Articulated Hand Model Base or Kit

Put engineering and anatomy in students' hands — literally! The Articulated Hand Model project has students build a working model of a human hand using everyday materials, exploring how tendons and joints work together to produce movement.

The finished model is a hands-on engineering achievement students can demonstrate, display, and use to explain the mechanics of the human body.

Students assemble an articulated hand model, connect simulated tendons to finger joints, and test the model's range of motion. The project combines anatomy, engineering design, and hands-on building to create a working mechanical model.

Articulated hand model base (or full kit with materials)
Student project instructions
Easy-to-use grading rubric
Teacher tips for setup, assembly, and student success

Identify the bones and joints of the human hand.
Understand how tendons and muscles control finger movement.
Apply engineering design principles to build a working model.
Connect anatomy to real-world biomechanics and prosthetics.