This is a Simon Says type of exercise which, due to the multiple steps and use of anatomical terms, and the final addition of a riddle, gets students thinking and moving.. and moving and thinking… and learning!
The exercise was developed, tested and shared by the faculty of the Health Science Department at Lock Haven University in Lock Haven, PA. Thanks so much for sharing!!
Give your students the following instructions
1) Put your finger on a spot anterior to your heart, just inferior to your mandible and lateral to your trachea.
Then ask: What should everyone be doing? (Taking pulse)
2) Put your right hand on your sternum, move it laterally toward your left humerous about 3 inches
Then ask: What might you be doing if there was a flag in the room? (Pledge of Allegiance)
3) Place the anterior side of your hands together and then move them to a position that is superior to the bone structure containing your hypothalamus
What might you be doing? (Walk like an Egyptian)
4) With your finger, trace a line beginning at a spot superficial to the cervical vertebrae on their posterior side. Move along an oblique plane, inferior and lateral to the right, now trace medially and continue laterally to the left about 6 inches, turn and trace superiorly and medially.
What shape have you traced? (Triangle)
5) Place your hands superficial to your quadriceps, move them distally to the patellar region. Move both hands medially and continue laterally until they touch the opposing patellar region (repeat)
What are you doing? (Charlie Brown or Charleston)
6) Place one hand on your clavicle, move it superiorly, posteriorly, inferiorly
What bone are you touching? (Scapula)
The last 3 do not have answers – maybe your students can come up with some of their own. Ask them to explain these moves and then form small groups to make up one of their own to share with the class!
7) Place both hands on the gluteal region. Move them laterally to the hips (name this region) and then superiorly to the axillary region. Move your hands medially until they are proximal to the sternum.
8) Trace your finger on the mid-saggital plane beginning at the anterior region superficial to your frontal lobe and move inferiorly
9) Trace a frontal plane beginning at your left patella and move superiorly to your otic region.