Skeleton!

This is a good follow up to the lesson on the body here.

Songs: Ghost of John, Dry Bones (this works best if you tickle them while singing)
Books: The Skeletal System  by Caroline Arnold (I just used this for the pictures--it's too advanced)
            Bones & Muscles  by Susan LeVert (same as above--used for pictures)
            Bend and Stretch  by Pamela Hill Nettleton
            You Can't See Your Bones With Binoculars  by Harriet Ziefert
Craft: life-size skeleton of your child
Outside: play 'what would happen if you didn't have bones in your ______'

Supplies needed:

• piece of paper large enough to trace your child
• scissors
• black/silver markers or crayons

Start with the songs, then show a picture of a skeleton (or toy skeleton if you have one).  Explain what bones do for our bodies and what would happen if you didn't have any bones (if you can get the clip from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets when Lockhart makes his bones disappear, that's a great visual).

Trace your child on the paper, then cut it out.  As you draw (use those artistic skills!) the bones and label them, have your child feel the bones in their bodies.  You can even show pictures of x-rays from that area (skulls, ribs, etc.).

Main bones to label:

• skull
• spine
• ribs
• pelvis

Extras (these can just be 'leg bones' or 'arm bones' if you don't care about technical terms):

• sternum (middle of chest)
• humerus (upper arm)
• ulna (pinky side of lower arm)
• radius (thumb side of lower arm)
• femur (upper leg)
• tibia (front lower leg)
• fibia (back lower leg)

Once your bones are labeled, hang the poster next to the body poster from the previous lesson.  See how they match up.

Go outside and play a game where you imagine what would happen if you didn't have bones in your right leg, or left arm, or neck, etc.  See what you can and can't do without your bones.

Come back in for a snack--make sure you have some milk to build those strong bones!  While you eat you can read books about the skeleton (both nonfiction and some fun skeleton books).

Other possible topics:

• If there's a baby in the home, have your child feel its soft spot (carefully) and explain that the baby's bones are still growing
• Show a video of someone getting a cast put on (youtube has lots)
• Do a demonstration using blocks (or something else with good support) to hold up a piece of fabric.  Then try to hold the fabric up using rubber bands.  The cloth is our skin--without support we would just be a puddle!