Nerves Lesson Plans

Students research the structure and function of the nervous system. They prepare a model or representation of neural transmission. Students create an infomercial about nerve cells.

Young scholars learn about the nervous system. In this nervous system lesson, students learn about the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and the five senses. They also discuss how the nervous system is affected when a human enters space.

Students will develop models of neurons to understand the function of myelin as it applies to the normal and abnormal transmission of nerve impulses. In addition, the students will also have the opportunity to apply their knowledge through a service learning project.

Students review what they have already explored about the brain and the nervous system. They comprehend that neurons are the cells of nerve tissue. Students discuss that a neuron consists of a main portion, which contains the nucleus, and cell extensions called axons and dendrites. They discuss how the nervous system transmits messages.

Students make an organ tree as a Christmas tree for the room. They make models of all the organs that they have studied, tie the organs together with the framework of the skeleton and muscles, and use nerves and blood vessels as tinsel.

Students perform a transection of a redworm. They discuss spinal cord injuries in humans. Students compare the ability of the redworm to regenerate the ventral nerve cord with the inability of humans to repair damage to the dorsal nerve cord.

Students examine their own nerve endings. For this nerve lesson, students learn about the neurons in the fingers and arms. Students learn how neurons send signals and then complete an activity where they document the nerve endings on their fingers and arms.

Students roleplay to review nerve communication and the parts of the neuron. Each student represents a different part of a neuron and as parts become polarized and depolarized they act it out. A surprise occurs at the synaptic knob as this student gets to squirt water from a small water gun to the beginning of the next neuron, representing the synapse.

Learners examine the basics of the nervous system through an interactive program. They discover how the brain is linked to muscle movement. They can test cells through the interactive program to see how it reacts to different stimuli.

Students research the nervous system. Demonstrations on how to pick up keyed information in text is shown daily and weekly. Reviewed for content is Nerve Impulse, Polarization and Depolarization and perception. A spreadsheet will graph all new knowledge.