Science project

Nervous System Project !

Due November 3rd, 2014!!!

Your final for the Nervous System Unit is to make a model of the brain.


You may use any materials that you can find around the house.  Some ideas for things to use are: dry noodles, beans, clay, play dough, cardboard, Legos, baked pan cookies with icing. Just about anything will work as long as it does not create a mess in the classroom; no ice sculptures or ice cream models.       


You may not just draw a picture on paper, but you may glue things to poster board or cardboard, or build the model any other way you would like to. This is your unit ending final grade. I am looking to see what you have learned during this unit and how you are able to communicate that learning to me. Please show me that you care by spending some time and effort on this project and it will reflect in your grade. The majority of your grade will be the oral interview, but your project will be at least 1/3 of it. The entire project will have 30 possible points to earn.
You brain model will need to include:
• Cerebrum
• Cerebellum
• Brain stem/medulla
• Spinal cord
You will need to explain each area of the brain and what its function is to me during our oral interview.


Extra credit: it is not necessary but if you are looking for 5 extra points you can also include a model of a nerve. It must include the cell body, dendrites and an axon.

You can turn in this project any time before the 3rd, but it must be turned in by the 3rd. If it is turned in late, you will lose 5 points for each day it is late.

If you are in need of supplies to create your project, please let me know ASAP.
Tara Whalen



Nervous System Study Guide

Please practice with your child as they present their model to you.

Cerebrum-

Actions that take place in the cerebrum:

• 85 % of the weight of the brain
• 9/10 the size of the brain
• The outer layer of the cerebrum is the cerebral cortex.
• Voluntary muscles. (voluntary muscles are those that we can control- for skiing, walking, jumping, writing, etc)
• Thinking
• Learning
• Personality
• 5 senses
• Emotions
• Intelligence
• Memory- long term and short term
• Left side of the cerebrum controls the right side of the body. Right side controls the left side of the body.
• There is a thick bundle of nerves that connects the hemispheres so that they can “talk” to each other.
• Left hemisphere of the cerebrum:      
• Math
• Science
• Logical reasoning
• Right hemisphere of the cerebrum:
• Art
• Music
• Creativity

Cerebellum-

• Balance and Coordination- using both sides of the body in order to do something

Brain stem (also called the Medulla)-

• “central computer”
• “Post office”- sorts messages received from the body and sends them to the brain. Sorts messages from the brain and sends them to the body.
• Involuntary muscles (involuntary muscles work on their own such as breathing, heart beating and digestion)
• Reflexes     

Spinal cord-

• Carries messages from the body to the brain
• Carries messages from the brain to the body

Nerves-

• Are what the messages travel on
• Messages are “caught” by the dendrites and passed down through the axon where they “jump” to the next nerve.