Bones

Bones

Bones are a natural material that provides structure for human and animal bodies. Children may be curious about bones if they see a skeleton or feel their own bones underneath their skin.

An interest in bones can help children achieve learning outcomes in the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF). Bones relate to physical wellbeing (3.2) and human bodies. As a natural material (4.4), bones can teach children to respect the environment (2.4). They also provoke curiosity (4.1), which leads to questions, inquiry, researching and investigating (4.2).

Learning experiences

Draw a skeleton

Bones have interesting patterns, lines and shapes. If children are interested in human or animal bones, set up a drawing table. Place a real skeleton or a model skeleton on the table for children to draw. Alternatively, provide a picture.

Play weight-bearing games

Some physical activities help children build bone density. Demonstrate some of these activities and explain they can help our bones stay strong: hopscotch, leapfrog, long jump, skipping, and jumping down from a height. 

Hold a dairy tasting session

Explain that eating dairy foods can help our bones stay healthy. Arrange for children to taste different dairy foods like yogurt, cheese, cream and milk. Challenge their tastebuds and introduce dairy products they may not have tried before. 

Read Healthy Bones by Dairy Australia.

Find your own bones

Encourage children to feel bones under their skin. Elbows, knees and skulls have easy-to-find bones. What other bones can you feel? Did you know teeth aren't bones, even if they look like them?

Inspect real bones

Provide bones, like dried chicken or beef bones, for children to inspect. Use magnifying glasses or a microscope to observe the material in detail. What do they look and feel like? What do you think they are made from?

Care for broken bones

Children can roleplay having a broken bone. Provide relevant props like a doctor's kit, bandages, crutches and x-rays (ask your local radiologist for some).

Plaster bandages can be purchased from most craft stores. Children can wet them with water, play with them, and then watch the plaster dry in the sun. Discuss how plaster casts can help broken bones heal.

Ask children and educators to share their own experiences with broken bones.

Discussions

  • What are bones made from?
  • How can you protect your bones?
  • What do bones look like?
  • Why did people find dinosaur bones?
  • What would we look like if we didn't have bones?

Resources

Music