Bones make up our skeleton. The skeleton provides support for our bodies; protects our vital organs like the heart, the brain and lungs; and enables us to move.
When we are born we have 350 bones but by the time we reach adulthood some have fused together to give us around 205 bones.
This is a game to play that will help children learn about the skeleton and shape of our bodies. This game is best played with 2 teams of up to five children each.
Have you ever heard the song “Dem Bones”? Not only is it a cute song but it is also an anatomy lesson. Check it out before playing the game.
Buy two large plastic skeletons in different colours. These are available at Halloween with the decorations and are usually quite inexpensive.
Break them apart so all the bones are separated.
Make two piles of bones, keeping the colours separate. Clear a space on the floor to make room for the two teams to reassemble the skeletons with some distance between them.
Have the teams wait for a “start” signal. The race is on to see which team can put the bones back together to form the skeleton in the correct order.
Let’s make some “bones” from Tootsie Roll Pops that can be put on display around the house or classroom for a ghoulish affect.
Supplies:
- 4 Tootsie Pop Rolls lollipops per bone
- White crepe paper (If you don’t have crepe paper handy, this works just as well with facial tissue or strips of white fabric.)
- Glue stick
- Tape
Directions:
- Put some glue on the sucker end of each Tootsie Roll and wrap it completely in the crepe paper. Do this with four lollipops.
- Tape the sticks of the lollipops together in pairs. Make two sets per bone.
- With the wrapped pairs of suckers at opposite ends from each other, tape all four sticks together.
- Wrap the crepe paper over the sticks covering the tape and sticks. Glue the end of the crepe paper down.
Place your “bones” in a glass jar or hang them from various locations in your house. Either way, they look real so they are bound to give someone a jolt when they first spot them.
[Photograph by Linda Dunbar. Reproduction prohibited]
