Bones Activities

I first ask students why bodies have bones. We continue with a reading of the book Dem Bones. I sing each page and students sing back to me.

 After the reading, we talk about how we could make the sound of bones. I bring out the woodblocks or lummi sticks. I create a pattern of quarter notes and rests. They mimic the pattern using the sticks on the carpet, then in the air. 

We learn the song Dem Bones/Skeleton Dance. I usually draw the parts on the board and we practice saying them first. I record students as they sing the song. I use the recording later, so that students can play along using their woodblocks/lummi sticks. 

We dance and sing along to the Youtube clip Skeleton Dance.

 

In another lesson, I add a technology tie in. These come from the BBC Schools website.

The first one is to identify the bones in humans and animals. Growing and Moving-Identify Bones

The other activity is BBC Schools skeletons and muscles. Students can match up the bones with the animals as they travel through the jungle. You have to skip the video clips as they are not available in the US. This will lead you straight to identifying different bones in the animals bodies.

Skeletons activity