Anatomy Help!

As teachers, we are always looking for new ways of presenting information to differentiate our lessons.  Unit 2: Introduction to the Skeletal System in the student resource Exercise Science is a robust unit with a lot of information for students to digest. Here are some great visual resources to aid in the delivery of lessons for this unit:

Exercise Science PowerPoints 

The powerpoints included in the teacher's manual and online for Unit 2: Introduction to the Skeletal System have extensive illustrations of the human body that are clearly labelled and can be re-purposed for activities in class. A sample bell ringer test is also included within the online support for the resource under the link to "Additional Resources."

A.D.A.M. Interactive Anatomy Online

If you are looking for something more interactive and have some extra budget dollars, you might want to try purchasing the A.D.A.M. Interactive Anatomy Online.  There is an Instructor and Student edition available and the application comes in multiple languages - french is available!

Visible Body - 3D Human Anatomy
Visible Body is a comprehensive human anatomy visualization tool that makes use of 3D technology. It is available online and there are various subscription plans offered, including a discount rate for students and teachers.

Get Body Smart - Free Online Resource
If you do not have extra budget dollars to spend on resources, there is an excellent website: Scott Scheffield's Get Body Smart that includes interactive tutorials and visual aids that can be used in-class or at home. Currently there is no charge for use of this resource.

Google Body Labs - No Longer a Free Resource
Google Body lab is no longer available.  Google Body Labs was developed by a company called Zygote and it looks like they will be changing the access point for the resource. You can join their contact list to be alerted when the resource becomes available. Here is the notification from Google in regards to this change:

As Google Labs winds down, we will be retiring Google Body. However, you will soon be able to find its functionality elsewhere. We are working on open-sourcing the code that powers Google Body so that anyone will be able to create and run a searchable 3D viewer. We are also working with our partner, Zygote Media Group, on an application called Zygote Body. This application will be free, available on the web and on Android, and will enable students, teachers, and others using Google Body to continue to have access to a human anatomy browser.

If you have any resources or tips, please share by posting a comment below! We'd love to hear from you!

Google Body Labs for Exercise Science

See update to Google Body Labs here.

Ever visited the Google search home page and taken some time to explore the additional links? Well if you have - then you will already know about some of the great resources posted there - free for anyone to use.

Google Labs is one of my favorite links. The Labs are meant to be a place where developers, engineers and members of the Google community can post prototypes of new ideas so that users can try them out, experiment, and provide feedback. Why should you care?

Well, there are some really useful resources listed here - including one lab called Google Body labs. Google Body is an excellent study tool for students - they can look at detailed 3D models of the human body and peel back layers and zoom in for a closer look. In addition, all body parts are clearly labeled and therefore great for student review.

Here's how to find it:

1. Within your browser, search for "Google."
2. Click on the link for "More" at the top left-hand menu
3. Select "Even More" from the drop-down menu
4. Select "Labs"
5. Select "Google Body"

You may need to upgrade your Internet Browser to the Beta version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox to be able to view the Google Body Lab. You can email the link out to your students and they can use the tool for study review.

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.