Skeletons - Lesson Plan

The lesson plan from The Primary Science Advisory Service Ltd is tailored to help Year 3 students gain a comprehensive understanding of the human skeleton and its functions, as well as those of other vertebrates. It covers National Curriculum objectives, including the identification of animals with skeletons and the role of muscles in support, protection, and movement. Students are encouraged to engage in a variety of activities, from drawing and labeling the human skeleton to examining animal X-rays and handling chicken bones to understand bone composition. The plan also addresses common misconceptions, such as bones being inflexible or homogenous throughout, by explaining that bones are somewhat flexible and contain marrow, and they also produce blood cells and store nutrients.

Hands-on activities are central to this lesson, with children engaging in tasks that require the use of safety gloves and careful handling of materials. They'll explore the effects of different liquids on chicken bones, create a moving skeleton model using split pins and thin card, and discuss the significance of calcium in bone strength. The lesson includes cross-curricular links, with opportunities to integrate English, Maths, and History, such as calculating average limb lengths and exploring cultural aspects of skeletons. To conclude, a plenary session allows for assessment and reflection on what has been learned about vertebrates, the human skeleton, and its functions.