Unit: Give Your Bones A Break

Topic: Bone Anatomy/Bone Health

Rationale: Students will recognize changes in skeletal development and bone health (including bone density) across the life span, along with the roles of genetics and healthy choices in preserving our bones.

Keywords: density, bone ratio, osteoporosis, demineralization, fracture rate, halloween, day of the dead, jolly roger, skeleton, skeletal structure, etymology

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Lessons & Activities | Overview | Objectives
Evaluation | Subjects | Funding

Lesson 1: Cultural Representation of Skeletons and Bones

Activity 1A: The Origins of Halloween
Activity 1B: Halloween Venn Diagrams
Activity 1C: "In Memory of ..."
Activity 1D: Jolly Roger Crossword Puzzle
Activity 1E: Knucklebones: A Game of Skill

Lesson 2: Architecture of the Skeleton

Activity 2A: The Skeleton
Activity 2B: Bone Bingo
Activity 2C: Origin of Bone Names
Activity 2D: Body Ratio and Proportions
Activity 2E: No Bones About It
Activity 2F: Classifying Bones
Activity 2G: Bone Perspectives
Activity 2H: The Inside Story
Activity 2I: The Aging Hand

Lesson 3: Anatomy of Living Bone

Activity 3A: Gross Bone Anatomy & Skeletal Preparation
Activity 3B: Bone Coloring Sheet
Activity 3C: Firm but Flexible - Chicken Bone Lab
Activity 3D: Blaster/Claster Wheel - Healthy
Activity 3E: Blaster/Claster Wheel - Abnormal

Lesson 4: Bone Density

Activity 4A: Applying the Density Formula
Activity 4B: Determination of Bone Density with Bone Specimens
Activity 4C: Magnified Examination of Bone Sections
Activity 4D: Figuring Fracture Rates
Activity 4E: Graphing Fracture Rates

Lesson 5: A Look at Osteoporosis

Activity 5A: Flipbook
Activity 5B: "Bone Mass Across a life Span" Graph
Activity 5C: Os Costs: Banking on Healthy Bones

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Overview and Background Information

Unit Overview and Background Information for Teachers

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Unit Objectives

Students will be able to:

Explore the cultural and historical significance and symbolism of the skeleton
Investigate bone names and their origins
Predict skeletal measurements using ratios and proportions
Determine structure and function of skeleton and bones
Examine changes in the skeleton across the life span
Analyze the gross anatomy of bone and bone tissue
Explain the relationship between osteoblasts and osteoclasts
Compare and contrast normal and disordered osteoblast/osteoclast activity
Determine density of bone specimens and compare differences from epiphysis to diaphysis
Calculate fracture rates, then graph and interpret data
Sequence illustrations depicting loss of connectivity resulting in osteoporosis
Graph coordinates in the "Bone Changes Across the Life Span" graph and determine point relationships to the "fracture threshold"
Construct understanding of the genetic and environmental factors influencing the development of the disease, osteoporosis, by playing the "OsCosts ® " Game