; knowing named bones helps understand which muscles act on them

How Muscles Move Bonesthis skill · ages 7–9

Unlocks

Nothing on the map depends on this yet.

solid = must come firstdashed = helps

Curriculum alignment

Candidate matches to official curriculum codes — machine-suggested, unreviewed (v0.1).

Show candidate curriculum codes · 1 VIC

Australian Curriculum v9 candidate

This skill sits outside the F–6 Australian Curriculum — no candidate code matched (v0.1).

Victorian Curriculum 2.0 codes & levels only

VC2S2U11low confidenceScience · Foundation to Level 2 · Science Understanding strand

These are candidate alignments generated by semantic matching — machine-suggested and unreviewed (v0.1), not official or verified mappings. For official curriculum content see australiancurriculum.edu.au, curriculum.nsw.edu.au and f10.vcaa.vic.edu.au. Don’t rely on them for registration or compliance purposes.

Nearby on the map

Balanced Diet & Food Groupsages 7–9 Cells, Tissues & Organsages 7–9 How the Eye Worksages 7–9 Naming Major Bonesages 7–9

All The Human Body skills →