Objective

The objective of this lesson is to learn about the skeletal body and to conduct an experiment to determine whether the 5-second rule, which suggests that food is safe to consume if it has fallen on the floor for less than five seconds, is a fact or fiction.

Materials and Prep

• Human Body workbook (pages 21-22 and 25)
• Food items (e.g., crackers, chips, or similar snacks)
• Clean, flat surface (e.g., table or countertop)
• Stopwatch or timer

Activities

1. Begin by reviewing the information on the skeletal body from the Human Body workbook (pages 21-22). Discuss the importance of the skeletal system and its functions.
2. Introduce the concept of the 5-second rule and ask the student if they believe it is a fact or fiction. Encourage them to think critically and share their thoughts.
3. Explain the experiment: place a food item on the clean surface and drop it. Start the stopwatch as soon as it touches the surface and stop it after five seconds. Ask the student to predict whether the food item is safe to consume based on the 5-second rule.
4. Repeat the experiment with different food items, ensuring that each one is dropped for exactly five seconds. Encourage the student to observe and record their findings.
5. Discuss the results of the experiment. Were the food items safe to consume? Were there any differences between the various food items? Encourage the student to reflect on their initial prediction and compare it to the actual outcome.

Eighth Grade Talking Points

• "The skeletal system provides support and structure to our bodies. It also protects vital organs and allows for movement."
• "The skeletal system is composed of bones, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons. It works together with muscles to enable movement."
• "The 5-second rule suggests that food is safe to eat if it has fallen on the floor for less than five seconds."
• "During the experiment, we dropped different food items for exactly five seconds to test the 5-second rule."
• "Based on our experiment, we found that the 5-second rule is a fiction. The length of time food spends on the floor does not determine its safety."