Science Rationale

Middle School Science Curriculum is aimed at developing thinking skills through experimentation and observation. The Science component of this unit will address the areas of brain parts, brain function in relation to learning and memory skills and culminate with lessons on how drugs influence the actions of the brain and nervous system. As students participate in these lessons, they will relate to how their brain processes makes them a unique individual and discover how this fits in with their unique identity.

These lessons will provide direct instruction about the nervous system, its components and their function. Studying this human body system is a fundamental way to teach the complexity of the human body and brain as well as allowing the students to make connections to how emotions affect the body’s systems. Using instruction on the parts of the brain and how it affects the body in a variety of ways enables students to compare and contrast the structures of the body. Students will begin by studying the functions but will lead into learning techniques and modalities. Again, their uniqueness will become apparent as they differentiate how they process and learn information differently. No one modality will be presented as better or more useful. Knowing one’s modality will deepen the student’s sense of identity. Most of the lessons are designed a direct instruction model but depending upon the teacher’s access to a computer lab, it could easily be adjusted into a program that the student could use to investigate the material on their own.

The middle school student lives in an environment where they feel the constant scrutiny from others, causing them to question how their identity fits in with others. The discovery of their differences in this unit will help them identify their strengths and weaknesses along with some similarities with other family members. This information can be used to enhance their study time and abilities more effectively. Knowing their learning modalities will help them feel they are a productive group member with assets to add to the learning settings they encounter.

Since middle school students notice differences among their peers, this information should be able to help them understand others better. The knowledge of their learning characteristics and those of their friends gives them access to productive team-building on projects and in problem-solving situations. Experiencing positive ways to address diversity among fellow students further prepares the student for the world of work. As they work together, a group identity will form, giving them the security of fitting in.

Several activities will be focused on memory skills. As most students experience problems with tests and/or test anxiety, this component will address solving the problems associated with study skills and test anxiety. Teachers can further promote this component of the unit by using a variety of testing forms and methods throughout the year to help perfect the study skills of the student.

Throughout this portion of the unit, computer technology provides interactive models of the brain found on the Internet. The immediate feedback of information and the visual enhancement is motivating to the group of students in our culture that is bombarded with visual stimulation from the media.

The unit concludes with information about how drugs are used to assist the human body deal with health and emotional issues. Many students tempted to use drugs feel insecure. They can learn how their identity can be permanently altered or affected by substance use/abuse. There are many extensions that the teacher can use to build upon after this unit is complete. It will also lead right into the curriculum of the DARE program if that is part of the school’s curriculum.

Science Goals

Using technology

In the Science portion of this unit, various websites were utilized to gather information and to explore the functions of the brain as it relates to learning. If students have access to computer technology at school or at home, there are many areas they can explore individually. Even just one computer with a monitor in the classroom (and preferably a printer available) would be enough to manage this unit.

Making connections

The concept behind this unit is to help make students more productive in their own learning style. As they discover what modality helps them learn better, what technique helps their memory skills and what side of the brain is the primary operating system for their thinking, they will be able to relate those characteristics to the brain’s parts and its functions.