In this activity, students use tape measures to estimate the length of their femur, ulna, and tibia. These lengths are then with an equation to estimate their height which can then be prepared to their actual height. The instructions include terminology specific to those bones, such as greater trochanter, styloid process, and tibial tuberosity. I use this activity as an introduction to the lab where students examine real bones of a disarticulated skeleton. They can use the same formulas to estimate the size of the skeletons in the lab.
The second part of this worksheet provides measurements from bones found at a construction site. Students use the same formulas to determine if the bones came from the same person or if there were multiple bodies at the construction sites.
Grade Level: 9-12
Time Required: 30-40 minutes
Download PDF Google Doc Key (TpT)
lakota sky
is it hard knowing your height with just your bones?
Admin
It’s not difficult, but it’s not very accurate. These methods are used when all you have is one or two bones and you are trying to identify a body or gather more information. It is much easier and more accurate to measure the whole person. 🙂