Skeletons

Explore Skeletal Structure

AdvancedNature

Introduce

Although we may look different on the outside, on the inside we all have the same skeletal structure. The challenge of creating a skeleton causes students to take a close look at the anatomy of the human body, the relationship of one body part to another, and at the many joints throughout our bodies that allow us to move. This anatomy exploration works best when it is integrated with a science unit on the systems of the human body.

Max (age 8) drew this picture at home. He was inspired by a photo of a skeleton that he saw in a book.

When students create skeletons they develop and practice:

awareness of the proportions, structure, interrelation, and mechanics of the human body
understandings about the human skeleton
hand orientation, placement, and spatial skills
inventive ways to use the line tools to create the bones that they need.

anatomy
structure
skeleton
bone
joint
spine
neck
shoulder
forearm
chest
ribcage
pelvis
thigh
shin
ankle
wrist
toes
finger

Materials

Large straight line tool – one per student
Small straight line tool – one per student
Small curved line tool – one per student
12 X 18” (30 X 46 cm) practice paper
12 X 18” (30 X 46 cm) black or blue paper construction paper
White paint
Trays
Photocopies of skeletons

Set-up

Cover tables
Practice paper at each place
Line tools at each place or to share
Trays of paint in reserve

Engage

Begin by asking, What do you know about the human skeleton? Take time to listen and perhaps write a list of responses…

Also ask, What do you wonder about the skeleton? What would you like to know? Add responses to the list.

Then share some interesting facts:

The skeleton is symmetrical.
There are 206 bones in the human skeleton.
There are 27 bones in each hand and 26 bones in each foot. So, more than half of the bones in the human body are in the hands and feet!
Anywhere the body bends or moves, there is a joint.

Anatomy is the exploration of an organism to study its structure. Today we are going to explore the anatomy of the human skeleton. Trying to recreate a skeleton using line printing tools will hopefully help us get an idea of how the bones of a skeleton fit together.

VIEW PDF*

These exercises help children visualize the skeletal structure by allowing them to physically feel and recall body parts as they move one joint at a time. The exercises are a great way to prepare for this difficult challenge. Sample directions:

Stand in your own space an arm’s length apart.
Bend from your hip joint. Notice that your body almost bends in half. Stand back up.
Move your neck joint. Look right and look left. Look up and Look down.
Notice the length of your arms.
Move your arms using only your shoulder joints – go around and around, up and down, back and forth.
Move elbow joints. Make a muscle.
Twist from your waist.
Now move from your hip joint, but keep your leg straight – don’t bend your knee joint!
Now try your knee joints.
Bend your hip and knee joints and sit down with legs crossed.
Wiggle your toes, hands and fingers. Notice how many joints there are in your hands and feet.
Weight shift. Stand with your legs apart. Bend your right knee and feel the weight of your body shift. Now try your left knee.
Sports pose. “On your mark. Get set….” Try poses from different sports. Where is the weight of your body resting? Which limbs are doing the supporting?
Emotion. Get into a position that expresses and emotion such as joy, hate, sorrow, or anger. Use standing and sitting positions.

Use all of your joints to sit back down in your own space.

* Children, Clay and Sculpture by Cathy Weisman Topal, Davis Publications, Worcester, MA. c.1983

Explore

To prepare, review the three-line tools and the printing process.

Brainstorm strategies for beginning to construct a skeleton. This helps students focus and consider different ways to meet this challenge. Sample discussion questions:

What part of the skeleton will you print first? Why?
What printing tool will you use for the spine? The ribs? The shoulders? The joints? The pelvis?

As you begin to print each part of the skeleton you will have to figure out how to do it, what will work. This is not easy! It is going to take some trial and error. I hope that you will help one another figure out ways to solve these problems…

Beginning with the Skull

Marguerite, age 10, begins with the skull.

Beginning with the Pelvis Bone

Watch Taylor, age 10, begin by constructing a pelvis bone in the middle of his paper.

Printing the Rib Cage

Watch a fourth grader figure out a unique way to print the ribcage.

*A study of anatomy works best when it is part of a classroom investigation. These examples come from a 4th grade class studying the human body during a science unit.

*This is a challenging project for anyone. It is extremely beneficial to have a chance to print a second skeleton – perhaps a skeleton mural.

Below see parents and teachers taking the Skeleton Challenge

Artist and educator, Lindsay Fogg-Willetts, experiments on newsprint first before trying her idea again on black paper.

Before trying skeletons with children, I tried it with parents and teachers during an evening workshop. Parents suggested first printing what you think you know about skeletons from memory, without the photocopy of a skeleton. Then, afterwards, look at a skeleton image to see what you missed, and print again.

Create

Begin by practicing with the line tools on practice paper.

When you feel ready, begin to construct your skeleton on a new piece of paper…

Notice different ways of constructing skeletons

Watch a group of fourth graders and try to guess how each student began. Notice unique ways in which they used the tools to create bones and body parts. Notice that the teacher offers very small pieces of cardboard at the end so that students can easily print fingers.

It is helpful to prepare very small cardboard pieces in reserve (see in the video above) to hand out when you see that children need them to print fingers and the bones of the feet.

Share & Reflect

A great deal of learning takes place when children revisit their work. Fourth graders compare their prints with a photocopy of an actual skeleton before they print again. It would be extremely difficult to print all of the bones in a skeleton, so look for one or two bones that you want to be sure to include in your next print.

By students in Bob Hepner’s fourth grade art class at the Smith College Campus School

Look at your print:

What did you know about the human skeleton?
What did you learn?
Are there any bones that are missing?
What will you do differently on your next print?

Let students know that it is okay – and actually helpful – to make mistakes. In fact, if you did not make any mistakes, then you probably did not try anything new. Making mistakes is how we learn and why we take time to observe and practice. Repeating this exercise, perhaps on a slightly larger scale, is an invitation to observe more closely and to notice details previously overlooked. The goal is not to make a print with every bone in the body. The goal is to learn about the structure and function of the human skeleton.

Variations & Extensions

More Skeletons

A few students wanted to try other skeleton ideas and created these prints.

Seated Skeleton by Marguerite (age 10)

Mastedon by Jacob (age 10)

Transforming Practice Prints

As students looked back at their practice skeletons they laughed and commented on the exaggerated body parts and odd creatures they had created. The teacher picked up on their concerns and embarrassment and encouraged them to transform their skeletons by adding color to them. One suggestion was to find a way to show that their figure possesses imaginary powers.

Oil pastels glow when used over white paint and on dark paper…

Demonstrate:

Placing paper on a newspaper pad
Using oil pastels on their sides
Blending colors
Blending colors with white oil pastels to lighten

“This is a weirdo who fell from a rainbow cloud and it started raining and the colors rained on him, and then he landed on earth” ~ Michaela, age 10

Construct a Skeleton from Found Materials

Skeletons from Found Materials by Bob Hepner’s 4th grade studio art class, Smith College Campus School