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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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
Common Name
skull
Jaw bone
Scientific Name
Metacarpal
Phalanges
Clavicle
Sternum
Spinal Column
Scapula
Humerus
Radius
Ulna
Ribs
Carpal
Collar bone
Breast bone
Spine/ back bone
Shoulder blade
Upper arm
Lower arm bone
forearm
Rib cage
wrist
Sacrum
Coccyx
Pelvis
Femur
Patella
Fibula
Tibia
Tarsal
Metatarsal
Common Name
Hand bones
Finger and toe
bones
Lower back
Tail bone
Hip bone
Thigh bone
Knee cap
Back bone leg
Shin bone
Hind foot bone
Mid foot bone
Part 2: Claymation Motion
Select a joint from the “hat” that your teacher has. Using straws or craft sticks for the
bones, metal brads for the joints, clay for the muscles and rubber bands for the
ligaments attach the muscle(s) and ligament(s) to the bone(s), modeling the correct
point of origin, the insertion point, and the direction of movement. Label all bones
and muscles with their correct scientific names.
This joint will become part of your student game exhibit, as well as the focus of your
team’s work for the next two activities in this lesson.
Conclusion
1. What functions do our bones provide
They provide are body structure for organs, muscles, tendons, joints, ect. That helps us
to be able to move around. They also help to protect our insides so that we can survive.
2. What are the major divisions and subdivisions of the human skeletal system? Did
you use those divisions in creating your game?
Axial division: skull
ossicles of the inner ear
We used these divisions in our game.
hyoid bone of the throat
the chest
the vertebral column
Appendicular division: Pectoral Girdles(4 bones)
Upper Limbs (60 bones)
Pelvic Girdle(2 bones)
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PLTW TM - BE – Unit 5 – Lesson 5.2 – Project 5.2.1 – The Skeletal System – Page 2
Lower Limbs(60 bones
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Copyright 2010
PLTW TM - BE – Unit 5 – Lesson 5.2 – Project 5.2.1 – The Skeletal System – Page 3