University of Minnesota
Virtual Neurons
It's electric! Young anatomists use Virtual Neurons software to build, control, and analyze complex nerve circuits within the body. Colorful and packed with content, class members enjoy interacting with the nervous system at a personal...
PhET
Neuron
Neurons send electrical signals throughout a body based on chemical communication. Individuals stimulate a neuron to see the effects. They notice the sodium-potassium channels along with ions, concentrations, and a membrane potential...
University of Minnesota
Connect the Neurons!
Create a neuron frenzy as your pupils play the part of the neurons. An engaging lesson creates a human chain of neurons that pass cotton balls posing as neurotransmitters. Scholars learn about pre- and post-synapses as they complete the...
Curated OER
Role Playing A Neuronal Transmission
Young scholars roleplay to review nerve communication and the parts of the neuron. Each student represents a different part of a neuron and as parts become polarized and depolarized they act it out. A surprise occurs at the synaptic...
University of Minnesota
Mirroring Emotions
Do you ever give your class the "teacher look"? Without saying a word, they become silent and engaged (hopefully). How do they know what you're thinking? Explore the concept of nonverbal communication and how it relates to our mirror...
Curated OER
NEURONS, BRAIN CHEMISTRY, AND NEUROTRANSMISSION
Students examine the hierarchical organization of the brain, neuron, and synapse; explain the sequence of events involved in communication at the synapse; and that synaptic transmission involves neurotransmitters.
Curated OER
Drugs Change the Way Neurons Communicate
Students examine that certain drugs interfere selectively with neurotransmission, and realize that the effect of a drug is dependent upon dosage and route of administration.
Teach Engineering
Complex Networks and Graphs
Show your class how engineers use graphs to understand large and complex systems. The resource provides the beginnings of graph theory by introducing the class to set theory, graphs, and degree distributions of a graph.
Curated OER
Brain Anatomy
Students explore the brain. In this brain anatomy lesson, students explore the brain, identify the parts and neurons. They identify nerve pathways involved in daily activities.
Curated OER
The Nervous System from A to Z
In this nervous system alphabet book worksheet, students study 26 neuroscience terms as they read the 26 terms and their definitions in the glossary. Some of the terms included are: receptor, unipolar, white matter, axon, hemisphere,...
Curated OER
Neural Pictionary
Learners explore the nervous system. They pictorially illustrate terms that deal with the nervous system. Students play a "pictionary" game to review nervous system vocabulary words.
Curated OER
Memory/Physiology Lab Activity
Students investigate the nervous system and how physical distractions influence mental performance. They work in pairs as a researcher and subject and memorize a series of words with no distractions. After repeating the list of words,...
University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas: Neurons and Neurotransmitters
A good description of how the neurotransmitters are involved in cell communication. Very good site.
OpenStax
Open Stax: Anatomy & Physiology: Communication Between Neurons
Students explain the differences between the types of graded potentials, and categorize the major neurotransmitters by chemical type and effect.
University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas: Neurotransmitter Role Play Description
A description of cellular communication involving neurotransmitters.
University of Washington
Neurotransmitters and Neuroactive Peptides
Very good introduction to the role that these chemicals play in the nervous system.
OpenStax
Open Stax: Anatomy and Physiology: The Function of Nervous Tissue
Learn here about how nervous tissue is capable of communicating within the nervous system.
University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas: Other Neurotransmitters Compared to Dopamine
Site provides the main function of the neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinephrine, acetylcholine, and glutamate.
Nature Research
Nature Education: Scitable: Essentials of Cell Biology
Explains how cells send and receive signals. Includes a quiz that can be completed after free registration.