Unit 2.1 Getting Nervous: Nervous system structure, brain anatomy, neurons, signaling, sheep brain or virtual alternative.
What to do if absent- CER:
- Claim, Evidence, Reasoning — make a claim, back it with evidence, explain your reasoning.
- SOP:
- Standard Operating Procedure — the exact steps to follow (especially in a lab).
- Tracker:
- Your PLTW progress log where you record completed evidence.
- myPLTW:
- The PLTW course site where you do the online activities — you open it through Schoology.
Week overview - Getting Nervous: the brain, neurons, and how signals travel
Explore nervous system structure and brain anatomy, and explain how neurons send signals across synapses using neurotransmitters.
- 1Identify the cerebrum and other major brain regions on a model, specimen, or virtual brain.
- 2Label the dendrite, axon, and synapse on a neuron diagram.
- 3Trace the path of a signal from one neuron to the next and mark where neurotransmitters cross.
- 4Sort a list of body functions into central nervous system and peripheral nervous system control.
- 5Connect one brain region to a function a patient might lose if it were injured.
- 6Write two sentences explaining how a neuron passes a message to its neighbor.
- • You will be able to identify major brain regions including the cerebrum.
- • You will be able to label a neuron and describe how a signal crosses a synapse.
- • You will be able to distinguish central from peripheral nervous system roles.
Daily lessons this week
Open any day for its full lesson, the work due that day, and guided notes.
One-paragraph CER taking a position on whether brain-scan data should be used by courts or schools to predict future behavior.
Labeled neuron diagram (all five parts with signal-direction arrow) and a two-sentence explanation of synaptic transmission.
Labeled brain-region map identifying cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem with one function each, plus gray and white matter boundary marked on an internal view.
CNS/PNS sorting table (five body actions classified with justification) plus three brain-region-to-function matches referenced from the Wednesday map.
Complete nervous-system evidence packet: neuron diagram, brain-region map, CNS/PNS sorting table, and two-sentence reflection.
Quick intro to the week
- Hook: the brain you are studying today is the most complex object we know of in the universe.
- Today's goal: see how structure and function connect in the brain and trace a signal neuron to neuron.
- Monday bioethics tie-in: should neuroscience be used to predict behavior, and who should have access to brain data?
- Reminder: your graded brain structure-function check is submitted in the PLTW course shell.
Your PLTW coursework this week
Do this: Advance the PLTW HBS online benchmark through Unit 2.1 Getting Nervous.
- • Neurons carry signals using dendrites, an axon, and synapses.
- • Neurotransmitters carry a signal across the synapse between neurons.
- • The central nervous system and peripheral nervous system have different roles.
- • Identify major brain regions including the cerebrum.
- • Explain how a signal travels across a synapse.
📋 PLTW evidence due this week: your brain structure-function check connecting regions to neuron signaling.
All PLTW activities are completed inside the PLTW course environment — this page only gives direction.
This week's PLTW tracker
Your week at a glance. Check off each deliverable as you finish it, then submit so Mr. Mendoza can see how the class is pacing.
Use the code Mr. Mendoza gave you, not your name. Saved on this device.
| Day | Date | Focus | Key deliverable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Thu, Mar 4 | Bioethics: brain data and consent | One-paragraph CER taking a position on whether brain-scan data should be used by courts or schools to predict future behavior. |
| Tuesday | Fri, Mar 5 | Neuron parts and the synapse | Labeled neuron diagram (all five parts with signal-direction arrow) and a two-sentence explanation of synaptic transmission. |
| Wednesday | Mon, Mar 8 | Brain dissection or virtual | Labeled brain-region map identifying cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem with one function each, plus gray and white matter boundary marked on an internal view. |
| Thursday | Tue, Mar 9 | CNS, PNS, and brain regions | CNS/PNS sorting table (five body actions classified with justification) plus three brain-region-to-function matches referenced from the Wednesday map. |
| Friday | Wed, Mar 10 | Submit nervous-system evidence | Complete nervous-system evidence packet: neuron diagram, brain-region map, CNS/PNS sorting table, and two-sentence reflection. |
- M: Philosophy for Kids / John Carroll bioethical debate
- T: teacher background notes + PLTW launch task
- W: lab / data or model work
- Th: analysis / CER or design revision
- F: submit tracker + weekly evidence
Due by week's end: Brain structure-function check.
Lab day — what to bring & watch
This explainer accompanies the PLTW lab protocol — watch it before lab.
What to do when absent
Most days, this class is your PLTW coursework — and PLTW is online and individual. So being out usually just means doing exactly what we did in class, from home.
Open Schoology (CMSD) and keep goingHow to get there: open the CMSD website, click Clever, sign in with your Microsoft (district) account, then open Schoology from Clever.
You can't do those from home — do this instead: Teacher-posted data/model packet, same objective. Supplemental: Khan: nervous system; BioDigital if available.
Class still runs. A substitute will post today's plan — complete the online activity above; it's built to be self-guided. Need the concept taught without a teacher? Use this authoritative explainer:
Khan Academy: Nervous SystemVocabulary
Virtual resources
Standards this week
WebXam practice
Drop your Week 7 here. Use a clear file name (your initials + project). Routine work still goes to Schoology (via the CMSD portal).
Upload a project