Investigation Part 2: Thumb Activity



Foss Kit: The Human Body

Investigation 3: Muscles

Investigation Part 2: Thumb Activity

By Lauren Kiefer, Wendy Ghighi, & Tom Budzinski

Approximate time: 1:25

Engagement Activity:

Materials needed (for each student) not included in the kit:

pencils

paper

a book

paper clips or poker chip

Have a class discussion on what everyday tasks might be difficult to do without thumbs. Tell the students that they are going to do an experiment to see what it would be like to be missing their thumb. Have students tape their thumb against their other fingers and have the students perform the following tasks:

1. Write their name on a piece of paper

2. Turn pages in a book

3. Tie their shoe

4. Pick up a paper clip(or poker chip) off their desk

5. Snap your fingers

6. Link paper clips together

7. Sharpen a pencil

8. Open a door (if it has a knob rather than lever)

Come back together after 5-7 minutes and have a class discussion on the results

Focus Question:

How do muscles, tendons, and ligaments attach to bones make a thumb move?

Materials needed for each student: (already included in the kit)

1 craft stick (no holes)

2 craft pieces, 4cm, with hole

2 rubber tubes, no hole

1 piece of string, 20 cm long (string in kit but you need to cut these ahead of time)

-ruler to measure string for cutting

2 twist ties

Creating model:

Give students the following:

1 craft stick (no holes)

2 craft pieces, 4cm, with hole

2 rubber tubes, no hole

Have students create a model of their thumb.

After 5 minutes, show them the accurate model thus far. Give time to fix.

Now give students 1 piece of string, 20 cm long

Now tell them to use a piece of string as a tendon to make the thumb flex. Tell them they can run the string through the hole in the end bone and tie a knot.

After 5 minutes, show them accurate model thus far. Give them time to fix.

Introduce ligaments and explain their purpose. Show students how to attach “ligaments” (twist ties) to their model. Let students then explore and play with their model for about 5 minutes.

Jump to Guiding the Investigation Part 2: Making a Thumb Model in teacher manual. Do 1 and 2. Then 7 – 11.

Possible Extensions:

Every flexor muscle that bends a joint has an opposing muscle.

Students recreate thumb and leg with new opposing muscles

How could a torn ligament affect the way you handle objects?

What accommodations could you make on everyday items to help people with torn ligaments in their hand? (ex: Prescription bottles can be obtained with different tops)

Critique: Focus question 2 asks the following: (where are some of the muscles that move the hand and thumb). In the next section in the student book, there is a little paragraph on p15 about the muscles in the hand. IF in this lesson they learn the muscles that move the hand are in the lower arm, they will wonder what the muscles in the hand do.

-An extension activity to demonstrate the reason for muscles in the hand can be done with the Vernier Probes.

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