# Why do our skeletons have so many bones?

Bones, Animal Structures

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Lesson narration:  
[English](/content/trending/mystery-1/bones-animal-structures/161?/index.html) | [Spanish](/content/trending/mystery-1/bones-animal-structures/161?lang=spanish/index.html)

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### Activity Prep

In this mini-lesson, K-5 students consider what would happen if their body didn't have bones. In the activity, Skeleton Hand, students combine science with art: they trace their hands, then add see-through bones to their picture, making their own skeleton hand. The activity includes an extension for older students to compare their hand bones to the bones of a mystery animal.

#### What you’ll need for students

| Item | Quantity |
| --- | --- |
| [Going Batty (Grades 3-5)](/content/print/preview/g/1U1MTVYaV4VzsuDiRHDw1FtoFCfbbQnaR_xA7DBG4RIU/presentation/1EnDqW5PVKJv5HVs6P5Jk90irEBnHO9Jud2a_eHMY4tQ/presentation/index.html) printout | Print 30 copies |
| [Going Batty (Grades 3-5) Answer Key](/content/print/preview/g/1I63BLf0_ekUdzJ4C_jwRlStB1NjkFNGRaqdYBc4OnHU/presentation/index.html) teacher-only resource | 1 copy |
| [Skeleton Hand Discussion Potential Answers](/content/print/preview/g/1EncCjJKbswkQdwoYHn8Ne0Tjt0AlVgODESqwX1RgJiY/document/index.html) teacher-only resource | 1 copy |
| **Clean-up Supplies (Eg. Paper Towels)** | 1 roll |
| [Crayons](https://www.amazon.com/Crayola-52-3024-Crayons-24-Colors/dp/B0765ML9Y1/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=crayons&qid=1559234754&s=gateway&sr=8-5) | 30 crayons |
| [Extra Crayons for Extension (Grades 3-5)](https://www.amazon.com/Crayola-52-3024-Crayons-24-Colors/dp/B0765ML9Y1/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=crayons&qid=1559234754&s=gateway&sr=8-5) | 90 crayons |
| [Table Covering (eg. Trash Bags)](https://www.target.com/p/tall-kitchen-flap-tie-trash-bags-13-gallon-110ct-up-up-153/-/A-14738970) | 8 bags |
| [Vegetable Oil](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Crisco-Pure-Vegetable-Oil-48-Fluid-Ounce/10308191) | 8 tablespoons |
| [Colored Construction Paper](https://www.amazon.com/SunWorks-Construction-9-Inches-12-Inches-100-Count/dp/B0017OJKLI/ref=sr_1_8?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1544685463&sr=1-8&keywords=construction+paper) | 30 sheets |
| [Plastic Cup (2 oz)](https://www.amazon.com/Crystalware-Disposable-Plastic-Condiment-Sampling/dp/B01N81A0DI/) | 8 cups |
| [Q-tip](https://www.target.com/p/q-tips-cotton-swabs-500ct/-/A-11223527) | 30 Q-tips |

### Prepare Cups of Oil
Pour about a tablespoon of oil into a cup for each group of 4 students. You will distribute these during the activity.

### Optional Extension for Older Grades
We’ve included a worksheet for students in Grades 3 to 5 to complete after making the skeleton hand. They will have the opportunity to compare the bones in their own arm with the bones in a bat wing.

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## Discuss

**1.** How are the bones in bat wings and human hands similar to each other? How are they different?

**2.** Thinking about how bats use their wings and how humans use their hands, can you explain the differences in their bones?

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🎉 That’s it for this lesson! How did it go?

## Extend this lesson
[**Discussions**](/content/trending/mystery-1/bones-animal-structures/161?modal=sign-up-modal/index.html)

[**Activity**](/content/trending/mystery-1/bones-animal-structures/161?modal=sign-up-modal/index.html)

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