Chapter 1.8 (Science and Technology 5)

Human Body: Skeleton and Muscles

Getting Ready: In the learning activities, we will:

  1. State the parts of the human skeleton.
  2. Describe the functions of the skeleton in a human being.
  3. State the functions of skeletal muscles in a human being.
  4. Find out more about caring for our bones and muscles. We will share this information with other learners, family members, friends and people in our own communities. In this way, we will develop our interest in keeping our bodies healthy.

Health Education: In what ways do we keep our bodies healthy?

Activity 1.85: Learning new words

Language link: Learn the meaning of these words:

Write them in your journal or in flashcards.

What will you use?

  • A print dictionary? 
  • The Internet?
  • Find out from friends?
  • Ask parents or a guardian?
  • Join the English Language Club?
  • Join the Debate Club?

How else can you find out? Share your ideas with others.

The Human Skeleton

Activity 1.86: Stating the parts of the human skeleton

Work safely in groups. Talk about the pictures labelled 1 to 6. Record your discussions. Use the words and the statements in the jigsaw.

Activity 1.87: Moving our body parts

Stand upright. Move your hands up and down. Sit upright on the desk. Stand up and stretch. Bend backwards and forward.

What enables you to move your body parts? Discuss it with a friend.

Health Education: What are the correct postures for standing? Sitting? Bending to pick something? Working at the computer? Find out and share this information.

Learn more. Grow. Share the knowledge with your family and community members

What enables us to move?

We are able to move our body parts because we have bones and muscles. Our bones make up the skeleton.

Activity 1.88: Finding out more about the human skeleton

Work safely in groups. Use the Internet to search for bones of the human skeleton. Talk about your findings.

Talk about your findings. Record them in this mind map.

Identify the following parts: 1) the skull 2) backbone 3) rib cage and 4) bones of the limbs (hands and legs). What do you think would happen if we had no bones in our bodies? Work safely in pairs. Point at the body areas where you will find different bones.

Choose your answers from the word bank below:

facial bones, backbone, ankle bones, foot bones, toe bones, knee bone, thigh bone, lower leg bone, wrist bones, head bones, finger bones, hand bones, upper arm bones, lower arm (forearm) bones, ribs

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Digital Lesson

Access Digital Lesson 5: The Parts of the Human Skeleton

Source. YouTube Channel: CBC Online Academy

Activity 1.91: Finding out more on the functions of the skeleton

Tick the statements that describe what our bones do.

The functions of the skeleton in human beings

  • Sit up. The skeleton enables us to sit upright, walk and handle tools. Place your hand on the left side of the rib cage. Do you feel your heartbeat? The skeleton protects our inner organs. The ribcage protects the lungs and the heart. The skull protects the brain.
  • What makes our bones strong? Bones absorb minerals from food then store them for future use. Did you know? Bones also produce blood.

Take care of your bones: Always sit and stand in the right posture. Exercise regularly and during the Physical and Health Education (PHE) lessons. This will help to keep your bones healthy.

Activity 1.93: Colouring and labelling the human skeleton

Download an unlabelled drawing of the human skeleton. Ask your parent to print it out for you. Colour it and label. Display it. Show others.

The Human Muscles

Activity 1.94: Finding out more about human muscles

Work safely in groups. Describe what you see in pictures 1 to 3.

Activity 1.95: Moving our body parts

  1. Lift up a heavy book. Which part of your arm is involved? Hold the book for about a minute. Which part of the arm feels tired?
  2. Move your head up and down. Move the head from side to side. Do it gently. Which part of the neck is involved?
  3. Jog on the spot. What enables you to lift your legs when jogging?

Get rid of stress: Medical experts report that we hold a lot of stress around our neck and shoulder areas. Every now and then, do neck exercises. Stretch your neck and shoulders in gentle circular movements.

Learn more. Grow. Share the knowledge with your family and community members

What enable us to move and lift our body parts?

We are able to move our body parts because we have a skeleton and muscles.

Activity 1.96: Finding out more about the human muscles

Work in groups. Use the Internet to search for types of human muscles.

What enables us to move and lift our body parts?

  1. Muscles enable us to move the parts of the body.
  2. Our arm muscles help us to lift up objects. The muscles in the front upper arm are called biceps. The back upper arm muscles are triceps.
  3. We use the neck muscles to move the head. The leg muscles enable us to walk. Muscles are attached to bones and other parts of our body.
  4. Muscles help us to sit, stand and kneel, thus maintain posture.

Involve your Family. Serve your Community. Ask to find out. Learn. Share. Grow. Solve problems.

Always eat a balanced diet. Exercise to keep your bones and muscles healthy and strong. Avoid risky activities that can damage bones and muscles.

Search the Internet for a newspaper story titled, Bodybuilder’s dream turns into a nightmare after suspected injection. Read the true story. Share the information with friends and others in your community.

1. Identify the muscles labelled 1 to 9.

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2. Identifying various body muscles and their functions.

  1. Muscles that hold the head up and move it in all directions: 
  2. Muscles that raise and lower the arms: 
  3. Muscles that cover the ribs and lungs: 
  4. Muscles that straighten the arm: 
  5. Muscles that move the upper body and chest area and help us when breathing: 
  6. Muscles that bend the arm: 
  7. Muscles that move the lower leg: 
  8. Muscles that pull the heel up and point the toes: 
  9. Muscles that move the foot up and down and side to side: 

Involve your Family. Serve your Community. Ask to find out. Learn. Share. Grow. Solve problems.

Participate in games in your school and in your community. Take photographs.

Use the photographs to create a simple newsletter. Write short stories to educate your community members on ways of keeping their bones and muscles healthy.

First Aid for muscle pull: Have you ever suffered a muscle pull? What is the first aid for a muscle pull? Find out and share this information with others.