Dem Bones

Objective

Objective
Learn the importance of calcium in building strong bones.
Key Teaching Messages
Calcium and vitamin D are essential for healthy bone growth and can be found in fat-free and low-fat milk and milk products, some vegetables and other foods.
Bones are in constant stages of growth and regeneration, even weight-bearing physical activity, such as walking, running, climbing stairs, and dancing, are best for building strong bones.
Performance Standards
NATIONAL PRE-K–2nd grade HEALTH PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
Demonstrate healthy practices and behaviors to maintain or improve personal health.
Common Core Standards: Kindergarten-Second Grade
Speaking and Listening:
Comprehension and Collaboration
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.K.1
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.1.1
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.2.1
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.K.2
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.1.2
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.2.2
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.K.4
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.1.4
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.2.4
Reading Literature:
Key Ideas and Details
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.K.1
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.K.2
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.K.3
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1.1
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1.2
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1.3
Craft and Structure
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.K.4
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1.4
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.K.7
NIH Health Messages
Drink fat-free and low-fat milk or water instead of sugar-sweetened beverages.
Eat a variety of vegetables daily.
Engage in 60 minutes of moderate activity on every day of the week.
Reduce sedentary activity.
Limit screen time to less than 2 hours daily.
Children have more bones than adults! As children grow, some of these bones fuse together. Both calcium and weight-bearing activities are essential for this normal growth process to take place.
Educator Tip
Music & Movement
The Zombie Song
The dancing in the Zombie song, sung to the same tune as the Marching Song, is a great weight-bearing activity. Weight-bearing activities are important to develop and maintain healthy bones in both children and adults. Encourage children to do a zombie jump, or ask, “How might a zombie bounce?”
Educator Tip
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Music & Movement
The Hello Song
Ask children to share some of the songs they sing at home as part of their bedtime routines. You can also sing a variation of this song, substituting the words good night for hello.
Educator Tip
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Music & Movement
The Clean-up Song
Just like a family meal, clean-up time is a family activity as well. In school, this song can be used with any lesson, and is a nice way to keep children moving through clean-up activities.
Educator Tip
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Health Demonstration
Bones Demo
The art project can be a little confusing on paper — this video makes it easy to understand. The importance of calcium cannot be overstated, it is essential for healthy bones.
Educator Tip
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Art
Bone Collage

Bone Collage

Bone Collage
Bone Collage
Materials
  • Balsa wood
  • Bone shapes template
  • Glue
  • Markers
  • Oak tag paper
Instructions
  1. Make all materials accessible to children.
  2. Demonstrate how to use the glue to attach the bone shapes to the balsa wood.
  3. Discuss how foods with calcium, and physical activity, help keep bones strong.
  4. Glue bones onto the oak tag.
  5. Encourage children to decorate their bone collage.
Alternate Project
Materials
  • Brass fasteners
  • Hole punch
  • Skeleton template
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This art project is less about the finished product, and more about the process of how calcium builds strong bones. The activity offers a great opportunity to get children to start talking about it.
Educator Tip
Literacy
Dem Bones

Dem Bones

Dem Bones
Dem Bones
Overview
In Dem Bones, by Bob Barner, children learn the parts of the body and how they are all connected.
Vocabulary
Body Words: bone, foot, toe, ankle, leg, knee, thigh, hip, back, shoulder, neck, head

Challenge Word: skeleton, connected
Alternate Books
Dinosaur Stomp!
by Paul Stickland
The Skeleton Inside You
by Philip Balestrino
Buy at First Book
Click here
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The text is fun to sing and dance with the class. Try it at different speeds! There’s also a colorful, friendly skeleton with lots of great information about the human skeleton.
Educator Tip
Did You Know?
 
Did you know that the difference between whole milk and low fat milk is the fat content?
In fat free milk you get ALL of the calcium and NONE of the fat!
Whole milk is good for growing babies, but beyond age two, whole milk adds unnecessary fat.
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Activities

Activities

Create a safe space to bounce. Practice your bouncing skills by bouncing on one foot, two feet, forwards and backwards. Challenge: change direction and speed.
Compare how far each family member can jump from a standing position.
Educator Tip
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Recipes

Recipes

Vanilla fat-free or low-fat yogurt topped with cereal and blueberries.
Spread tuna fish on top of a whole wheat English muffin. Add a slice of tomato and cover with low-fat cheddar cheese. Finish dish by warming for 1 minute to melt cheese.
One cup of fat-free or low-fat milk and banana slices.
Educator Tip
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Printables
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  • Teaching Health Through

    Music & Movement

    Music & Movement

    The Zombie Song

    Dem Bones

  • Teaching Health Through

    Art

    Art

    Bone Collage

    Dem Bones

  • Teaching Health Through

    Literacy

    Literacy

    Dem Bones

    Dem Bones

  • Teaching Health Through

    Music & Movement

    Music & Movement

    The Hello Song

    Dem Bones

  • Teaching Health Through

    Music & Movement

    Music & Movement

    The Clean-up Song

    Dem Bones

  • Teaching Health Through

    Health Demonstration

    Music & Movement

    Bones Demo

    Dem Bones

New Words

  • New Words

  • Bone
  • Bounce
  • Jump
  • Low-fat
  • Milk

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