Note: This lesson is a quick practice and uses the old science standards and not NGSS, hence the pedagogy will not correctly align to the new NE/NGSS pedagogy. This is also one lesson in the middle of a unit, hence formative and summative assessments are not included. 

Time:  1 45 minute class period

Materials: pipe cleaners for each student 

Introduction to the nervous system from Discovery Ed--Life Science, Unit 3, Section 1, Explore pp 2-3https://app.discoveryeducation.com/learn/techbook/units/5b0ec540-abcc-40b9-bcb3-986c65407a63/concepts/c89e5996-2e46-4d63-84fd-6bd6da0fbd74.  

Most interneurons are made up of a cell body surrounded by branching fibers called dendrites. There is also a single long fiber branching off of the neuron called the axon. The nerve cells do not touch each other but are separated by spaces called synapses. The dendrites are responsible for receiving signals from other neurons or the periphery. They send the signals to the soma, where the signals are processed and integrated. The resulting message from the soma is then sent down the axon to be transmitted to other parts of the body.

Have the students sing the "Dendrite Song" to the tune of Clementine.

Have the students build models of a neuron using pipe cleaners, then present the models to the class. I allow the students to work on their own and create the model in any way they wish, vs. a step by step. However, this does have a pictorial representation of the concept for you. Their ability to explain their model to the class with the correct physical shapes and labels will be their summative assessment for this class lesson,