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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?
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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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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| Going Batty (Grades 3-5) printout | Print 30 copies |
| Going Batty (Grades 3-5) Answer Key teacher-only resource | 1 copy |
| Skeleton Hand Discussion Potential Answers teacher-only resource | 1 copy |
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Clean-up Supplies (Eg. Paper Towels)
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1 roll |
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Crayons
Black, dark blue, or purple will work best.
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Details
30 crayons
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Extra Crayons for Extension (Grades 3-5)
Each 3rd-5th grade student also needs a yellow, green, and red crayon.
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Details
90 crayons
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Table Covering (eg. Trash Bags)
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8 bags |
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Vegetable Oil
Baby oil or mineral oil will also work.
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Details
8 tablespoons
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Colored Construction Paper
Yellow, orange, red, or pink will work best.
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Details
30 sheets
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Plastic Cup (2 oz)
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8 cups |
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Q-tip
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30 Q-tips |
You will need windows to tape your students’ finished skeleton hands to. (Light shines through the art revealing the bones of the skeleton.)
Pour about a tablespoon of oil into a cup for each group of 4 students. You will distribute these during the activity.
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.
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