The Human Skeletal System

by Tara Cargile

•Essential & Unit Questions•TEKS•Individual Activities•Group Activities•Did You Know?•What are Bones Made of?•Most Common Bones•Protect Your Bones!•Broken Bones…•Sources

Essential Question:- What significant role does the

skeleton play in the human body?

Unit Questions:- How many bones are there in the

human body?- What do bones do?- What would happen if we didn’t

have bones?- Who looks at bones and what do

they use?- What can we do to help our bones

grow healthy and strong?

TEKS – Grade 3(2) Scientific Processes. The student uses scientific inquiry methods during field and laboratory investigations. The student is expected to:

(A) plan and implement descriptive investigations including asking well- defined questions, formulating hypotheses, and selecting and

using equipment and technology;(B) collect information by observing and measuring;(C) analyze and interpret information to construct reasonable

explanations from direct and indirect evidence;(D) communicate valid conclusions;

(5) Science Concepts. The student knows that systems exist in this world. The student is expected to:

(A) observe and identify simple systems such as a sprouted seed and a wooden toy car; and(B) observe a simple system and describe the role of various parts such

as a yo-yo and string. (5) Information acquisition. The student acquires electronic information in a variety of formats, with appropriate supervision. The student is expected to:

(A) acquire information including text, audio, video, and graphics;

Individual Activities- Students will identify bones, muscles and

joints. They will explore the relations between these three through audio games and discussions.

- Students will participate in an activity where they will create a skeleton in either a pull-out book or a large skeleton model.

- Students will learn the names and locations of major bones by playing a game on the computer.

Group Activities• The students will visit the

eSkeletonsProject created by the University of Texas at Austin and compare and contrast the skeletons of two animal groups.

• Invite a doctor or orthopedic specialist to visit the classroom.

Did you know?• Bones are alive, growing and

changing like the rest of your body!

• A baby’s body has about 300 bones at birth

• The adult human body has only 206 bones!

What Are Bones Made Of?• Periosteum: the outer surface of the bone; a thin, dense

membrane that contains nerves and blood vessels that nourish the bone!

• Compact: this is the next layer; it is very smooth and very hard. It is the part you see when you look at a skeleton!

• Cancellous: Many layers within the compact bone; these look like sponges! Not as hard as compact bone, but it is still very hard.

• In many bones, the cancellous bone protects the innermost part of the bone, the bone marrow. It is sort of like a thick jelly, and its job is to make blood cells.

•  

What are some of the most recognized bones?

 • Skull• Ball & socket joint (shoulder)• Fixed joint (parieto—temporal)• Vertebra• Sternum• Rib• Humerous• Radius• Ulna• Pelvis• Femur• Hinge joint (knee)• Fibula• Tibia

Be Kind to Your Bones and They Will Treat You Right!

• Protect those skull bones (and your brain inside!) by wearing a helmet for bike riding and other sports.

• When you use a skateboard, in-line skates, or a scooter, be sure to add wrist supports and elbow and knee pads. Your bones in these places will thank you if you have a fall!

•If you play sports like football, soccer, lacrosse, or ice hockey, always wear all the right equipment.

•Strengthen your skeleton by drinking milk and eating other dairy products (like low-fat cheese or frozen yogurt). They all contain calcium, which helps bones harden and become strong.

•Be active! Another way to strengthen your bones is through exercise like running, jumping, dancing, and playing sports. 

What About Broken Bones?• When a bone breaks, it is called a

fracture. • If you think you or someone else

has broken a bone, the most important things to do are:

• Stay calm• Make sure the person who is

hurt is as comfortable as possible

• Tell an adult• If there are no adults around,

call 911• Don’t move the bone; this can

make the injury worse!

• To treat the broken bone, the doctor will take an x-ray (a map of the bone), then usually they will put on a cast, a special bandage that will keep the bone in place for a few months until the bone heals.

Sources: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/anatomy/skeleton/Skelprintout.shtml

-http://yucky.discovery.com/noflash/body/pg000124.html

-http://www.kidport.com/RefLib/Science/HumanBody/BodyBones.htm

-http://www.eskeletons.org/

-http://www.macomb.k12.mi.us/EASTDET/Plans/EL-sci-phyed.htm

-http://www.lessonplanspage.com/SciencePEDemBonesNamingGameLesson45.htm