Backbone in Movements in Animals – Class 6 Science Experiment

Chapter Name: Movements in Animals

Activity Name: Backbone in Movements in Animals

Activity Description:

Required Items:

1. A friend or participant

Step by Step Procedure:

1. Ask your friend to stand up straight.
2. Instruct your friend to bend forward at the waist, attempting to touch their toes with their palms. This action will cause the backbone to become more prominent and easier to observe.
3. With your finger, gently run it along the center of your friend’s back, starting from just below the neck and moving downwards. Note the long structure that you can feel beneath the skin. This long structure is the backbone or spinal cord.
4. Explain to your friend that the backbone is composed of small bones called vertebrae. These vertebrae make up the structure of the backbone and protect the spinal cord.
5. Ask your friend to straighten up and relax.

Experiment Observations:

1. When your friend bends forward, you can observe and feel a long structure running down the center of their back. This is the backbone or spinal cord.
2. Running your finger along the backbone, you can feel the series of small bones, which are the vertebrae.

Precautions:

1. Ensure that the friend or participant is comfortable with participating in the experiment.
2. Advise caution and gentle touch while running your finger along the friend’s back to avoid causing any discomfort or injury.
3. If your friend experiences any pain or discomfort during the experiment, they should stop immediately.

Lesson Learnt from Experiment:

Through this experiment, you can understand the presence and location of the backbone (spinal cord) and the vertebrae. It helps in visualizing the structure of the backbone and its role in supporting the body and protecting the spinal cord.

Additionally, it demonstrates how movements in the human body involve the coordinated actions of the backbone and associated structures.