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11/20/12

Topic/Theme: Science/ Health

Grade: 6

Lesson Topic/Theme: The Human Skeleton


Lesson Objectives:
- Given a series of questions on The Human Skeleton website, the student will be able to identify and name the main bones in the human skeletal system
  as they navigate their way to the end of the website.
- Given a list of bone names, the student will be able to locate and label each bone by labeling their own body or the body of a classmate.  


Instructional Technique:
Visual Presentation (Group)
Class Discussion
Demonstration
Partner Work


Instructional Materials:
The Human Skeleton Website
The skeletal system video (located on the the home page of the website)
Face Paint Crayons and baby wipes
Camera


Theoretical Prospective:
Students are required to have an understanding of the systems of the human body.  During the adolescent period of physical development, children are developing at different rates and the skeletal system grows unevenly.  Legs, arms, feet and/or hands may seem disproportionately large in comparison to other parts of their bodies.  Often bone growth surpasses muscle growth which is significantly important to understand (and often painful) during physical activity and sports.  Learning about the human body and their skeletal system will allow adolescents to have a better understanding of how their bodies work, function, grow and develop.

Procedure:
1. Begin the lesson with a group presentation, on the white board, that introduces students to the human skeletal system.  The following website offers a great visual and lots of information for         this discussion.  http://biology.clc.uc.edu/courses/bio105/bone.htm
2. Allow time for students to raise their hands and ask questions or offer input about the topic.
3. Introduce students to The Human Skeleton website and share the linked video with the class.
4. Assist students in partnering up with a classmate (preferably of the same gender).  
5. Provide students with a box of face paint crayons that they will use to label their own skeleton (their bodies) as they work their way through the website. 
6. Encourage the students to work together to label all of the bones that are listed as answers to the questions asked on the website (there are a total of 26).  They can use the links located on the     “help” pages to identify and locate the bones that were incorrectly selected.
7. Have students count up the number of bones they have identified and labeled.  Ask them to writhe that number, along with their names, on a post it note and stick it to the white board (to be         used during the closing discussion).
8. When complete, have the students take a picture of each other (with the classroom camera).
9. Students who finish early can check out the following website. It will offer extra practice with the skeletal system by placing the main bones together to form a human skeleton.  http://www.dairy.edu.au/discoverdairy/Teachers/Games-Interactives/Build-a-Skeleton.aspx


Closure:
Meet as a group to discuss the website.  “Who made it to the end?”  “How many bones did you find and label?”  “What did you learn about these bones?”  “What is the purpose of the skeletal system and the bones you have labeled?”
Collect the post it notes and print the photographs to be used as a bulletin board display.


Adaptations for differentiated learning:
Allow students extended time to complete the website and labeling
The teacher should help with pairing students together.  Students who will likely require help/support can be placed with a student who is likely to assist.


Evaluation:
The teacher will be an active participant in the classroom throughout this activity.
He/she will observe the labeling of bodies, the post-it notes (with the number of bones identified/labeled) and the photographs.  These are all indicators of the student engaging in the learning process.  This multi-sensory activity enables the student to gather, discuss and retain information related to the skeletal system. This activity will help the student to study and prepare for the formal unit assessment (to be given on a later date), which will also include the muscular system.


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