Get a grip!

Activities

1. We will observe how humans use their hands. Do we hold all objects in the same way?

Different ways that of holding different objects with one hand:

• wrap fingers around object
• using 2 fingers (thumb and index finger) to pick up items
• grabbing --> using the whole palm
• use of three fingers (thumb, index and middle)
• 2 palms adjacent to each other (scooping motion OR balancing) 
• using hand and arm (hug)

2. Reach out one of your hand to hold an object that you can wrap your hands around. Observe how you are holding the object. Record these observation in detail both in words and also in a drawing. 

This is my drawing of me holding a pencil.

I used my thumb, index finger, middle finger and ring finger to grasp the pencil and loop around it, trying to support the pencil.

3. After watching the video, Observing Primates, I observed the following about how the gorilla moves about using their arms, legs, hands and feet.

• When walking, 

1. their hands are partially clenched, knuckles touching the ground.
2. hunched back
3. arms are bent at a certain angle

• Generally,

1. their feet look like hands (big toe is very far apart from the other 4 toes)
2. long arms that are longer than their legs

4. Questions on how primates move. 

1. Wouldn't their knuckles hurt hurt when they walk?
2. Why must they walk with their hands and legs instead of just their legs? 
3. Why do they pump/hit their chest?
4. Why a large space between 1st toe and the rest?
5. Do they swing on trees?
6. Why are their arms longer than their legs?
7. Why is the skin so rough/horny?