The bone zone. (Science News).

The bones in your body are made of a hard material. Bones help you stand up. They protect body parts such as your brain, heart, and lungs. Without bones, people wouldn't be able to move and they would have no shape.

The Scoop on the Skeleton

A set of bones is called a skeleton. Grown-ups have 206 bones in their skeletons.

The smallest bone in the skeleton is in the ear. It is called the stirrup bone. The biggest bone is a leg bone called the femur.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Even Healthy Bones Can Break

People go to the doctor when they break their bones. Because bones are inside the body, doctors need to use X-rays to see them. X-rays make special pictures of bones. The pictures help doctors find where a bone is broken. Once the doctor knows where the break is, he or she can help it heal.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

What's So Funny?

The funny bone is not really a bone. It is the nickname for a place at the back of the elbow. When that place is hit, you get a funny feeling. The funny bone is found at the end of the humerus, or upper arm bone, Humerus sounds like the word humorous, which means "funny."

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Different Bones, Different Jobs

Every bone in your body has a job to do. Some bones are meant to protect you. The skull helps protect your brain. Other bones like the ribs work to keep the body's shape. The femur helps hold people up when they stand.

THINKING CUE

How do you take care of your bones?

Whiskers's Handy Dictionary

* skeleton--a set of bones

* bone--a hard material inside the body

* X-ray--a special picture of bones inside the body

WHISKERS'S[TM] CITIZENSHIP

October 25, 2002

Dear Boys and Girls,

Squeaky didn't swim at my pool party today. He broke his arm and has a cast on it. I think he should have just gone swimming anyway. What do god think?

Love,

Whiskers

ACTIVITY PAGE

Name --

How Much Calcium?

The chart shows how much calcium is in one serving of each food
shown. Answer the questions according to the chart.

1. How many grams of calcium are there
   in 8 ounces of low-fat yogurt?

   (A) 50         (C) 415

   (B) 35         (D) 800

2. How many grams of calcium are there
   in a cup of broccoli?

   (A) 300        (C) 50

   (B) 415        (D) 35

3. Which food has 50 grams of calcium?

   (A) cup of milk

   (B) one orange

   (C) cup of broccoli

   (D) 1 1/2 ounces cheddar cheese

4. Which of the following foods have 300
   grams of calcium?

   (A) 1 1/2 ounces cheddar cheese

   (B) 8 ounces low-fat yogurt

   (C) cup of broccoli

   (D) one orange

Bonus: If a second-grader had an orange and one serving each of milk, broccoli, and yogurt, how many grams of calcium did he or she have?

Broccoli          35
(1 cup)           Grams

Orange            50
(1 medium)        Grams

Cheddar Cheese    300
(1 1/2 ounces)    Grams

Milk              300
(1 cup)           Grams

Low-Fat Yogurt    415
((8 ounces)       Grams

Milk, Broccoli,
Yogurt, and       Grams
an Orange