Lesson 1: Cultural Representation of Skeletons and Bones

	Topic: Bone Anatomy/Bone Health Part of: Unit: Give Your Bones A Break

• Focus: Cultures vary in their beliefs and observances regarding death, the final stage in the life cycle. The human skeleton plays a key cultural symbol of life's end. This lesson familiarizes students with different cultural perspectives and representations of the skeleton.

Activities | Introduction | Objectives | Resources & Web Sites

 

Activities

 

Activity 1A: The Origins of Halloween

(culture, halloween, memorial, day of the dead, el dia de los muertos, calaca)

Activity 1B: Halloween Venn Diagrams

(culture, memorial, halloween, all hallow's eve, all saint's day, the day of the dead, el dia de los muertos)

Activity 1C: "In Memory Of…"

(culture, memorial, play dough, modeling dough, calaca, art, halloween, venn diagram, clay model, Hispanic, el dia de los muertos, the day of dead)

Activity 1D: Jolly Roger Crossword Puzzle

(skull, crossbone, Jolly Roger flag, art, puzzle, pirate)

Activity 1E: Knucklebones: A Game of Skill

(culture, game, greek, specimen, bone, preparation)

Entire Lesson Download (16 pages)

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Introduction

This unit begins with a Social Studies/Reading lesson titled "Cultural Representation of Skeletons and Bones." This lesson draws on the mix of Hispanic and European-American cultures with activities that compare and contrast the origins and traditions of Halloween and the Day of the Dead (El Día de los Muertos). Cultural representations of the skeleton are emphasized for both holidays and students are given an opportunity to make a Day of the Dead figurine or calaca. Social studies lessons on pirates (the origin of the Jolly Roger) and ancient games that used pieces of bone as playing pieces are presented in the last two activities.

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Objectives

Students will be able to:

• Recognize the symbolism of the skeleton

• Examine possible cultural significance of skeletons and bones

• Delve into the historical background of the significance of skeletons and bones

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Resources & Web Sites

 

Child Education, "Learning Through Play: A Pirate Project," Jan 1, 1995, Vol. 72 No. 1, Page 24.

 

Lincoln, Margarette, The Pirates Handbook, New York, Cobblehill Books, 1995.

 

Wright, Rachel, Pirates: Facts, Things to Make, Activities, New York, Franklin Watts, Inc. 1991.

 

Beimler, Rosalind R., The Days of the Dead/Los Días de Muertos, San Francisco, Ca., 1991.

 

Pirates http://www.piratesinfo.com/

 

Día De Los Muertos http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/

 

Día De Los Muertos http://www.holidays.net/halloween/muertos.htm

 

Halloween http://wilstar.com/holidays/hallown.htm

 

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