Skeletal System Activities and Resources
Prepare a a well-rounded lesson plan using the list of 50+ skeletal system activities and resources below. Your child will enjoy hands-on projects, experiments, videos, photo galleries, and even a visit with astronauts aboard the ISS.
When planning a topical study centered on science, it’s always interesting to pull in some history, art, and living books. Consider the interests of your children; do they enjoy art or history? Then integrate some of those areas in the plan. Adding richness like this to a topical study helps students see the connectivity between history, science, art, and literature.
If you are studying the skeletal system with your children as part of a bigger anatomy and physiology study, check our other activities on the systems of the body, the senses, and genetics.
Skeletal System Activities
Below are some additional suggested activities and ideas related to the skeletal system to incorporate a variety of topics. We’ve linked to resources covering these suggestions in the list further down the page:
- The basics of the skeletal system
- The history of X-rays
- Biographies – Marie Curie and how she brought x-ray machines to the battlefield
- How bones break and diseases that affect bones
- Georgia O’Keefe – an artist who drew bones
- The effects of space travel on our bones
- Bionic limbs
and much more!
The resources are arranged by broad grade levels. However, check them all out because younger learners may enjoy be challenged by a middle school activity and older students can still learn from working alongside younger siblings…even helping to teach them!
In the following video, we share skeletal system activities and resources we’ve used. Then, check out our vetted list of links packed with activities and resources.
Before You Begin – Two Skeletal System Activities to Check Out
First, check out our skeletal system activity and printable (will open in a new tab.)
Next, check out these microscopic photos of the inside of human bones. These are provided by the histology lab at Arizona State University. View them here.
Onto our list of resources. *May contain affiliate links
Skeletal System Video Resources
We like sharing a variety of activities and resources because each child learns differently, and it’s important to make learning accessible to all. When learning is enjoyable and not a struggle, learning becomes fun. When learning is fun, we are more apt to PURSUE learning throughout our lives.
So, here are some videos to help add visual learning to our list of skeletal system activities and resources. We will embed some here and list others.
Fun Factoids about the skeletal system for elementary and middle school
Bionic Limbs from the National Science Foundation
- Khan Academy video on the human skeleton – definitely grades 8 to 12
- Dr. Dave Explains – Skeletal System – definitely grades 8 to 12
Preschool and Kindergarten Skeletal System Activities and Resources
- Skeletal system printable and activity
- Skeletal system activity from NASA – Students test bone density using plastic snack bags, corn puff cereal and a heavy book.
- Playdough X-Ray Activity from icanteachmychild.com
- Model of the spine using a pool noodle from SpellOutLoud.com
- Fun Activities for Preschoolers
- Teaching About Bones
- Learning About Bones
- Human Skeleton Cards
- Why Do We Have Bones?
- Skeleton Lesson Plans
Elementary and Above Skeletal System Activities and Resources
- Bones and calcium lesson ideas from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
- Check out these microscopic photos of the inside of human bones. These are provided by the histology lab at Arizona State University. View them here.
- Model of the spine using a pool noodle from SpellOutLoud.com
- Skeleton system game from SoftSchools.com
- Egg Carton Spine Model from mombrite.com
- My Incredible Body App
- Bone Anatomy Viewer from Arizona State University
- How Does a Bone Heal? from Arizona State University
- History of X-rays from the University of Medicine and Health Services – middle and high school students could us this resource
- Marie Curie and how she brought x-rays to the battlefield
- Interactive label the skeleton activity and Assemble the Skeleton activity for younger students from ABCya.com
- Printable Human Skeleton
- The Facts About Having a Broken Bone (also discusses fractures) from Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, CA.
- Skeleton Model
- Human Skeleton Printable Charts
- Skeleton Magnets
- Anatomy Lapbook
- Printable Bone Bingo Cards
- FREE Skeletal System Lapbook
- Anatomy Of Bones and DIY Bone Models
- Skeletal System Resources for Middle School
- Anatomy Notebooking Pages
- The effects of being in space on our bones from NASA.
- Exercising in Space (lots of interesting videos from the ISS) to minimize bone loss, loss of muscle mass, and to support the cardiovascular system – from the Canadian Space Agency.
Middle/High School Resources
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- Skeletal System Teaching Resources
- Check out these microscopic photos of the inside of human bones. These are provided by the histology lab at Arizona State University. View them here.
- The effects of being in space on our bones from NASA.
- Exercising in Space (lots of interesting videos from the ISS) to minimize bone loss, loss of muscle mass, and to support the cardiovascular system – from the Canadian Space Agency.
- How Bones Break from Ask A Biologist at Arizona State University
- Give Your Bones A Break
- Bones! Bones! Bones! : Biomechanical Engineering
- Bones, bones, and more bones
- This resource has a quick slide show about how broken bones heal. Plus other information on broken bones from KidsHealth.org
- Skeletal System Lessons
- WebAnatomy
- Add some fine art to your study of bones:
- Georgia O’Keefe drew animal bones. Here is a lesson on her art.
- Here’s another Georgia O’Keefe lesson plan with a link to a video.
Books and Other Resources:
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I hold a master’s degree in child development and early education and am working on a post-baccalaureate in biology. I spent 15 years working for a biotechnology company developing IT systems in DNA testing laboratories across the US. I taught K4 in a private school, homeschooled my children, and have taught on the mission field in southern Asia. For 4 years, I served on our state’s FIRST Lego League tournament Board and served as the Judging Director. I own thehomeschoolscientist and also write a regular science column for Homeschooling Today Magazine. You’ll also find my writings on the CTCMath blog. Through this site, I have authored over 50 math and science resources.