East Detroit Public Schools
Lesson Design
Author: Alicia Thorngate
Subject: Science / Physical Education
Grade: 3-5
Course: Physical Education and Science
Title: Mr. Bones
Length of Unit: 30-40 minutes on computer
40-50 minutes in Physical Education
Materials Needed: Plastic skeletons (with labeled bones which come apart)
Paper skeletons with bones labeled
Polydots or other markers for the gym
Paper bags or boxes
Computers in a lab setting
My Amazing Human Body (CD ROM)
Optional Music- "Dry Bones"
Standards-Based Outcomes (MDE):
Science:
III. Use Scientific Knowledge from the Life Sciences in Real-World Contexts
Content Standard III, 2: All students will use classification systems to describe groups of living things; compare and contrast differences in the life cycles of living things; investigate and explain how living things obtain and use energy; and analyze how parts of living things are adapted to carry out specific functions. (Organization of Living Things)
2. Describe vertebrates in terms of observable body parts and characteristics. (Key concepts: Vertebrate characteristics-fur...skeleton, muscles, cells. Real-world contexts: Vertebrate and nonvertebrate animals, such as humans... .)
Physical Education:
Content Standard 7: All students will develop and maintain healthy level of cardiovascular endurance
Health:
Michigan Model for Comprehensive School Health Education
Grades 3-4 (Skeletal System)
Prior Knowledge:
Students need to know the names and locations of major bones. They will learn this on the computer, so when they are playing the game in Physical Education, they will be successful.
Cue Set:
- Ask students, "Who's ever heard of Elvis Presley? They used to call him 'Elvis the Pelvis' because he used to shake his pelvis when he danced."
- Show the class where the pelvis is located on the skeleton.
- Shake your pelvis like Elvis and ask the kids to do the same.
- Ask students, "Does anyone know where the funny bone is located?"
- "Why is it called the funny bone if it's not too funny when we hit it?"
- "The name of the long bone on the top part of the arm is called the humerus. Humorous means funny."
Best Shot Instruction:
During computer lab time, students will become familiar with the bones by playing the CD ROM game My Amazing Human Body.
Students will then participate in a relay game in Physical Education where they put together a skeleton on which the body parts are labeled.
Independent Student Activities:
1) Computer game
2) Relay game with a partner or two other students
Teacher-Student Interaction:
1) Can students put together skeleton correctly?
2) Do they recognize names of the bones?
3) Can they locate a particular bone with a clue given by the teacher?
Integration of Technology:
CD ROM game My Amazing Human Body
Reteaching/Enrichment:
Students will play the relay game again, but this time they must put the skeleton together in a specific order. Clues will be given about a bone and students must find that particular bone. The clues can be taken off the CD, My Amazing Human Body, or clues can be given by the teacher. When playing the relay game, the teacher can verbally give the clues or students can be given a written list of the clues.
Review and Closure
- Students will play a game called "Wiggle Your Phalanges" which is similar to "Simon Says."
- Mr. Bones says, "Shake your pelvis!" or "Cross your tibias!"
- "Hokey Pokey" can also be played using the names of bones.
Assessment:
All assessments are done by teacher observation.
- Can students successfully put the bones in the correct order when playing the game?
- Can they locate the correct bones on themselves when playing 'Wiggle Your Phalanges"?
A paper skeleton can also be created in the classroom with the bones labeled. They can then be displayed as a Halloween decoration.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION GAME
MR. BONES
(GRADES 3 - 5)
EQUIPMENT:
Plastic skeletons that come apart. Bones need to be labeled. (One skeleton will be needed for each pair or group of three students. These are available at discount variety stores prior to Halloween.)
Approximately 6-10 paper grocery bags
Polydots (One per group)
2-3 paper skeletons on the walls with bones labeled
Optional music, "Dry Bones"
SET UP: Place the skeletons on the wall so that all the Students can use them for reference when assembling their skeletons. Arrange the polydots on the floor of half of the gym so students know where to build their skeletons. On the other half of the gym, place the grocery bags filled with bones.
GAME: Divide the students into pairs or groups of three. Have each team decide who will run first. The first person on each team takes one lap around the gym, removes a bone from any bag, and brings it back to their team's polydot. The next person runs one lap, removes a bone, and brings it back to their dot. This continues until the team has collected and assembled the entire skeleton. If a bone is brought back but isn't needed, it can be returned on the player's next turn.
The game can be played a second time with the students bringing back the bones in a specific order. The teacher can give clues by saying: "Bring back the longest bone," "...the bones connected to the carpals," etc. The clues can be made up by the teacher or taken from the CD My Amazing Human Body.
(Note: I play this game around Halloween. I give the students a paper skeleton with the bones labeled so that they can decorate and cut it out to hang in the halls at school or take home.)