Neuron e-Poster

How can I electronically represent neurons?

Description

Students create an electronic poster depicting a neural network.

Learning Intention

We can represent the function and structure of neurons.

Success Criteria

I can create an e-poster  depicting a neural network.

Explicit Teaching

Review the parts of a neuron using the ThinkPlus Neuron. Refer students to the neural connections wall mural if you have this on display in your classroom. Watch the video ‘3D Animation – Brain with Neurons Firing.’ In pairs or small groups, students create an e-poster depicting neural pathways that include at least four neurons.

The e-poster should include a commentary describing how neurons interact (fire and wire.) The commentary could be written, spoken or both. At least one neuron should be labelled.

Enabling Prompts

Can you use a neuron resource to help you label the parts of the neuron?

Extending Prompts

Can you label a neuron, using the wall mural resource with the structure and function each part has?

  • What helps your brain to learn?
  • Can you add these details to your e-poster and represent them with a picture?

Reflection

Students to form mixed groups based on the app they choose. Each person can have had a turn presenting part of their e-Poster and each student gets to vote which speaker was the most engaging and why.

Curriculum Links

English

Productive Modes, Speaking, Writing and Creating

They create texts that show how images support the meaning of the text and extend key ideas. Students develop and explain a point of view about a text, selecting information, ideas and images from a range of resources and explain their choices of images and other text features.             

Resources

New Neuron 2021

Activity 9 – Post/Pre Test

What do we know about the brain?

Description

Students reflect on their learning about Neuroplasticity.

 

Learning Intention

We are finding out what we  know about the brain and how we learn now,  after lessons and activities about Neuroplasticity.

Success Criteria

I can reflect on my knowledge of the brain after completing the neuroplasticity unit.

Explicit Teaching

Neuroplasticity activities and lessons are completed, students repeat the ‘What I know about the brain?’ activity on the other side of the sheet. Have students compare each side of the activity sheet to measure the growth in their knowledge.

Younger students can then use the learning reflection to compare their learning on dotted thirds. Older students can record and respond to the following sentence starters on the back of their sheets.

“I now know…” “Something I didn’t realise is…”

 

Enabling Prompts

  • What is something new you have learnt that isn’t on your first reflection?
  • What was the most interesting fact you learnt and why?
  • Have you found the answers to any of the questions you asked before starting the lessons?
  • What surprised you to learn and why?

Extending Prompts

  • How is this knowledge different to what you knew before learning about neuroplasticity?
  • How could you teach this to someone who doesn’t know anything about neuroplasticity?
  • Can you summarise everything you learnt?
  • Was there anything in your first reflection that you discovered was not correct?

Reflection

Students sit in a circle and share their learning in a popcorn style, or calling out their responses by building off what others have already said. They do this by using the prompt YES and…, using their listening skills to make relevant statements. If students have difficulty taking turns, the teacher could monitor the order by asking students to raise their hand when they have something to add.

For example: I learnt that the neurons in our brain pass messages through the synapse (1st student) YES and the neurons sharing can have no, weak or strong connections (second student) YES and no connections are where we all start when learning something new and so forth
(third student).

Optional – The teacher could record what the students are saying and use the comments to make a class summary of neuroplasticity learning.

Curriculum Links

English

Speaking & Listening

Students use a variety of strategies to engage in class discussions. They contribute actively to discussions, taking into account different perspectives.

Personal and Social Capability

Self-Awareness       

Students understand themselves as learners.

Resources

  • A4 size sheet with outline of two heads – What I know about the brain template
  • Learning Reflection – dotted thirds

2016_Pre-Post_Poster_A3_v1

Dotted Thirds Reflection Page

Activity Neuroplasticity 3 – Headlines

Neuroplasticity 3 – Headlines

 

Description

Students will learn about the concept of Neuroplasticy. They will create a classroom display using the HEADLINES thinking routine.

 

Resources

Headline_Template_1

Headline_Template_2

Headline_Template_3

Headline_Template_4

Neuroplasticity_3_Headlines_Activity

Secondary_Module_Neuroplasticity_3_Headlines

Neuroplasticity-3-Headlines

Activity Neuroplasticity 2 – This Week I Learnt

Neuroplasticity 2 – This Week I Learnt

 

Description

Students will explore the process of learning a new skill. They will identify the strategies used at each stage of the learning process.

 

Resources

Neuroplasticity-2-This-Week-I-Learnt

Secondary-Module-Neuroplasticity-2-This-Week-I-Learnt

Activity Neuroplasticity 1 – How We Learn

Neuroplasticity 1 – How We Learn

 

Description

Students learn to learn about the concept of Neuroplasticity. They will use the SEE THINK WONDER thinking routine to reflect on what they have learnt.

Secondary_Module_Neuroplasticity_1_How_We_Learn

SEE_Chart_A3

SEE_THINK_WONDER_Chart

THINK_Chart_A3

WONDER_Chart_A3

 

Resources

Neuroplasticity-1-How-We-Learn

 

Activity 7 – Pre/Post Test

What do we know about the brain?

Description

Students identify what they know about the brain and how they learn. This can be compared to the pre-test students completed before participating in the Neuroplasticity activities to highlight to students how much they have learnt.

Pre_Post_test_activity

Resources

2016_Pre-Post_Poster_A3_v1

Activity 6 – Six Tips To Make Your Brain Smarter

What happens in your brain when you learn?

Description

Students create a an A3 poster about their chosen ‘tip to make your brain smarter’.

Six_Tips_to_Make_Your_Brain_Smarter_activity

Resources

2016_Six_Tips_to_make_your_brain_smarter_poster

Activity 5 – Neuron e-Poster

Firing and Wiring

Description

Students create an e-Poster (electronic version of a poster) depicting a neural network.

Neuron_E-poster

Resources

Labelled_neuron

Activity 3 – Neural Pathway Wall Mural

Firing and Wiring

Description

Students use a template to create a class mural and neural pathways

Neural_Pathway_Wall_Mural

Resources

Neuron_wall_mural