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Why do our skeletons have so many bones?

Why do our skeletons have so many bones?
Lesson narration:
English Spanish
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DISCUSS:

What do bones do for your body?

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EXTENSION FOR OLDER STUDENTS

Students Grade 3 and up can extend this activity by comparing the human hand to the bones of a mystery animal. Go to the next slide for step-by-step instructions.

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DISCUSS (1 of 2):

How are the bones in bat wings and human hands similar to each other? How are they different?

answer-key

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DISCUSS (2 of 2):

Thinking about how bats use their wings and how humans use their hands, can you explain the differences in their bones?

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Lesson narration:
English Spanish

Activity Prep

Print Prep

In this mini-lesson, K-5 students consider what would happen if their body didn't have bones. In the activity, Skeleton Hand, students combine science with art: they trace their hands, then add see-through bones to their picture, making their own skeleton hand. The activity includes an extension for older students to compare their hand bones to the bones of a mystery animal.

Preview activity
Number of students:
Going Batty (Grades 3-5) printout 1 per student
Going Batty (Grades 3-5) Answer Key teacher-only resource 1 per class
Skeleton Hand Discussion Potential Answers teacher-only resource 1 per class
Clean-up Supplies (Eg. Paper Towels)
1 roll per class
Crayons
Black, dark blue, or purple will work best.
Details
1 crayon per student
Extra Crayons for Extension (Grades 3-5)
Each 3rd-5th grade student also needs a yellow, green, and red crayon.
Details
3 crayons per student
Table Covering (eg. Trash Bags)
1 bag per group
Vegetable Oil
Baby oil or mineral oil will also work.
Details
1 tablespoon per group
Colored Construction Paper
Yellow, orange, red, or pink will work best.
Details
1 sheet per student
Plastic Cup (2 oz)
1 cup per group
Q-tip
1 Q-tip per student
Prep Instructions

You will need windows to tape your students’ finished skeleton hands to. (Light shines through the art revealing the bones of the skeleton.)

Prepare Cups of Oil

Pour about a tablespoon of oil into a cup for each group of 4 students. You will distribute these during the activity.

Optional Extension for Older Grades

We’ve included a worksheet for students in Grades 3 to 5 to complete after making the skeleton hand. They will have the opportunity to compare the bones in their own arm with the bones in a bat wing.

Exploration

15 mins

Hands-On Activity

30 mins

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