Lesson Plan: The Peripheral Nervous System and Reflex Actions Science
This lesson plan includes the objectives, prerequisites, and exclusions of the lesson teaching students how to identify the structure and function of the peripheral nervous system and describe a reflex action.
Objectives
Students will be able to
- identify the parts of the peripheral nervous system,
- state the number of cranial and spinal nerves,
- identify the part of the central nervous system from which the cranial and spinal nerves emerge,
- describe what happens during a reflex action,
- name examples of reflex actions in the human body.
Prerequisites
Students should already be familiar with
- the functions of the main parts of the nervous system (the brain, spinal cord, and nerves),
- the main parts of the brain (the cerebellum, cerebrum, and brain stem),
- sensory organs,
- the voluntary and involuntary nervous systems,
- the structure of a neuron, the brain, and the spinal cord,
- how messages are sent through the nervous system in response to stimuli.
Exclusions
Students will not cover
- different types of neurons (sensory, relay, and motor),
- the terms receptors and effectors,
- interneurons/relay neurons.