Bones ROCK!

This week, we completed our study of bones.  The students enjoyed seeing the finished results of the bone models, and they proudly showed them to their homeroom teachers. We discussed the importance of our spine and the make-up of its bone structure.  We looked at x-rays of teeth and spines, noting how the images are made with radiological technology.  We studied an x-ray of a spine with scoliosis, noting how the curve bows the spine outward.  Students were reminded of the importance of good posture in helping our spine to grow correctly.  Younger students made a model of a backbone, noting the importance of flexibility and movement within the spine.

Students made observations from our chicken bone experiment.  Bones were no longer hard and strong.  They were extremely flexible, rubbery and bendable.  Our hypothesis that vinegar would take the calcium out of the bones held true, and we were able to draw the conclusion that calcium helps promote strong, hard, healthy bones.  Older students completed a lab sheet comparing and contrasting the bone used in our chicken bone experiment BEFORE and AFTER being placed in the vinegar solution. 

The students enjoyed this "Schoolhouse Rock" video about bones:

http://www.schooltube.com/video/0f3e5949652984f8d0ca/

Thanks to Molley White and Jesse Jones for bringing in x-rays to study.  Thanks to Mary Grace Lovell for bringing in a really cool spider.  Mrs. Lovell and Mrs. Sweet THOUGHT the spider was deceased.  Much to our surprise, it was not!

Next week we will embark on the study of the muscle system with our very own MUSCLE BOOTCAMP!  

Michal works on creating a backbone from a pipe cleaner and drinking straw.

Morgan is quite pleased with her backbone!

3rd grade lab group work on colorful skeleton worksheet.

Piper knows her bones!

Makenzi carefully detailing her backbone model!

Mary Grace's spider -- "Wolfie"

Zack and Coleman can't believe our plants are growing BIG!

Reece examining the chicken bone from our experiment!

Skylar threading the vertebrates onto the column.

Tyler loves STEM Lab!

Landon is hard at work!

Daniel likes to work on his knees!

Lab group conferring about the Chicken Bone Experiment.

The bone was really soft and bendable AFTER the vinegar.

Enjoying one of the cool STEM books in a very rare "free exploration" time during lab.

Without calcium, this chicken bone is DISGUSTING!!

Lanie demonstrates the need for flexibility in our spines!

Boys carefully cutting the bone pieces for their spine model!