Information
Bones are grouped together in categories. Long bones (femur), short bones (wrist), flat (ribs) and irregular (vertebra). Each group has a special function.
The skeletal system has many functions. Most often we think of support; to keep us upright and protection of the vital organs. It also has an important role in allowing us to move, produces blood cells, red and white and stores calcium and phosphorus.
If we did not have a skeleton system we would be a pile of skin and fat, unable to move, run or bend. Each bone connected to another bone at a joint with muscles and tendons allows us to move, bend and play.
Many bones have the job of protection, just like the armor on a knight. The skull protects our brain, ribs protect our heart and lungs and the vertebrae protect the spinal canal and also support us. Some bones do have more than one job.
Bones are also grouped into categories by their shapes. Long bones such as the femur and humerus describe exactly that- a long bone. Our femur is the largest bone in our body. It is almost five times as strong as steel. This means it can support a lot of weight and it also helps us move along with the two shin bones.
Next we have short bones-usually found in our wrist and ankle. They are as long as they are wide. Carpal bones in your wrist connect to your fingers, and tarsal bones in your ankle connect to your toes.
Your ribs are in the flat bone category. All twelve pairs of ribs are anchored to your backbone. The ribs protect many organs such as, the heart, lungs, stomach, liver and other organs in the upper abdomen area. The first upper seven pairs of ribs are connected to the backbone and the sternum (breastbone) in the front. The next three pairs are connected to the backbone and cartilage in the front. The last two pairs are called floating ribs because they are only connected to the backbone.
The last group is called irregular bones because they have an irregular shape, such as vertebra. Adults have 26 vertebrae and small children have as many as 33. The bones in our spine help us move, stand, sit and bend. Not only are the bones themselves an unusual shape, but the vertebrae are not straight. They have an S curve which helps us keep our balance.
Project: It's Hip to be Square
Objective: Students will use various geometrical shapes to make a skeleton. Note- Teacher may have these precut or have the students cut during a math lesson.
Materials: Black construction paper, white construction paper (2), glue, gold or silver pen, scissors or die cut shapes.
Procedure: Take the various black construction paper shapes and arrange to make a skeleton shape. Shapes include: circle, hexagon, rectangle, square, triangle, trapezoid, rhombus, oval, parallelogram and pentagon. Make various sizes of each.
Once the skeleton has its shape, glue on white construction paper.
Getting started- Teacher may show students that a circle and a smaller hexagon make a skull.
Use the silver or gold pen to add cracks in the skull, holes for eyes, nose and mouth.
It's Hip to be Square Score Sheet:
1.________pts Shape of the skeleton
2.________pts Uses at least five different shapes
3.________pts Embellishment
4.________pts Five facts about functions and categories of bones
25 points per section
Grade:
100-90pts= A E/E-
89-80pts= B S+
79-70pts= C S-
69-60pts= D N
59-0pts= F N-
Vocabulary Words for Word Wall
Irregular | Support | Protection | Vertebrae
Humerus | Carpal | Tarsal | Sternum
Cartilage