Clay Integumentary System Model

Clay Skin Model

Okay, for all the art loving students and teachers out there, here is my latest human body system clay model. This one is on the integumentary system. Like the other clay models I posted about previously, you will find this one is also relatively easy to do. I know I say this a lot, but it is true and I have seen it as a teacher-most students will enjoy learning science more when you include fun lessons like this.  They are also more likely to retain the information when they can visualize it as with a handmade model. It makes learning so much more engaging and students can tap into their creative side.

 The integumentary system is the body system that involves the skin and all the different structures in skin. Students are often surprised to learn that there is so much going on in their skin. The skin has many important functions that help keep our bodies in homeostasis, like regulating body temperature, providing a protective barrier against pathogens, detecting changes in the environment through skin receptors, and more! It really is a fascinating body system.

Let’s dive into how to make this model. Your model will include the following parts:

Epidermis layer (purple)

Dermis layer (beige)

Hypodermis layer (yellow)

Hair follicle (brown)

Hair shaft (brown)

Sebaceous gland (white)

Nerves (nerves)

Blood vessels- artery (red) and veins (blue)

Sweat gland (pink)

*Use a different color clay for EACH part listed above, as I did in the picture above.

 In this picture of one of my integumentary system models,  you will see that to begin making it you will first need to get three different colors of big pieces of clay.  These will become your three different skin layers, or sections. Then with your hand or a shaping tool, you will flatten them. You do not want it to be too thin, but not too thick either. 

Notice the 3 layers.

You will want to make the layers to scale size. The epidermis (top section of the skin, purple in the picture) will have the least width, the hypodermis (deepest section of the skin, yellow in the picture) will be a wider than the epidermis, and the dermis (middle section, beige in picture) will be the widest layer. Now you will attach them to each other, so they blend slightly together.

Once you have your skin layer background, now you are ready to begin attaching the parts that go in them: Choose a different color of clay for EACH part, as I did and I indicated above. Some of the parts might be tricky to make like sweat glands. Take your time and be patient and it should turn out fine.

Once finished, set the model aside to air dry a few hours. Before or after students make their models, they can write in the functions of each part. I have a free worksheet on this for this model. Click here for it. You can also print out labels for this model by clicking here. Students can cut the names out and glue them to a toothpicks and use it to identify the parts on their model.

While teaching this clay model activity, you may want to bring up the topic of taking care of your skin and developing regular, daily habits to protect your skin from skin damage and harmful UV rays.  Most people know they must protect their skin in the summer when spending a day at the beach or water park by wearing sunscreen and hats and sunglasses, but what about year-round skin care?

 I also have a free Integumentary System PDF presentation that you can get by clicking HERE. It includes student note pages, both a filled in and partially filled in version.