Bones in a Box...

This is a great anatomy manipulatives activity for Exercise Science teachers. I used to do this activity with my students and it was a great way to review key terms. Here are the directions:

Supplies:

• MDF Board (hard cardboard) - 3mm thick / 3ft. by 2ft. board (Canadian Tire)
• Several colored sharpie permanent markers
• Tongue depressor sticks (200) (Dollar store or shoppers drug mart)
• Magnets (optional but useful) (Canadian Tire or dollar store)
• Glue gun (optional if using magnets)
• LCD projector
• Coping saw or technology teacher to cut out bones from MDF board
• Exercise Science PowerPoints (Unit 1, Section 2)
  

Instructions:

You can make the bone landmark manipulatives at home or with your students in class.

1. Access the PowerPoint’s above and click on Unit 1, Section 2.
   
2. Project the PowerPoint images onto your chalkboard or whiteboard.
3. Place your MDF board in front of your chalkboard or whiteboard with bone image projected onto it.
4. Determine a color scheme to use for drawing and labeling the bones.
5. Trace the bone images onto the MDF board (you should get 8-10 images per board).
6. Highlight the areas on the bone that will be labeled.
7. Cut out the bone images using the coping saw or ask a technology teacher.
8. Use the tongue depressor sticks and write the names of the landmarks in capital letters on one side of the stick. Ensure the color of the labels match the color of the corresponding bone image.
9. (Optional) Using the glue gun, glue the magnets to the back of the bones and tongue depressors.

Application - Landmark Challenge Relay Race:

1. Divide class into several even teams (use classroom rows).
2. Each team gets the same bone with corresponding landmarks.
3. Place the bone for each team on the board with room for labeling the parts.
4. Hand-out 1 or 2 tongue depressors or landmarks to each kid.
5. Allow teams to coach each other prior to the start of the game.
6. When all teams are ready, teacher yells “go.”
7. One at a time, students go up to the board and place their landmark next to the bone where they think it belongs.
8. The first player races back and gives the next player a “high five.”
9. Then that player goes to the board and to place his or her landmark.
10. Repeat this until all players are done.
11. Once the team is finished land marking the bone, they all sit down and wait for the others to finish.
12. When all teams are finished, teacher should mark the labels.
13. Team that has all or most correct labels in fastest time wins.

If you want to add physical activity to the game, have students perform two-four lunges or push-ups every time they are “high-fived” before they head to the board.