Chudler - Brain lab for kids: 52 mind-blowing experiments, models, and activities to explore neuroscience

CAREFUL SCIENTISTS take detailed notes about the experiments that they do in their laboratories. You should start a lab notebook as you use this book. The pages of your notebook should be bound and not just a loose collection of papers. If you run out of room in one notebook, get another one. Your notebook should include the name of the lab or experiment, the date and time you did the activity, the methods you used, any observations you made, the results you found, and a discussion of what you think your results mean. Your notes should have enough information so that someone else who reads your notebook can perform the exact same experiment and understand what you discovered.

Each lab in this book is divided into several sections. After the title of each lab, the approximate time it will take to do the lab is listed. The Materials section lists everything you need to complete the lab, and the Method section provides a step-by-step guide of the procedures and materials you will need to complete the lab. You may find a different way to do an activity, and that is fine, but make sure that you write down any changes to the method in your notebook. The science behind an experiment is explained in the Whats Going On section. This section will provide you with a better understanding of your experimental results and observations. Brain Facts are some interesting, fun, and perhaps surprising bits of trivia related to each lab. Finally, Thinking Deeper has additional ideas to further your exploration of a lab. For example, you might find an experiment for a science fair competition, or maybe you are just curious to see what will happen and discover something new.

NEURONS (NERVE CELLS) are specialized cells in the nervous system. These microscopic cells are like little batteries because they are able to generate small amounts of electricity. To communicate with other nerve cells, muscles, or glands, neurons send electrical signals over short and long distances. Each part of a neuron has a special function to ensure that these messages are sent quickly and efficiently.

Most people have never seen a real neuron. Scientists must use microscopes to see neurons because these cells are so small. Drawings and photographs of neurons help other people understand the structure of these cells. Another way to understand what a neuron looks like is to build a model of one and hold it in your hand. That is what you will be doing in these first labs: you will be making models of neurons. Of course, your models will be many times larger than a real neuron.

Although books and websites have drawings of typical neurons, remember that neurons come in many different shapes and sizes. As you build your neuron models, think about what makes a good model. How realistic should your model look? Does your model have the correct proportions? Does your model show all of the important parts of a neuron? How might you improve the construction of the model? Are there other materials you could use to make a model?

The human brain contains 86 to 100 billion neurons (nerve cells). In this lab, you will create a model of a neuron using clay.

BRAIN FACTS

The diameter of a neurons cell body ranges from about 4 microns to 100 microns.

The axon of a neuron that stretches from the toe to the neck in a giraffe can be 14.8 feet (4.5 m) in length.

An octopus has about 500 million neurons in its nervous system. Most of these neurons are located in the octopus's arms.

Time

20 minutes

Materials

Modeling clay in 4 different colors

Method

Gather small amounts of modeling clay in four different colors. Each color of clay will represent a different part of a neuron.

Roll the clay of one color into an acorn-size ball and then press it flat (fig. 1) . This piece of clay will represent the neurons cell body.

Fig. 1: Roll clay; press flat.

With a second color of clay, add extensions to the cell body (fig. 2) . These extensions represent dendrites.