Objective
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to compare building structures to the skeletal system and understand their similarities.
Materials and Prep
- Pencil and paper
- Building blocks or Legos (optional)
- Access to a computer or tablet for research (optional)
No prior knowledge is required for this lesson.
Activities
Start by discussing different types of buildings and their purposes. Ask the student to name a few buildings they are familiar with, such as houses, schools, or skyscrapers.
Explain that just like buildings, living organisms also have structures that support and protect their bodies. Introduce the concept of the skeletal system and its function in animals, including humans.
Ask the student to think about the similarities between building structures and the skeletal system. Have them draw a side-by-side comparison of a building and a human skeleton, labeling the parts that serve similar purposes (e.g., foundation and bones, walls and muscles, windows and joints).
If you have building blocks or Legos, encourage the student to use them to construct a small building and then create a model of a skeleton using the same blocks. Compare the two structures and discuss how they are similar in terms of providing support and stability.
If access to a computer or tablet is available, guide the student to research and find examples of animals with unique skeletal structures, such as birds with hollow bones or turtles with shells. Discuss how these adaptations help the animals survive in their environments.
Third Grade Talking Points
- "Buildings are structures made by humans, just like our bodies have structures called the skeletal system."
- "The skeletal system is made up of bones, just like buildings have foundations and walls."
- "Both buildings and the skeletal system provide support and protection for what's inside."
- "Buildings have different parts, like windows and doors, just like our bodies have joints that allow us to move."
- "Some animals have unique skeletal structures that help them survive in their environments, like birds with hollow bones that make them lighter for flying."