YEAR 10 PSYCHOLOGY REFLECTION

MEETING STUDENTS NEEDS AND ABILITIES

On the 26
th
of August, I gave my first lesson to Year 10 Psychology students on the topic of the
nervous system. At the beginning of the class I introduced myself and took the roll. The students
were required to take notes from the board about the different divisions of the nervous system.
They then had to label a picture of the body in terms of the Central Nervous System and the
Peripheral Nervous System. The students were then given a handout from the Year 10 textbook
Psych in Action to summarise, and redraw the diagram of the Nervous System.
I had to make changes mid-lesson because my mentor teacher made a spontaneous decision not to
teach the divisions of the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous Systems because they were too
advanced for that specific class. To fill in the time, I had students answer questions that I made up on
the spot, recreate the diagram of the Nervous System on the board twice (to involve every student
in the class), and answer some more questions to finish the class.
The students were rather quiet and somewhat confused to begin with, but started talking when they
were working individually. They were quite reasonable, but I did have to relocate one student for
talking. I also had to confiscate one students phone and I gave it back to him at the end of the class,
with instructions not to use it during one of my classes again.
This lesson demonstrated my ability to think on my feet to create appropriate lesson for the
students present in the classroom. It also demonstrates that I know the content well enough to
tailor it to the students needs and abilities.
YEAR 10 PSYCHOLOGY LESSON PLAN
TOPIC/UNIT/AREA OF STUDY: THE HUMAN NERVOUS SYSTEM
Lesson Length: 75 minutes.
Aims for the Lesson:
To introduce students to the components of the human nervous system.
Learning Outcomes:
Students will learn the divisions of the nervous system.
Resources Used/Attached:
Psych in Action (second edition).
Introduction:
Introduce myself and take the roll (5 minutes).
Body of the Lesson:
Students will copy down a diagram of the breakdown of the nervous system from the board (35
minutes).
While doing this students will be given a worksheet with the outline of the human body and with
each divisions explanation, need to identify which structures are the CNS and the PNS. Students will
also draw lines indicating the directions that motor and sensory neurons take (10 minutes).
Students will use pages 102-103 of the textbook (handout) to summarise the roles of each division of
the human nervous system (25 minutes).
Conclusion:
Students are to complete these summaries for homework.
The Human Nervous System
The human nervous system is a complex combination of neurons that enables the brain to obtain information
about what is going on inside and outside the body and to respond appropriately.
It is organised into branches: The CNS and the PNS.
The Central Nervous System
Comprises the brain and the spinal cord. The spinal code connects the brain and the peripheral nervous
system. Role is to integrate and co-ordinate all incoming neural information and to initiate messages sent to
different parts of the body does not have direct contact with the outside world.
The Peripheral Nervous System
Includes all parts of the nervous system that lie outside the CNS. It links the CNS to all other parts of the body,
carrying messages to and from the CNS. Extends from the top of the head throughout the body to the tips of
fingers, toes and all other parts of the body. Has two main functions. To carry information from the sensory
organs and internal organs to the CNS;, and to convey information from the CNS to the muscles, organs and
glands this enables communication to occur between the CNS and other parts of the body outside the brain
and spinal cord. Neurons - In the human nervous system, messages can only travel in one direction along the
neuron. The PNS has two different pathways for communicating information: SENSORY NEURONS that carry
information from sensory organs, muscles and internal organs to the CNS; and MOTOR NEURONS that carry
instructions or messages from the CNS to muscles, organs and glands. Motor neurons enable us to move our
muscles, cause our glands to release hormones and activate internal organs such as the lungs to expand and
contract.
E.G. Able to feel that head given from a wood fire because of CNS and PNS co-ordination. The heat is received
by sensory neurons of the skin, which transmit the information to the CNS. The CNS interprets this information
in a meaningful way to tell you how hot the flame is. If it is too hot and you need to move away, the CNS
(brain) send messages via the motor neurons to the muscles in your legs to move a few steps away from the
fire.
The PNS can be subdivided into two distinct sections the somatic nervous system and the autonomic system.
Questions
1. What is the Peripheral Nervous System?
2. What are the two main functions of the PNS?
3. The CNS and the PNS are interdependent and function in a co-ordinated way. Explain what this
statement means.
The Somatic Nervous System
A network of sensory (afferent) nerves that carry information received by sensory receptors in the body to the
CNS and motor (efferent) nerves that carry information from the CNS to control voluntary movements of
skeletal muscles. The somatic nervous system controls the sketeal muscles attached to our bones.
Questions
1. Describe the two main functions of the somatic nervous system.
2. Draw a figure and make brief notes to show the way in which information is transmitted by the
somatic nervous system both to and from the central nervous system. Use arrows and labels to
illustrate the flow or sensory and motor information.
The Autonomic Nervous System
The ANS is a network of nerves that connects the CNS to the bodys internal organs and glands, providing
feedback to the brain about their activities. Many of the organs, glands and processes under its control are
self-regulating and not usually under voluntary control. These organs and glands have built-in mechanisms for
generating activity and are not dependent on voluntary control by the brain. The ANS functions continually.
The ANS regulates the activities of the muscles, organs and glands. There are some responses that we can
temporarily voluntarily control such as blinking, heart rate and breathing rate.
Questions
1. Explain why the autonomic nervous system is described as autonomous.
2. Explain the relationships of the ANS to the CNS.
3. Which division of the peripheral system is more likely to be involved in each of the following
responses: the Somatic NS, Autonomic NS, or both?
a. Picking up a pen.
b. Eating dinner.
c. Sweating before having to give an important speech.
d. Clenching your fists while watching a scary movie.
e. Crouching on the blocks awaiting the starting siren for the swimming final.
f. Washing the dog.
g. Blinking.
h. Talking on the phone.
i. Laughing at a joke.
j. Flinching when you hear a loud noise.
Divisions of the ANS
Two distinct divisions the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system. The
sympathetic NS is responsible for increasing the activity of glands, muscles and organs in times of vigorous
activity, stress or threat. The parasympathetic division is responsible for decreasing the activity of the glands,
muscles and organs, and keeping the body functioning in its normal state.
The Sympathetic Nervous System
Activates internal muscles, organs and glands to prepare the body for vigorous activity or to deal with a
stressful or threatening situation. It enhances survival by providing an immediate response, in a split second,
to any time of emergency. The adrenal glands at the top of the kidneys secrets the hormone adrenalin into the
bloodstream, which circulate and enhance the effects of the sympathetic nervous system.
The Parasympathetic Nervous System
Counterbalances the activities of the sympathetic nervous system. Has two main functions: it keeps the
systems of the body functioning efficiently and in times of minimal stress and in the absence of threats, helps
it to maintain the internal body environment in a steady, balanced state of normal functioning (homeostasis).
It also restores the body to a state of calm once the need for activity of the sympathetic nervous system has
passed. Dominates over the sympathetic nervous system most of the time.
Questions
1. In what main ways do the sympathetic NS and the parasympathetic NS differ?







This person is looking to
their left. Which hemisphere
do we see?






Key