The Science of Thinking

Day One and Two: The Parts of the Nervous System

Objectives:

	Students will know that complex organisms are made of specialized cells, tissues, and organs that work together in a body system.
	Students will learn the parts of the nervous system and their functions.
	Students will understand how chemicals (neurotransmitters) are used to send signals through the nervous system.

Illinois Learning Standards:

	12.A3a Compare and contrast how different forms and structures reflect different functions.
	23.A.3 Explain how body systems interact with each other.

Materials:

	Any Science book containing information on the Nervous System
	Website called Neuroscience for Kids
	Website address is www.http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/introb.html
	Explore the Nervous System
	Brain Awareness Week

Procedures

Day One

	Review/teach the concept of the organization of living things (cell, tissue, organ, system) in relation to how they work together in a complex organism. It does not have to be a extensive lesson as the concept will be expanded throughout the entire school year.
	Teach the three main parts of the Nervous System, the function and importance of each: Brain- major control center of the body Spinal Cord- structure as the major highway for the nervous system Nerve Cell- communicate with each other using electrical impulses

Day Two

	The major concept to stress is the facts that the neurons are not physically connected. The actual impulses flow through chemicals produced by the body. This concept will be important when you reach the drug effects and drug abuse sections of the unit. Neuroscience for Kids has a lesson plan for the neuron, complete with activities. One lesson uses the students as a model of neurons.
	Check the Neuroscience for Kids Website for sections labeled “Interesting Facts about the Nervous System” and “More Activities about the Nervous System”.
	There is a wealth of information and activities at the web site listed above. Teachers could find enough to do two lessons if their class expresses more interest in this part of the unit.
	Additional teacher information can be found on this website: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain1.asp.  This website is operated by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Many facts about the chemicals produced by the nervous system and how they affect the brain are presented.

Assessment:

The Neuroscience for Kids website includes a ten question multiple choice quiz