The Brain
Topic: The Brain Structure and Function
Grade Level/s: 12
Instructional Objectives:
 Students will understand the structure and function of the various parts of the brain.
 The differences between the functioning of the teenage brain and the functioning of an adult brain.
 Students will understand the impact that damage to the brain can have on normal human functioning.
 Students will understand the impact that drugs and alcohol can have on the brain.
Concepts Addressed:
3.1.12 C
Access and apply patterns in science and technology
3.2.12
Apply and use the technology design process to solve problems
3.3.12 A
Explain the relationship between structure and function at all levels of organization
3.3.12 B
Analyze the chemical and structural basis of living organisms
3.7.12 E
Assess the effectiveness of computer communication systems
Material Required:
 Puzzle
 Simple Electrical circuit
 Over head
 Transparencies
 Meninges
 Lobes of the Brain
 Diagramed functions of the brain
 Cells of the brain
 Deep structures of the brain
 Ventricles
 How to write a research report directions
 Internet access:
 Brain questions
 Scavenger Hunt of Cranial nerves
 Structure and function of the brain
 Charts
 Diagrams
Engagement:
 Brain Puzzle: Watch the Brain Learn
 Time a volunteer doing a jigsaw puzzle and record the score on the board
 Have the same person do the puzzle two more times, timing him/her each time
 Repeat Procedure with another person
 The Simple Circuit Board
 Have students watch as you connect the final wire to make the light shine.
Key Questions:
Engagement: Brain Puzzle
 How are the person's times different?
 Did they improve the more times they did the puzzle?
 Answer, yes: the persons brain has learned to do the task
 Answer, no: the persons brain is still learning and needs to keep trying
 How do the times differ between the two individuals?
 Remember that what is easy for one person may be difficult for another.
Engagement: The Simple Circuit
 Ask students to explain what is happening to make the light shine.
 Ask students to compare this action to what is happening in the brain. Lead them to understand
that electrical impulses travel though neural pathways, resulting in thought or action.
Procedure:
 Begin with the engagement activity
 Lead a discussion on the structure and functions of the brain
 Have students use the internet to explore and answer the Brain discussion as well as complete
the structure and function charts questions in groups of two
Closure:
 Lead a whole class discussion on the questions
Assessment:
Formal:
 Formal Assessment (test) refer to teacher notes
 Rubric for Writing a research report
Informal:
 Brain questions
 Scavenger Hunt of Cranial nerves
 Structure and function of the brain
 Charts
Extension Activities:
 Research a disease or injury that affects brain function, such as epilepsy, Alzheimer's or Parkinson's. How does it affect the brain? What symptoms does a person with this disease display? Are there treatments for it? What causes it? What does this disease reveal about how the human brain work?
 Extra Credit: Nerve Function Scavenger Hunt
 Students are to finish their charts of brain structure and function
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Structure & Function Of The Brain
Chart1: The Cells and Protection of the Brain
Neuron
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Responsible for sending and receiving nerve impulses or signals.
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Neuralgia
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Provides neurons with nourishment, protection, and structural support.
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Meninges
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Three layers of tissue that protect the brain and spinal cord.
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Dura Mater
Falx
Tentorium
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Outermost and toughest of the 3 meninges. (Protection)
Separates the right and left half of the brain
Separates the upper and lower parts of the brain
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Arachnoid
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Thin and delicate covers the entire brain(second layer, Protection)
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Pia Mater
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Closest to the surface of the brain, covers the entire surface and is rich with blood vessels that reach deep into the surface of the brain. (Protection)
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Cerebrospinal Fluid
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Surrounds the brain and spinal cord. Watery substance that helps to cushion the brain and spinal cord from injury.
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Chart2: Structure of the Brain
Cerebrum
Cerebral Cortex
Basal Nuclei (Ganglia)
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The bulk of the brain: left & right hemisphere.
The outer “gray matter” region. Billions of neurons
Gray matter areas located deep with in the white matter of the cerebral hemisphere.
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Corpus Callosum
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Connects the two halves of the brain and delivers messages from one half to the other.
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Frontal Lobe:
Primary Motor
Premotor Cortex
Prefrontal Cortex
Broca's Area
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Movement of body parts
Eye and head movement
Memory intelligence & concentration
Language
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Temporal Lobe
Wernicke's Area
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Sound hearing memory
Language and speech functions
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Parietal Lobe
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Interprets simultaneously signals received from other areas of the brain such as vision, hearing, motor, sensory and memory. TOUCH
New information received is given meaning (memory)
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Occipital Lobe
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Visual field ; how our eyes see the world around us
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Cerebellum
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Fine tunes our motor activity or movement, maintains posture, sense of balance by controlling our muscles and sense the position of out limbs. Important in the ability to perform rapid and repetitive actions.
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Brain Stem
Mid Brain
Pons
Medulla
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Structure holding up the cerebellum; relay station; passing messages back and forth from various body parts and the cerebral cortex.
Center of ocular motion
Coordinating eye and facial movements, facial sensation, hearing and balance
Controls breathing, blood pressure, heart rhythms and swallowing
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Chart3: Deep Structure of the Brain
Diencephalon:
Thalamus
Hypothalamus
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Central core of the forebrain and is surrounded by the cerebral hemisphere. Contains:
Serves as a relay station for almost all information that comes and goes from the cortex. Plays a role in pain sensation, attention and alertness.
Contains nerve connections that send messages to the pituitary gland therefore plays a role in: Body temperature; Emotions; Hunger; Thirst; Circadian Rhythms; Hormones
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Limbic System
Hippocampus
Amygdala
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A group of structures important in controlling emotion and response to a given situation.
Also important in memory; emotional behavior
Emotional behavior
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Extra Credit:Nerve Function Scavenger Hunt
These nerves have been responsible for some very specialized features and they have traditionally been both named and numbered
II Optic
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Visual field and ability to see
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III Oculomotor
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Eye movements; eyelid opening
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IV Trochlear
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Eye movements
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V Trigeminal
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Facial sensation
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VI Abducens
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Eye movements
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VII Facial
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Eyelid closing; facial expression; taste sensation
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VIIIAcousticI
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Hearing; sense of balance
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IX Glossopharyngeal
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Taste sensation swallowing
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X Vagus
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Swallowing; taste sensation
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XI Accessory
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Control neck and shoulder muscle
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XII Hypoglossal
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Tongue movement
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