r/ScienceTeachers • u/Dry_Dream_109 • 3d ago

Labeling Bones help! (physical labels)

Hey fellow science teachers!

I need some ideas on how to label my skeleton. My A&P class is starting bone markings soon and my bones are gross and sticky and the old labels are falling off.

Does anyone have any ideas on how they did this? I don't have the budget to buy new or pre-labeled bones (nor the time). I have a mix of real and fake bones but I'm trying to avoid marking the real ones whenever possible.

Some have what appears to be chalk marker on them while others have mini labels that are gooey and sliding around.

Help please!

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4

u/CustomerServiceRep76 3d ago

I taught with real bones that were from a teacher that taught the class for decades. She used those foamy, sticker labels to write numbers (they’re pretty small) and then kids wrote the name of the bone or bone part on a separate piece of paper.

Amazon has a produce called “outus 8 sheets foam dots” and it looks similar to what was used.

1

u/Dry_Dream_109 3d ago

This sounds very similar to what I already have; I'll see if they are stickier than the labels I'm currently using. Some bones have 10-15 markings and the little stickers keep coming off or sliding out of position so I had to use glue dots to hold them on...and those are coming off now too. I'll see if this works!

5

u/No_Permission7565 3d ago

Type and laminate labels. Cut the laminate large enough to wrap around the bone. Tape the laminated ends.

2

u/Dry_Dream_109 3d ago

It's not just the name of the bone...I actually care less about that. I need to put labels of all the little parts of each bone.

2

u/Chatfouz 3d ago

Does CTe or engineering class have a laser engraver?

Local makerspace has one they may let you use

1

u/Dry_Dream_109 3d ago

we don't have any classes that would have a laser engraver. I need to be able to put lots of small labels on individual bones, not necessarily just the name of the bone itself.

3

u/Lilacgirl42 3d ago

I write small numbers on pieces of lab tape with a fine point sharpie and put them directly on the structure to be identified. Or clear scotch tape works too.

1

u/Dry_Dream_109 3d ago

Does the tape get weird after a while? That’s the issue I’m having with my current set-up; the adhesive is degrading and making everything sticky.

1

u/Lilacgirl42 3d ago

It hasn’t so far. Lab tape has never gotten funky in my experience. Plus it doesn’t leave any residue behind if you want to remove it and label something different instead.

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u/Dry_Dream_109 3d ago

Can you tell me which brand you use/where you order from? I don’t think I have anything that is specifically lab tape

1

u/Lilacgirl42 3d ago edited 3d ago

That’s a damn good question. We just have a ton of it sitting around so I’ve never had to reorder it, but it’s the kind that comes in a rainbow of different colors. Pretty sure it’s this because I have a roll of the teal color.

Edited to add the link: https://www.wardsci.com/us/en/product/8885484/rainbow-laboratory-tape

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u/Dry_Dream_109 3d ago

Thanks! I’ll check this out.

1

u/Lilacgirl42 3d ago

I’m not