Mighty Bones Slides 5th Grade Science • Inside Our Bodies
The Skeletal System
Super Body Framework
Mighty Bones!
Discover what holds you up, protects your soft inside parts, and helps you run, jump, and dance!
Protect
Shields soft organs
Support
Keeps you standing tall
Move
Works with your muscles
Big Question
What is a Skeleton?
206 Bones Inside You!
The Body's Frame
Your skeleton is made of 206 hard bones linked together.
Without bones, your body would be soft and squishy like a giant jellyfish!
Bones are like the strong wooden beams that hold up a house!
Try This Right Now!
1 Gently tap the top of your head . Feel how hard it is? That's bone!
2 Feel your collarbone below your neck. It holds your arms in place!
3 Bend your fingers . Lots of small bones working together!
Key Takeaway: Bones give your body shape and firmness. Vocabulary: Skeleton = all your bones joined together
Bone Superpowers
3 Main Jobs of Your Skeleton
Job #1
PROTECTION
Bones act like hard helmets and suits of armor around delicate organs.
Example: Skull shields your brain. Ribs shield your heart and lungs!
Job #2
SUPPORT
Bones hold your body upright so you do not collapse to the ground.
Example: Your backbone (spine) lets you sit up straight and stand tall!
Job #3
MOVEMENT
Muscles pull on bones to make you walk, wave, jump, and bend.
Example: Leg bones swing forward so you can kick a soccer ball!
Remember: Protect • Support • Move!
Bone Hall of Fame
4 Major Bones to Know
Touch each bone as we name it!
1. Skull
Head
A natural safety helmet.
Protects: Your BRAIN!
2. Spine (Backbone)
Back
33 ring bones stacked like blocks.
Protects: Spinal cord & holds you tall!
3. Ribs (Rib Cage)
Chest
Curved cage around your chest.
Protects: HEART & LUNGS!
4. Femur (Thigh Bone)
Leg
The longest and strongest bone in your body!
Job: Carries your weight for walking & running.
💀 Skull • 🦴 Spine • 🛡️ Ribs • 🦵 Femur
Teamwork in the Skeleton
How Bones Connect: Joints!
A joint is a place where two or more bones meet. Joints let your stiff bones bend and turn!
Hinge Joint
Opens & shuts like a door!
Moves back and forth in one direction.
Examples: Elbows & Knees
Ball & Socket Joint
Twirls around in circles!
Lets you rotate and move in all directions.
Examples: Shoulders & Hips
Quick Move: Swing your arm in a big circle! That is your shoulder ball-and-socket joint!
Living Tissue
How to Keep Bones Strong!
Bones are alive! They grow with you and need care every single day.
1. Eat Calcium
Calcium makes bone tissue hard and tough.
Milk, cheese, yogurt, broccoli, and fortified juice.
2. Move & Jump
Weight-bearing movement signals bones to rebuild thicker.
Running, jumping rope, dancing, and climbing stairs!
3. Wear Armor
Protect your living bones from cracks and breaks.
Bike helmets, knee pads, and seatbelts!
Calcium Food + Daily Movement + Safety Gear = Unbreakable Bones!
Brain Challenge
Quick Bone Quiz!
Show 1, 2, or 3 fingers!
Question 1:
Which bone acts like a helmet to protect your brain?
Ribs
Skull ⭐
Femur
Question 2:
What is the longest, strongest bone in your whole body?
Femur (Thigh) ⭐
Finger bone
Spine
Great job! Ready for your Bone Explorer Activity! 🎉
Bone Explorer Worksheet 5th Grade Science • Skeletal System
Bone Explorer Worksheet
Part 1: Bones & Protection
Page 1 of 2
Name:
Date:
Class/Period:
Part 1: Label the Major Bones
Use the Word Bank
Word Bank: SKULL RIBS SPINE FEMUR
Location: Head
1. Hard helmet bone that shields your brain.
Bone Name:
Location: Chest
2. Curved cage bones shielding your heart and lungs.
Bone Name:
Location: Back
3. Stack of ring bones that keeps you standing tall.
Bone Name:
Location: Upper Leg
4. The longest and strongest bone in your entire body.
Bone Name:
Part 2: Bone Armor Matching
Draw a line or write the letter
Match each bone on the left with the soft organ it protects on the right:
A. Skull (Head)
Protects your Heart & Lungs
B. Ribs (Chest)
Protects your Spinal Cord
C. Spine (Back)
Protects your Brain
💡
Fun Skeleton Fact:
Babies are born with about 300 soft bones. As you grow, small bones fuse together into 206 adult bones!
5th Grade Science • Skeletal System
Bone Explorer Worksheet
Part 2: Jobs, Joints & Health
Page 2 of 2
Part 3: 3 Super Jobs of Bones
Fill in the blanks
Word Clues: PROTECT SUPPORT MOVE
1. Holding Up Your Body:
Bones give our body its shape and so we don't fall over like jelly.
2. Keeping Organs Safe:
Hard bones act like armor to our soft inside organs like the brain and heart.
3. Working with Muscles:
Muscles pull on our bones to help us walk, run, and !
Part 4: Joints in Action
Circle the right answer
A. Door Hinge Joint
Which joint bends forward and backward like a door?
Elbow and Knee
Skull bones
B. Ball & Socket Joint
Which joint can roll around in a big circle?
Shoulder and Hip
Rib bones
Part 5: Bone Health Habits
Check the healthy habits
Bone Explorer Answer Key Teacher Reference • Answer Key & Guide
Bone Explorer Answer Key
ANSWER KEY • Page 1
Skeletal System Overview
Target Grade: 5th Grade (Scaffolded for Low Literacy / Emerging Readers) Teacher Copy
Part 1: Major Bones Labeling (Answers)
4 Points (1 per bone)
Location: Head Correct
1. Hard helmet bone that shields your brain.
SKULL
Location: Chest Correct
2. Curved cage bones shielding heart & lungs.
RIBS
Location: Back Correct
3. Stack of ring bones that keeps you standing tall.
SPINE
Location: Upper Leg Correct
4. Longest and strongest bone in entire body.
FEMUR
Part 2: Bone Armor Matching (Answers)
3 Points
A. Skull (Head) Matches: 3
3. Protects your Brain
B. Ribs (Chest) Matches: 1
1. Protects your Heart & Lungs
C. Spine (Back) Matches: 2
2. Protects your Spinal Cord
Low-Literacy Teaching Tip: Kinesthetic Reinforcement
Before students write, conduct a 30-second "Bone Patrol": have all students tap their skull (shout "Brain!"), cross arms over chest to feel ribs (shout "Heart and Lungs!"), and feel the vertebrae down the back of their neck (shout "Spine!"). This eliminates phonics bottlenecks before spelling words from the word bank.
Teacher Reference • Answer Key & Guide
Bone Explorer Answer Key
ANSWER KEY • Page 2
Jobs, Joints & Health
Part 3: 3 Super Jobs of Bones (Answers)
3 Points
1. Holding Up Your Body:
Bones give our body its shape and SUPPORT so we don't fall over like jelly.
2. Keeping Organs Safe:
Hard bones act like armor to PROTECT our soft inside organs.
3. Working with Muscles:
Muscles pull on our bones to help us walk, run, and MOVE !
Part 4: Joints in Action (Answers)
2 Points
A. Door Hinge Joint Answer:
✓ Elbow and Knee
Teacher note: Hinge joints bend in only one plane, like swinging doors.
B. Ball & Socket Joint Answer:
✓ Shoulder and Hip
Teacher note: Ball & socket joints allow 360-degree rotational mobility.
Bone Stations Activity Cards Hands-On Science Lab • 5th Grade
Bone Stations Activity Cards
STATIONS 1 & 2
Hands-On Investigation
Student Name:
Station Team:
1
Station 1: The Skull Shield
Investigation: How does the skull protect the soft brain?
Step 1: Touch
Gently tap your forehead and temples. Feel how solid and hard your skull is.
Step 2: Compare
Touch the soft gelatin model (or soft foam ball). Your real brain is as soft as gelatin!
Step 3: Test
Place the small plastic cup over the gelatin. Tap the cup. Is the soft gelatin safe?
Station 1 Check-In (Circle your answers):
A real brain feels:
Soft & Squishy Hard & Stiff
The skull acts like a:
Safety Helmet Soft Pillow
2
Station 2: Rib Cage Armor & Breathing
Investigation: How do ribs protect and move when breathing?
Step 1: Lock Fingers
Interlace your fingers over your chest to make a curved cage like your 12 pairs of ribs.
Step 2: Deep Breath
Take a huge deep breath in! What happens to your rib cage as your lungs fill with air?
Step 3: Breathe Out
Breathe all the way out. Feel your ribs move back down into place.
Station 2 Check-In (Fill in the blanks):
When I breathe IN, my ribs move (UP or DOWN).
The two vital organs protected by my rib cage are my and my .
Hands-On Science Lab • 5th Grade
Bone Stations Activity Cards
STATIONS 3 & 4
Joints & Bone Health
3
Station 3: Joint Mechanics in Action
Investigation: How do different joints move your body?
Test A: Hinge Joint
Bend your elbow up and down. Can your elbow twist in a complete circle? (Yes or No)
Moves like: A door swinging on a hinge
Test B: Ball & Socket Joint
Swing your whole arm from the shoulder in a giant circle like a windmill!
Moves like: A joystick in a video game
Station 3 Check-In (Draw a line to match):
1. Elbow and Knee
2. Shoulder and Hip
→ Ball and Socket (Full circles)
→ Hinge (Back and forth)
4
Station 4: Fuel Your Mighty Bones
Investigation: Which foods build strong, heavy bones?
Sort the Food Cards at your station:
Mighty Bones Exit Ticket Mighty Bones Exit Ticket
5-Minute Check for Understanding
Name:
Date:
1. Which bone protects your brain like a safety helmet?
A. Ribs
B. Skull
C. Femur
2. Circle the THREE big jobs of your skeletal system:
PROTECT SUPPORT MELT MOVE
3. What is the longest and strongest bone in your body?
The
(thigh bone).
4. One food with calcium:
How do you feel about bones?
😃 I got this! 🤔 Need help 😟 Confused
Cut Along Dashed Line (2 Copies Per Sheet)
Mighty Bones Exit Ticket
5-Minute Check for Understanding
Name:
Date:
1. Which bone protects your brain like a safety helmet?
A. Ribs
B. Skull
C. Femur
2. Circle the THREE big jobs of your skeletal system:
PROTECT SUPPORT MELT MOVE
3. What is the longest and strongest bone in your body?
The
(thigh bone).
4. One food with calcium:
How do you feel about bones?
😃 I got this! 🤔 Need help 😟 Confused
Bone Labels Cutout Sheet Hands-On Manipulative • Cut & Paste Activity
Bone Labels Cutout Sheet
CUTTING SHEET
Page 1 of 2
Directions: Carefully cut out each badge along the dashed lines. Paste them onto your Skeleton Mat (Page 2)!
✂️ Safe Scissors
Set A: Bone Name Badges (Cut Out 4)
Bone Titles
Head Bone
SKULL
Chest Bone Cage
RIBS
Backbone Stack
SPINE
Thigh Bone
FEMUR
Set B: Organ Shield Badges (What Does It Protect?)
Organ Matches
🧠
Protects: BRAIN
Thinking & Memory Center
🫀
Protects: HEART & LUNGS
Pumping & Breathing
⚡
Protects: SPINAL CORD
Nerve signals to entire body
🏃
Powers: RUN & JUMP
Strongest weight carrier
Set C: Joint & Function Badges (Cut Out 3)
How It Works
SUPPORT
Holds you upright so you do not flop!
DOOR HINGE
Bends back and forth (Elbows & Knees)
BALL & SOCKET
Twirls in big circles (Shoulders & Hips)
Cut carefully along all dashed lines. Do not throw any badges away! Turn to Page 2 Mat ➔
Hands-On Manipulative • Pasting Mat
Skeleton Builder Mat
PASTING MAT
Page 2 of 2
Builder Name:
Date:
Glue your cut-out badges into the correct matching drop zones below! Glue stick required
1. Head Region Brain Shield
Paste Bone Name Badge Here (SKULL)
Paste Organ Shield Badge Here
Clue: Acts like a hard football helmet!
2. Chest Region Heart & Lung Armor
Paste Bone Name Badge Here (RIBS)
Paste Organ Shield Badge Here
Clue: Curved cage of 12 bone pairs that expands when you inhale.
3. Back Region Support Column
Paste Bone Name Badge Here (SPINE)
Paste Organ Shield Badge Here
Clue: 33 ring bones stacked like blocks with cushions between.
4. Upper Leg Region Powerhouse Bone
Paste Bone Name Badge Here (FEMUR)
Paste Action Badge Here
Clue: The longest, heaviest, and strongest bone in the body!
Bonus Pasting Zone: Joint Mechanics Where Bones Connect
Bone Search Vocabulary Puzzle Vocabulary Builder • 5th Grade Science
Bone Search Vocabulary Puzzle
STUDENT PUZZLE
Page 1 of 2
Name:
Date:
Score:
Directions: Words go across (➔) or down (⬇). No backwards or diagonal words!
10 Words
S K U L L B O N E S U F E M U R M O V E P P R O T E C T V A P S P I N E A R M S O R I B S J O I N T R C A L C I U M P Z T X S H I E L D F Y B R A I N W H E A D H E A R T L U N G S F R A M E W O R K Y
Word Bank (Find & Check All 10): Put a [ ✓ ] when found!
SKULL • Head helmet
➔ Across
RIBS • Chest cage
➔ Across
SPINE • Backbone stack
➔ Across
FEMUR • Thigh bone
➔ Across
BONE • Hard body piece
➔ Across
JOINT • Where bones meet
➔ Across
CALCIUM • Bone fuel mineral
➔ Across
PROTECT • Shield soft organs
➔ Across
MOVE • Walk, run, bend
➔ Across
SUPPORT • Hold body tall
⬇ Down
Teacher Reference & Self-Check Key
Word Search Solution Key
SOLUTION KEY
Page 2 of 2
S K U L L B O N E · U F E M U R M O V E P P R O T E C T · · P S P I N E · · · · O R I B S J O I N T R C A L C I U M · · T · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·
Word Coordinate Guide:
SKULL: Row 1, Columns 1-5 (Across)
BONE: Row 1, Columns 6-9 (Across)
FEMUR: Row 2, Columns 2-6 (Across)
MOVE: Row 2, Columns 7-10 (Across)
PROTECT: Row 3, Columns 2-8 (Across)
SPINE: Row 4, Columns 2-6 (Across)
RIBS: Row 5, Columns 2-5 (Across)
JOINT: Row 5, Columns 6-10 (Across)
CALCIUM: Row 6, Columns 2-8 (Across)
SUPPORT: Column 1, Rows 1-7 (Down)
Follow-Up Oral Practice for Low Literacy:
Call out a definition (e.g., "Find the word for the bone that protects your brain!") and have students point to and read the word aloud together:
