Support, movement and growth describe how living things hold their shape, move, and get bigger. The same question runs through every lesson: how does the structure suit its job?
This topic is part of the SPM Science learning guide. Each lesson has an original worked example and a self-check.
What does this area cover?
The first lesson compares the support systems of different animals. The second explains how muscles and joints work together. The third reads growth curves from tables and graphs, and the fourth relates the support structures of plants to their functions.
How do the parts connect?
The lessons move from support to movement to change over time. Support gives a body its shape, movement needs support to pull against, and growth changes both.
| Lesson | Skill | Link to the next |
|---|---|---|
| Comparing support systems | Compare structures | Bones give muscles something to pull on |
| Muscle and joint roles | Explain movement | Movement and growth happen in the same body |
| Growth curves | Read data | Applies to plants as well as animals |
| Plant support | Link structure to function | Completes the topic |
A short orienting example
A seedling is 2 cm tall at week 0, 6 cm at week 2, 14 cm at week 4 and 20 cm at week 6. The growth in each two-week interval is 4 cm, 8 cm and 6 cm.
The fastest growth is in weeks 2 to 4. The reading is about growth in height only, so it says nothing about mass or the number of leaves.
Who should start where?
If animal structures confuse you, begin with the first lesson. If you can name the parts but lose marks explaining movement, go to the second. When you want to check everything together, use the support, movement and growth practice set.
The graph evidence and fair-comparison lab helps you read growth data. To work through the topic with a teacher, see online one-to-one Science tuition.