Don't be chicken to try a lesson plan that compares the anatomy of birds to humans. Read the background information so you don't have to wing it when it comes to the anatomy of a chicken. Prepare cooked chicken bones by soaking them in a bleach solution, then guide your young scientists through an exploration of bones and cartilage. Finish the activity with a comparison between chicken and human anatomy to identify the similarities and differences. Note: be sure to allow yourself enough time to prepare the bones at least a day in advance.

Concepts

the skeletal system, skeletons, bones, endoskeletons

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Additional Tags

science

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Pros

• Hands-on experience with real bones
• Comparative anatomy encourages deeper thinking about evolution
• Accesses many different learning styles in a short time

Cons

• Requires significant set-up time for teacher