Lesson 3 - Central Nervous System
Objective 1: Students will discuss the functions of the brain and spinal cord.
Objective 2: Students will describe the effects of drugs on the brain The nervous system contains billions of neurons, each of them capable of carrying impulses and sending messages. What keeps them from sending messages everywhere? What maintains the sense of order in this complex system? Today the students will learn the importance of the brain in maintaining order in the nervous system. The brain is a central place, where information is processed, decisions are made, and order is maintained. Your brain, a three- pound cluster of cells is the most complex living structure that we know of in the universe. It allows you to see, smell, taste, hear, feel, and respond to the world around you. It enables you to think, learn, remember, speak, feel emotions and have appetite, and it plays an important role in fighting disease. In short, our brains define us. By studying the brain, we can learn more about who we are, both as individuals and as a species. Everything we learn about the brain can help us prevent or cure the many devastating brain disorders that kill, cripple, or deprive us of our personality, intelligence, and memories. 5 minutes: At the door Quick Quiz: List the events of impulse transmission, from our last lesson, in the order they occur. 10 minutes: Check for Understanding Go over sequencing quick quiz and clear up any questions or misunderstandings that students my have. 20 minutes: Engage Learning: Have students read the short article about Phineas Gage and talk about brain parts and their functions. Two- minute pair share with table partner, to discuss article. Class discussion: who, what, how, where, when, why, Why is it important? 40 minutes: Brain Mapping Activity Students will use a grid system to map out the brain parts and learn the parts of the brain the parts of the body that they control. The information that students will use to map the brain was obtained by scientists by studying patients with brain problems and/or brain injuries such as the ones they read about in the article. 10 minutes: Processing Ask students What they learned from the mapping activity. Collect Brain Maps Hand out Homework, to be due at the beginning of class next time Inform the students that there will be a quiz next time on what we have learned so far about the nervous system, including their homework that is due next class. Homework Students will do the mouse party worksheet at home and come prepared to discuss |
Students will take a quick quiz about action potentials from our last lesson. This quiz will be projected from the documents camera, and they will start it when they enter the classroom.
Students will read an article about Henry M., and Phineas Gage. They will learn how scientists have developed a map of the brain.
Students will use the materials to create a brain map and learn the parts of the brain and their functions.
Homework assignments
On-line assignment: Affects of Drugs on the Nervous System
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