Project 5.2.1 – The Skeletal System
Introduction
Think back to a time when you attended a football game or watched it on television.
It is not unusual for a football player to be hurt on the field. Sometimes, he is carried
off to a round of applause; later, we learn that he had broken his leg or torn some
muscle. It is not until you or someone close to you breaks a bone or damages a
muscle that we realize how important they are. Did you know that there are 206
bones in the adult human body? When you were born, there were approximately 350
bones, some fused as you became older. We need bones for lots of reasons.
Among them are to protect vital organs, to give us the shape that we have and to
allow us to move because of the muscles which are attached.
Bones don’t work all by themselves; they are connected together to form joints. Even
joints are made up of several different substances: cartilage and a thin fluid that
works to lubricate the connection.
Here is your chance to learn more about the human skeleton by creating an
interactive game that would be appropriate for an upper elementary, or middle
school aged student. This game will teach younger students and you about the
bones which are part of the human skeleton. In addition, you are going to create a
model of a working joint to show younger students how joints work and how they are
connected via ligaments and muscles.
Equipment
For groups of three students:
 Computers with Internet access
 Materials needed to create the game: foam board, makers, poster board,
sticks, clay, springs, etc.
 Materials needed to create the model joint: straws or craft sticks, paper brads,
clay, rubber bands
Procedure
Your group will work together to design and construct the skeletal game and
claymation motion or model joint.
Part 1: A Skeleton Game
Create an interactive game which upper elementary or middle school students would
enjoy playing. This game will involve identifying and using the scientific names of the
bones which make up the human skeleton which are listed below. Be sure to use
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PLTW TM - BE – Unit 5 – Lesson 5.2 – Project 5.2.1 – The Skeletal System – Page 1
both the scientific name as well as the common name by which these bones are
commonly identified. You will need to do some research to determine where these
bones are located and the common name by which they are known.
Scientific Name
Cranium
Mandible
Clavicle
Sternum
Spinal Column
Scapula
Humerus
Radius
Ulna
Ribs
Carpal
Common Name
skull
Lower jaw/jawbone
collarbone
Chest bone
Spine bone
Shoulder bone
Arm bone
Wrist bone
Forearm bone
Ribcage bones
Lower hand bone
Scientific Name
Metacarpal
Phalanges
Sacrum
Coccyx
Pelvis
Femur
Patella
Fibula
Tibia
Tarsal
Metatarsal
Common Name
Knuckle bone
Finger bone
Small back bone
Tail bone
Hip
Leg bone
Kneecap
Calf bone
Shin bone
Ankle
Toes
Location in the body
Scientific name  Common name
Common name  Scientific name sk
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2010
PLTW TM - BE – Unit 5 – Lesson 5.2 – Project 5.2.1 – The Skeletal System – Page 2