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
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
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.
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
