Grade Level: 6-8
Concept: define and understand the nervous system and the effects of disease and injury
Estimated Duration: 90 minutes
Objectives
Students will be able to:
Materials
White board
Poster board
Markers
Images and illustrations of the nervous system
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (one copy)
Differentiation Strategies
These strategies are used to meet the varied needs of all learners:
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Varying academic levels: uses mixed-ability groups to allow students to learn from one another, uses small- and whole-group discussions to ensure all students participate
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Visual learners: incorporates diagrams and images of the nervous system to illustrate standard-based concepts, diseases, and injuries
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Auditory learners: uses excerpts from Mary Shelley’s novel and discussion of the history of the nervous system
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Kinesthetic learners: engages students in the creation of charts and reports on the diseases and injuries of the nervous system
Key Vocabulary
neurological
Procedures
Warm Up
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Explain that the function and importance of the brain was not understood unit recently.
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Select and a read a passage from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein describing Dr. Frankenstein’s experiment.
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Explain that Shelley’s novel is a response to Galvani’s discovery of the role of electricity in the body.
Direct Instruction
Practice
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Create mixed-ability pairs. Ask each group to choose from a list of neurological diseases to research. These may include epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, injuries, brain tumors, etc.
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Using the Internet or materials that you provide to the students, ask have each group create at least two diagrams. Next, have the groups write a report describing how different diseases effect the nervous system. The group should use the concepts discussed during direct instruction.
Assessment
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Have the groups create an oral presentation in which they display their diagrams and distribute material to the class, if appropriate. Allow other students to ask questions during the presentation.
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Post the diagrams and reports around the room and provide time for students to read and review the reports.
Closure