Make Your Own Vertebrate Model

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I try to incorporate hands-on projects into our home education as much as possible, so my kids loved this vertebrate model activity. When it comes to science, we love experiments, getting outside, and models. Models allow us to represent something we may not be able to get our hands on and use that model to understand a concept better.

Learning About Vertebrates

Vertebrates all have a backbone protecting a spinal column and internal bone structure, while invertebrates do not. Invertebrates either have a soft body or a hard outer shell called an exoskeleton.

We love studying animals, as you can tell from all of our animal science resources on the site. Some of our favorite animals are studied and pictured in our rainforest printable resource, like the okipi and jaguar.

It’s always fun to incorporate national celebrations, like National Hedgehog Day Or, how about Groundhog Day (check out our free printable.)

It’s fun to take a break from the curriculum and just have fun with a national day, week, or month celebration.

We looked at many x-rays and pictures of vertebrates that came with our Nancy Larson Science curriculum to see the similarities and differences between the appearance and bones of different species. No matter what the differences in the appearances, they all had a backbone and a bony skeleton in common.

Create Your Own Vertebrate Model

After studying the images of vertebrates, we decided to create a vertebrate model starting with the vertebral column, or spine.

First, we gathered pipe cleaners and beads. You can use whatever beads you have around the house. My daughter had tons to choose from.

Next, we strung the beads on the pipe cleaners to represent vertebrae, the bones that make up the spine.

My son, then, added appendages, arms and legs, to the spine. When you do this at home, you might want to create a model skeleton of a tiger or raccoon, or you might want to create a new vertebrate species. Be creative. This is a great way to compare and contrast different species.

For older kids, you might want to have them label their vertebrate model with the names of the bones.

More Vertebrate – Invertebrate Resources

• Free vertebrate invertebrate worksheet

More Science Model Fun

• Using Modeling Clay For Science
• Making Science Models
• Nervous System Models

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