Nervous system - student activities
reaction timer activity
Materials: partners, reaction timer (click on picture to download template)
Procedure:
Additional Variations:
Procedure:
- One person is the "catcher", other person is the "releaser"
- The "catcher" will arrange fingers as if to grasp a piece of paper vertically
- The "releaser" will hold card between "catcher's fingers" but the catcher is not touching the Reaction Timer template.
- The "catcher" will place fingers right below line
- The "catcher' does not know when the Reaction Timer template will be released
- The "releaser" drops the Reaction Timer template at one desire
- The "catcher" attempts to stop the Reaction Timer template as soon as they can
- When the "catcher" stops the Reaction Timer template, locate the closest time (ms) that lines up with the "catcher"'s thumb.
Additional Variations:
- Ask students to distinguish variables and change them (ie. distraction, etc.)
- Complete at least 5 trials for accuracy
lie detector activity
It is generally believed that when people are under stress, the sympathetic nervous system reacts, causing increased perspiration.
Lying leads a person to feel stress, and thus to sweat more. Sweaty skin, because it is wet, conducts electricity better than dry skin.
Lie detectors measure the increased current that flows due to the increased sweat on fingertips.
Students can look into how Lie Detectors are built and how they measure the Sympathetic Nervous System. If they are interested, they can re-create their own Lie Detectors, where it can be as simple as placing someone's palms on your palms and asking a series of questions.
Lying leads a person to feel stress, and thus to sweat more. Sweaty skin, because it is wet, conducts electricity better than dry skin.
Lie detectors measure the increased current that flows due to the increased sweat on fingertips.
Students can look into how Lie Detectors are built and how they measure the Sympathetic Nervous System. If they are interested, they can re-create their own Lie Detectors, where it can be as simple as placing someone's palms on your palms and asking a series of questions.
kinesthetic nerve impulse activity
You can have separate lines of students or have one big line.
The teacher and/or student can be the timer.
Materials: students, stopwatches, balls
Ball = nerve impulse
The teacher and/or student can be the timer.
Materials: students, stopwatches, balls
Ball = nerve impulse
- The students are unmyelinated axons, so they pass the ball to each other.
Time how long it takes the students to send the nerve impulse down the row of students. - Now each row is a myelinated axon. Every 4th student is a Node of Ranvier and each Node can pass/throw it to another Node. The first 3 students are a myelin segment. Time how long it takes the students to send the nerve impulse down through the Nodes of Ranvier. This is called Saltatory Conduction. There should be a difference in speed and time (shorter)
- Now randomly select students to be a damaged myelin sheath, meaning they are unmyelinated or have NO myelin. These unmyelinated students have to pass it the ball. For example, in the diagram above, the second row has the damaged myelin. When the nerve impulse (ie. ball) is sent down, the first person passes the ball to third person, then to node, then to node, then to second person in last myelin segment, then to node. There should be a different in time and speed (longer for axon with damaged myelin) compared to the row of students who remain a healthy myelinated axon.
STSE activity: Stem cell research
Students can research a variety of spinal cord injuries and degenerative diseases that destroy the myelin and look into the ethical and benefits of Stem Cell Research.
This is a great opportunity to set-up a classroom debate.
For some classroom materials ideas, you can go to EuroStemCell website for PowerPoint Presentations and Worksheets.
This is a great opportunity to set-up a classroom debate.
For some classroom materials ideas, you can go to EuroStemCell website for PowerPoint Presentations and Worksheets.
Resources:
- DiGiuseppe, Maurice et al. (2003). Nelson Biology 12. Nelson Canada ELHI (1 Edition). Toronto, Ontario: Thomson Canada Limited
- Mazzafero, Ann (2014) How to make a simple lie detector. Retrieved on February 1, 2014 from http://www.ehow.com/how_7493625_make-simple-lie-detector.html#ixzz2sDkZF7Rz