Hand Model Resources

Model how tendons, bones, and muscles work together to create movement! This engaging STEM project lets students build a working model of the human hand using foamboard, straws, and string. Perfect for units on anatomy, engineering, or simple machines — and makes a lasting visual aid.

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Completed articulated hand model with labeled bones, green straw guides, red string tendons, and pink fingernails

Choose Your Option

🤸 Save Time — Buy the Kit

$5 per student

Everything you need in one pack:

  • Precut foam hand
  • Plastic straws (2)
  • String (4 meters)
  • Printed instructions

Perfect for homeschoolers or smaller classes.

💲 Save Money — Just the Hand

$2 per hand

Already have supplies? Just need the foam hand.

  • Precut foam hand only

Great for classrooms, multiple classes, or grade-level orders.

Teacher Downloads

Illustrated Instructions

Step-by-step illustrated guide for building the articulated hand model.

Download PDF

What You’ll Need

  • Precut foam hand from ScienceWear
  • Plastic straws — 2 per hand (included in kit)
  • String, 4 meters — included in kit
  • Pencil & fine black marker
  • Map pencils or markers
  • Scissors
  • Centimeter ruler
  • Hot glue gun & glue stick
  • Optional: 5 artificial fingernails

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Joints

Examine your foam hand and gently bend the fingers and thumb. The joints represent hinge joints that allow movement in one direction. Each finger has 3 joints; the thumb has 2.

Foam hand model with fingers bent at the marked joints

Step 2: Bones

Draw the phalange, metacarpal, and carpal bones on the back side of the foam hand using a pencil (refer to the illustrated instructions). Color-code the bones with map pencils or markers, then outline each bone with a black marker. Mark the top of each distal phalange with a small black dot on both sides — you’ll attach the string here later (10 total).

Color-coded hand bones: distal, intermediate, and proximal phalanges, metacarpals, and carpals

Step 3: Tendon Sheaths (Straw Sections)

How Tendons Work

  • The muscles that move your fingers are actually in your forearm, not your hand
  • Tendons connect those forearm muscles to your fingers
  • Tendon sheaths protect and guide the tendons as they move

Cut plastic straws into pieces about 7–9 mm long. You’ll need about 19 pieces per side of the hand (back and palm).

Back of hand: Glue one straw piece in the center of each intermediate and proximal phalange and each metacarpal bone. Glue five sheaths in a row across the bottom of the carpals (just above the wrist).

Palm side: Flip the hand over and repeat the sheath placement. You should have 19 sheaths total per side when finished.

🔥 Caution: The glue gun is hot! Use carefully and assist younger students as needed.

Step 4: Tendons (Strings)

Cut 5 strings, each 40 cm long, for the extensor tendons (back of hand). Glue one end of each string to the tip of each distal phalange at the black dot. Thread the other end through the sheaths down to the carpals and tie the ends together. Repeat with 5 more strings for the flexor tendons on the palm side.

Optional: Glue on artificial fingernails for added realism.

🔎 Observe & Reflect

Pull individual tendons and observe how the fingers bend. This simplified model shows how tendons move bones, but lacks muscle mass, soft tissue, and full anatomical shape. Ask students:

  • What are the model’s limitations?
  • How does this compare to a real hand’s movement?

Key Concepts

Tendon function, joint structure, skeletal movement, engineering modeling, biomechanics.

Ready to Order?

Order kits or foam hands for your entire class from ScienceWear.

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