MONASHSCIENCECENTRE© 2006
Primary Science Teaching Resource
Page1 of 5
Concept
Activity – the Skeleton
Materials and Equipment
This lesson introduces the students to the human skeleton including the function of the skeleton, some of the main bones and the cells that make up bones.
This activity introduces the students to the overall structure of the skeletal system including its main parts and functions.
d s i o l n po !Mo el of a human keleton or f a m de cannot be fou d, sters of the u an on h m skelet .
! a t s f a n b n s ll :Diagr m of he name o the m i o es a fo ows
gB
iolo
y -
Leve
l 4
The Human Skeleton
MONASHSCIENCECENTRE© 2006
Primary Science Teaching Resource
Page2 of 5
Procedure
!Discuss with the students why we have a skeleton and what are it main functions:
· Shape· Protection of internal organs· Support of our organs and flesh· Movement by attaching to muscles· Mineral storage such as calcium · Blood production in the bone marrow
!Have students come up to the model and identify the main bones (use the common and scientific names) and what their specific function is e.g.
· Skull or cranium protects the brain· Thigh bone or femur allows us to move our legs, supports our upper
Activity – Skeleton Puzzle
Once the students are familiar with the overall structure of the skeleton, this activity can be used to reinforce the main parts in their own time.
Materials and Equipment
!Handout of jumbled bones!Handout of bone labels with common and scientific
names
Procedure
!Following on from the previous activity, by using their own knowledge and by doing their own research, students cut out the bone puzzle and use the labels to correctly label the skeleton.
!Students should also discuss the function of the bones that make up the puzzle based on previous discussions.
!They can present their skeletons to the class in ‘bone groups’ e.g. leg bones, arm bones, head bones, chest bones, pelvic bones.
The Human Skeleton
gB
iolo
y -
Leve
l 4
MONASHSCIENCECENTRE© 2006
Primary Science Teaching Resource
Page3 of 5
The Human Skeleton
Jumbled Bones
gB
iolo
y -
Leve
l 4
MONASHSCIENCECENTRE© 2006
Primary Science Teaching Resource
Page4 of 5
The Human Skeleton
SKULL
(CRANIUM)
TOE BONES
(PHALANGES)
TAIL BONE (COCCYX)
FOOT BONES
(METATARSALS)
SHIN BONE
(TIBIA)
COLLAR BONE
(CLAVICLE)
LOWER JAW BONE
(MANDIBLE)
RIBS
(COSTAE)
HAND BONES
(METACARPALS)
THIGH BONE
(FEMUR)
BACKBONE
(VERTEBRAL COLUMN)
WRIST BONES
(CARPALS)
ANKLE BONES
(TARSALS)
KNEECAPS (PATELLA)
BREAST BONE
(STERNUM)
INNER FOREARM
(RADIUS)
HIP BONE (PELVIS)
ARM BONE (HUMERUS)
CALF BONE
(FIBULA)
FINGER BONES (PHALANGES)
OUTER FOREARM
(ULNA)
Bone Labels
gB
iolo
y -
Leve
l 4
MONASHSCIENCECENTRE
© 2006
Primary Science Teaching Resource
Page5 of 5
The Human Skeleton
LBio
log
y -
eve
l 4
Activity – What are Bones made of?
This activity and demonstration can be used to introduce the students to the smallest building blocks of bones – bone cells.
Main ideas to introduce to the students:!Skeleton is made up of bones. Bones are in turn made up of bone cells.!All body structures and organs are made up of smaller building blocks or
cells that are special to that part of the body. !Bone cells cannot be seen by the naked eye because they are microscopic.
You need a microscope to see them.!Cells for a particular body part have a special shape and function for that
body part and a specific name.
Materials and Equipment
!If available – light microscopes and slides of bone cells!In place of a microscope and slides, pictures of bone cells can be used –
search the internet for bone cell images.!At this stage can introduce the names of bone cells: osteoclasts and
osteoblasts.
Explanation
This lesson introduces students to:!The main functions of the human skeleton!The main structures and bones!Bone names - both scientific and common !The concept that bone is made of smaller building blocks – bone cells.