Subject: Science
Topic: The Brain and the 5 Senses
Grade Level: 4th
Student Lesson Pages: Student's Home Page
Teacher Lesson Plans: Teacher's Corner

This lesson is designed so that the students can run through the various days and complete the entire unit in a computer lab.  There is a pre-test and post-test, both done online at Funbrain.com.  The students will be researching the basic components and functions of the CNS and the 5 Senses.  They will type the information into pre-made stacks in either Hyperstudio or Powerpoint, depending on which software you have available to you.   I like the students to have something hands-on to take home so I highly recommend the following book, which has absolutely wonderful craft projects, Easy Make & Learn Projects: Human Body, Silver, Donald M. and Patricia J. Wynne, Scholastic ISBN:0-439-04087-6.

WRITING
2.4 Write summaries that contain the main ideas of the reading selection and the most significant details.

RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY
1.5 Quote or paraphrase information sources, citing them appropriately.
1.9 Demonstrate basic keyboarding skills and familiarity with computer terminology (e.g., cursor, software, memory, disk drive, hard drive).

1. The Student will learn about the basic components and functions of the Central Nervous System, including the five senses; smell, taste, touch, hearing, and sight.
2. The Student will learn how the Central Nervous System and the five senses work together to help them learn about their world.
3. The Student will demonstrate the ability to write a paragraph that incorporates a main idea and a minimum of three details.
4. The Student will demonstrate the ability to use an Internet site to create a bibliography of sources utilized in their research.
5. The Student will demonstrate how to add text to existing slides in either Hyperstudio or Microsoft Powerpoint.

Introductory Activity
 

After completing a KWL chart for the Central Nervous System and the five senses, the teacher will give an overview of the unit by showing the slide show framework that the students will be utilizing to complete the unit. Enabling Activities

1. Directed research on the Internet
2. "How does a message travel from your brain to your foot?" activity.
3. Activities from Easy Make & Learn Projects: Human Body.

 Culminating Activity

Oral Presentation of Slide Show

We have a school wide writing rubric that you may use as well, or use your school's rubric to grade the writing within the slides.  Pacheco Elementary 4th - 6th Grade Writing Rubric

Easy Make & Learn Projects: Human Body,, Silver, Donald M. and Patricia J. Wynne, Scholastic ISBN:0-439-04087-6

Brain Pop (This site limits the amount of usage per day.  There is the ability to receive an unlimited amount of usage for 30 days for free.  Click here to go to the instructions.)

Funbrain

O.P.E.N. - The Brain

Howard Hughes Medical Institute - Seeing, Hearing, & Smelling the World.

Neuroscience for Kids

Science Court, Inc.

Pacheco Elementary
7430 Churn Creek Rd.
Redding, CA 96002