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Science lesson plan · 10th grade (Year 11 in England) · 60 minutes

Nervous system, reflexes and hormones

Human body and health

CCSS NGSS.MS-LS1-8CCSS NGSS.HS-LS1-3England: KS4 Combined Science: Coordination and control

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Nervous system, reflexes and hormones.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Cells, tissues, organs and organ systems

Leads to: Homeostasis and negative feedback loops; Reflex arcs and reaction times; Endocrine glands and the hormones they release

Materials: Stopwatches, Body diagrams, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 6 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Cells, tissues, organs and organ systems). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which organ system includes this part: heart? (circulatory system / respiratory system / digestive system / skeletal system) → circulatory systemPrompt: What job does this part do?
  2. The stomach contains muscle tissue, glandular tissue and lining tissue. So the stomach is… (an organ / a cell / an organism / a tissue) → an organPrompt: Several tissues working together make one of these.
  3. Which organ system includes this part: stomach? (digestive system / circulatory system / respiratory system / skeletal system) → digestive systemPrompt: What job does this part do?

Hook · 6 min

  • Ask everyone to find their pulse, then jump for 30 seconds and find it again.
  • Share the objective: Nervous system, reflexes and hormones. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 12 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Why are reflexes useful?
  • Step 1: Reflexes skip conscious thought, so we react quickly to danger.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: They are fast and automatic, protecting the body from harm
  • Answer: They are fast and automatic, protecting the body from harm
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 12 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Why are reflexes useful? (They only happen when we sleep / They are slow and careful / They let us think carefully first / They are fast and automatic, protecting the body from harm) → They are fast and automatic, protecting the body from harmPrompt: The message does not have to go to the conscious brain.
  2. Coordination and control: which statement is true? (Reflex actions are controlled by conscious thought. / Hormones travel along nerves. / Insulin raises blood glucose. / Type 1 diabetes happens when the pancreas makes too little insulin.) → Type 1 diabetes happens when the pancreas makes too little insulin.Prompt: Nerves carry electrical impulses; hormones are chemicals.

You do: independent practice · 17 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 5 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 7 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Coordination and control: which statement is true? (Hormones travel along nerves. / Reflex actions are controlled by conscious thought. / Adrenaline (epinephrine) prepares the body for "fight or flight". / Insulin raises blood glucose.) → Adrenaline (epinephrine) prepares the body for "fight or flight".Prompt: Nerves carry electrical impulses; hormones are chemicals.
  2. How do hormones travel around the body? (in the blood / through the bones / through the air / along nerves as electrical impulses) → in the bloodPrompt: Hormones are chemical messengers.

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Cells, tissues, organs and organ systems.
  • Use concrete materials: stopwatches.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Homeostasis and negative feedback loops; Reflex arcs and reaction times; Endocrine glands and the hormones they release.
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-10.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Nervous system, reflexes and hormones

Name

Date

Score/ 5

  1. Question 1

    Coordination and control: which statement is true?

    • A. Homeostasis keeps conditions inside the body steady.
    • B. Hormones travel along nerves.
    • C. Insulin raises blood glucose.
    • D. Reflex actions are controlled by conscious thought.
  2. Question 2

    Compared with nerves, hormones usually act…

    • A. only in the brain
    • B. exactly the same way
    • C. faster and for a shorter time
    • D. more slowly but for longer
  3. Question 3

    How do hormones travel around the body?

    • A. through the bones
    • B. through the air
    • C. in the blood
    • D. along nerves as electrical impulses
  4. Question 4

    Which hormone lowers blood glucose concentration?

    • A. testosterone
    • B. oestrogen (estrogen)
    • C. adrenaline (epinephrine)
    • D. insulin
  5. Question 5

    Why are reflexes useful?

    • A. They are slow and careful
    • B. They let us think carefully first
    • C. They only happen when we sleep
    • D. They are fast and automatic, protecting the body from harm

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Answer key: Nervous system, reflexes and hormones

  1. 1. A. Homeostasis keeps conditions inside the body steady.

  2. 2. D. more slowly but for longer

  3. 3. C. in the blood

  4. 4. D. insulin

  5. 5. D. They are fast and automatic, protecting the body from harm