This near
life-size skeleton was made from light-weight beaded polystyrene foam.
Most of the body members were made separately. The hands and feet were
one piece. The jaw was articulated. Wire hooks held the pieces together
so it could be disassembled to be moved or stored. The foam was coated
with hydrocal, which gave a very realistic bone-like look and feel. The
entire skeleton, after coating, weighed less than one pound! It hung by
a small wire that came out of the back of the head. The teeth were the
most difficult part to sculpt. Getting the right shape for the ribcage
was pretty tough too. The ribs all snapped into the back of the spine.
Everyone
in the house learned the names of most of the bones by the time it was
finished. This would make a great group project for high school or college
biology and anatomy. Building a skeleton from scratch gives you a feel
for the human anatomy which is much more thorough and engraining than
looking at books. Plus, you make it for just a few dollars.
The skeleton
went back to the grave last Halloween. We hung the skeleton in the front
entryway with a bowl of candy on a stool directly underneath. When the
trick-or-treaters quit for the night and it was time for bed we wisely
put the bowl of candy out of reach from my sister-in-law's little dog
Jessy, who we were watching for the night. The next morning Jason was
proudly sitting in a heap of chewed up "bones". Next time I
will leave a treat out for the late night tricksters.
VillageScapes 
