Bone cells and bone structure
Describe the major bone cells and contrast compact and spongy bone.
Bone-cell roles summary (osteoblast/osteocyte/osteoclast) plus two-column compact-vs-spongy bone comparison chart.
- 1Do thisDescribe the major bone cells and contrast compact and spongy bone.
- 2Use this resource
- 3Submit thisVocabulary task: Bone-cell roles summary (osteoblast/osteocyte/osteoclast) plus two-column compact-vs-spongy bone comparison chart.
- 4Submit it here
- 1CMSD website. Go to clevelandmetroschools.org and click the Clever button.
- 2Clever. Clever opens. Sign in if it asks.
- 3Microsoft (district) login. Use your district Microsoft account (the one for school).
- 4Schoology. Open Schoology, then your class, then Assignments, and find the file named below.
The file to submit is named: Human Anatomy & Physiology (Human Body Systems) › Unit 1.1 Bones: Bone structure/function, skeletal system, fractures, bone remodeling, repair technologies. › Vocabulary taskOpen Schoology
- CER:
- Claim, Evidence, Reasoning — make a claim, back it with evidence, explain your reasoning.
- SOP:
- Standard Operating Procedure — the exact steps to follow (especially in a lab).
- Tracker:
- Your PLTW progress log where you record completed evidence.
- myPLTW:
- The PLTW course site where you do the online activities — you open it through Schoology.
Minute-by-minute · 80-minute block
💡 Big idea: Bone is living tissue maintained by three specialized cell types; its two structural forms match the mechanical demands of their locations.
- 0-8Intro: bone as living connective tissue
- 8-25Notes: three bone cells and their functions
- 25-45PLTW online task: bone tissue structure
- 45-62Build two-column chart: compact vs spongy bone
- 62-75Write explanation of spongy bone location and structural advantage
- 75-80Submit chart; preview Wednesday fracture lab
- • People think of bone as dead and static. It is neither. Your skeleton is constantly being torn down and rebuilt by three types of cells.
- • Today you learn those cells and how bone is structured at the tissue level. We go from the whole bone down to the osteon.
- • The vocabulary here is high-yield for the WebXam: osteoblast, osteocyte, osteoclast, osteon, trabeculae. Write them, draw them, own them.
- • Your two-column comparison chart is the artifact. Make it detailed enough to study from.
- 1Read the notes on osteoblasts, osteocytes, and osteoclasts and their jobs.
- 2Compare compact bone (osteons) with spongy bone (trabeculae) in a two-column chart.
- 3Complete the PLTW online task on bone tissue structure.
- 4Explain where spongy bone is found and why its structure suits that location.
- 5Submit your bone-cell roles chart and compact-vs-spongy comparison.
- • You can match each bone cell to its function.
- • You can contrast compact and spongy bone structure and location.
- • Osteoblasts build bone matrix, osteocytes maintain it, and osteoclasts resorb it. All three are required for healthy remodeling.
- • Compact bone contains osteons (Haversian systems) and bears compressive load; spongy bone contains trabeculae and is found at bone ends.
- • Disease processes such as osteoporosis result from an imbalance between osteoblast and osteoclast activity.
Your PLTW work today
Unit 1.1 Bones: Bone structure/function, skeletal system, fractures, bone remodeling, repair technologies. · Bone cells and bone structure
Day 2 of this lesson. Open this exact section in myPLTW (reached through Schoology), then do the work below.
Do this: Complete the bone-tissue-structure task in Lesson 1.1 Beginning with Bones on myPLTW; work through all screens on osteoblasts, osteocytes, and osteoclasts.
Mark the bone-tissue task complete after submitting your compact-vs-spongy comparison chart.
Introductory task is done; by end of today the bone-tissue task should show complete.
myPLTW completion status plus your submitted chart.
All PLTW activities are completed inside the PLTW course environment — this page only gives direction. Submit producibles on Schoology.
Today's PLTW tracker
Check things off as you work, then submit. This tells Mr. Mendoza how you're doing so he can help the class. It does not replace turning in your producible on Schoology.
Use the code Mr. Mendoza gave you, not your name. Saved on this device.
Unit 1.1 Bones: Bone structure/function, skeletal system, fractures, bone remodeling, repair technologies. · Bone cells and bone structure
Complete the bone-tissue-structure task in Lesson 1.1 Beginning with Bones on myPLTW; work through all screens on osteoblasts, osteocytes, and osteoclasts.
Introductory task is done; by end of today the bone-tissue task should show complete.
This is how Mr. Mendoza sees the class keeping pace with PLTW. Be honest, it only helps if it is accurate.
🎯 Describe the major bone cells and contrast compact and spongy bone.
- Read the notes on osteoblasts, osteocytes, and osteoclasts and their jobs.
- Compare compact bone (osteons) with spongy bone (trabeculae) in a two-column chart.
- Complete the PLTW online task on bone tissue structure.
- Explain where spongy bone is found and why its structure suits that location.
- Submit your bone-cell roles chart and compact-vs-spongy comparison.
Vocabulary task: Bone-cell roles summary (osteoblast/osteocyte/osteoclast) plus two-column compact-vs-spongy bone comparison chart.
Submit on SchoologyUpload by 11:29 PM for full credit.
| Task | Who |
|---|---|
| Read the notes on osteoblasts, osteocytes, and osteoclasts and their jobs. | _______ |
| Compare compact bone (osteons) with spongy bone (trabeculae) in a two-column chart. | _______ |
| Complete the PLTW online task on bone tissue structure. | _______ |
| Explain where spongy bone is found and why its structure suits that location. | _______ |
| Submit your bone-cell roles chart and compact-vs-spongy comparison. | _______ |
Working solo? Put your own name in "Who" for every row.
- You can match each bone cell to its function.
- You can contrast compact and spongy bone structure and location.
Resources & readings
Vetted readings and references for this unit. Use them to prepare, to catch up if you were absent, or to go deeper on today's target.
Lab & supplies
WebXam practice
Cumulative WebXam review
A quick mixed-review pulling questions from earlier units plus today, so the WebXam material stays fresh.
Where this leads — careers
What today's skills lead to. These are real health-science careers this course builds toward. Tap one to see, on the US Department of Labor's O*NET site, what the job actually involves, what it pays, and how fast it is growing.
What to do if you were absent
Today is individual PLTW work, so do exactly what we did in class, from home: complete the same PLTW target above, then submit your Vocabulary task.
Open Schoology (CMSD) and keep goingHow to get there: open the CMSD website, click Clever, sign in with your Microsoft (district) account, then open Schoology from Clever.
Class still runs. Complete the online activity above (it's self-guided). Need the concept taught without a teacher? Use this authoritative explainer:
MedlinePlus: Bone Diseases and Fractures- CompleteEvery required part of the artifact is present, nothing left blank.
- AccurateThe science and the data are correct and match the evidence.
- Scientific reasoningYou explain your claim with evidence and reasoning (CER), not just an answer.
- Professional communicationClear, organized, labeled, and written the way a clinician or scientist would.
- SubmittedTurned in the right way (Schoology for routine work) and confirmed.
Drop your Wed, Sep 9, 2026 · Bone cells and bone structure here. Use a clear file name (your initials + project). Routine work still goes to Schoology (via the CMSD portal).
Upload a project