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Why do our skeletons have so many bones?

Why do our skeletons have so many bones?

Lesson narration:
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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:

Grades K-5

Current Events And Trending Topics

Bones, Animal Structures

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

Exploration

15 mins

Grades K-5

Current Events And Trending Topics

Bones, Animal Structures

Extend this lesson

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