Activity

Skeleton comparisons

Summary
Compare the skeletons of different animals and find the homologous bones in them.
Science content
Biology: Features, Adaptations of Living Things (K, 1, 3, 7)
Biology: Classification of Living Things, Biodiversity (1, 3)
Biology: Evolution, Natural Selection (7)
Materials
  • skeletons of as many animals as possible, real or drawings, assembled or in a pile
Procedure

Lay out the skeletons and skeleton images.
I use a deer skeleton just assembled by the class, a snake skeleton (in a display case), mouse skeleton (a jumble of bones in a magnifier box, and one femur leg bone in its own box).
Ask students to find the same bone in the different animals.

Grades taught
Gr 1
Gr 2
Gr 3
Gr 5
Gr 6