How to Make a Model of a Human Skeleton
The human skeleton provides the body with structure, and protects the interior organs from damage. When students learn about the human skeleton, you can provide them with a hands-on activity to show them how rigid and sturdy the skeletal bones can be. One way to do this is to construct a life-sized skeleton out of ordinary items, such as sticks and drinking straws. Once finished, you can embellish the skeleton with paint or attach clay muscles to the frame.
Things You'll Need
- Four 18-inch sticks
- Four 12-inch sticks
- One 36-inch stick
- Masking tape
- Two balloons
- Cardboard
- 10 drinking straws
- Flour
- Water
- Bowl
- Newspaper
Instructions
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1
Tape each of the 18-inch sticks onto the end of the 12-inch sticks with masking tape. These will be the legs and arms of the skeleton.
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2
Mix together four cups of flour with two cups of water in a bowl, stirring well.
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3
Blow up two large balloons. One will act as the skeleton's head, and the other will act as the pelvis.
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4
Cut newspaper into strips.
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5
Dip the newspaper strips into the flour mixture. Cover each of the balloons with at least four layers of newspaper strips.
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6
Allow the balloons to dry completely.
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7
Tape the leg bones onto either side of one of the balloons.
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8
Tape the largest stick onto the middle of the same balloon. This will be the spine of the skeleton.
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9
Cut out two eight-inch circles from cardboard, and tape them to the open end of the stick. These will be the shoulder blades.
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10
Tape one of the arm bones onto each of the shoulder blades.
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11
Tape the other balloon vertically onto the end of the stick. This will be the skull.
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12
Cut 10 drinking straws in half.
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13
Tape five straws onto the ends of each of the arm and leg bones. These will be the fingers and toes.
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14
Cover the entire structure with more paper mache-coated newspaper, and allow it to dry before displaying the skeleton model.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit skeleton image by NataV from Fotolia.com
