Objectives (5 - 7 minutes)

1. Understand the general functioning of the nervous system:
   • Students should be able to describe the nervous system as a whole, including its main functions and the importance of each part.
2. Identify the main parts of the nervous system:
   • Students should learn to identify the main parts of the nervous system, including the brain, the spinal cord, and the nerves.
3. Understand the function of each part of the nervous system:
   • In addition to identifying the parts, students should be able to explain the function of each one.
4. Relate the nervous system to other parts of the body:
   • Students should understand how the nervous system relates to other body systems to maintain homeostasis.

Secondary Objectives:

• Stimulate curiosity and interest in science:

  • In addition to the specific content, the lesson should serve to arouse students' interest in science and scientific research.

• Develop research and presentation skills:

  • During the lesson, students will be encouraged to research more about the topic and present their findings to the class. This will help develop research and presentation skills, important for autonomous learning and effective communication.

Introduction (10 - 12 minutes)

1. Review of previous concepts:
   • The teacher should briefly review previous concepts that are fundamental to understanding the nervous system, such as the definition of cell, tissue, organ, and system.
2. Problem situations:
   • The teacher can propose two problem situations to draw students' attention to the topic. The first one could be: 'How does our body know when we are hungry and need to eat?'. The second: 'Why can we feel pain when we get hurt?'. These questions should serve to arouse students' curiosity and prepare them for the content that will be presented.
3. Contextualization:
   • The teacher should explain the importance of the nervous system for the functioning of the human body, highlighting how it is responsible for coordinating all activities of the organism and for allowing us to interact with the environment.
4. Introduction to the topic:
   • The teacher can present curiosities about the nervous system to capture students' attention. For example, they can mention that the human brain is the most complex organ in the known universe, with about 86 billion neurons. Another curiosity is that the speed of transmission of nerve impulses can reach 120 meters per second.
5. Capture students' attention:
   • To make the subject more interesting, the teacher can propose a simple experiment: 'How does our brain know that we are touching a hot surface and need to quickly remove our hand?'. The idea is for students to place one hand on an ice cube and the other on a heated surface (like a hot cup of coffee) and observe the different reactions of the body. This experiment will illustrate the speed and efficiency of the nervous system in detecting and responding to environmental stimuli.

Development (20 - 25 minutes)

1. Neuron construction activity (10 - 12 minutes):

   • Necessary materials: cardboard, colored pens, scissors, glue.
   • Divide students into groups of 3 to 4. Each group should receive a sheet of cardboard and the other tools.
   • Explain that they will assemble a neuron in a simplified way, but that all essential elements must be present, such as the cell body, the axon, the dendrites, and the synapses.
   • Students should quickly research the structure of neurons and then draw and cut out the parts on cardboard. Then, they should glue the parts on the cardboard sheet to form the neuron.
   • Each group should present their 'neuron' to the class, explaining the function of each part and how they relate.
   • This activity aims to help students visualize and understand the structure of neurons, the fundamental cells of the nervous system.

2. Nerve impulse simulation activity (10 - 12 minutes):

   • Necessary materials: ping-pong balls, colored pens.
   • Keeping the groups formed, each group should receive a ping-pong ball and different colored pens.
   • Explain that the ping-pong ball represents a nerve impulse and that the pens represent different chemicals that help transmit the impulse from one nerve cell to another (neurotransmitters).
   • Ask students to draw colored dots on the ping-pong ball, each color representing a type of neurotransmitter.
   • Then, students should simulate the path of the nerve impulse, passing the ping-pong ball from one to another, always observing if the colors of the dots change.
   • Explain that this activity represents the transmission of nerve impulses between neurons, which is the basis for the functioning of the nervous system.
   • This activity aims to help students understand in a playful and simplified way how nerve impulses are transmitted between neurons.

3. Debate activity (5 - 6 minutes):

   • This activity aims to stimulate students' reflection on the importance of the nervous system and the application of the knowledge acquired.
   • Propose a debate in the classroom on a relevant topic involving the nervous system, such as the use of drugs and their effects on the brain, or the importance of sleep for the functioning of the nervous system.
   • Divide the class into two groups and assign each of them a position (for or against, for example). Give time for the groups to organize and prepare their arguments.
   • Start the debate, moderating so that everyone has the opportunity to speak and so that the discussion remains respectful and productive.
   • At the end of the debate, summarize the main ideas presented and reinforce the concepts related to the nervous system that were discussed.

Return (8 - 10 minutes)

1. Group discussion (3 - 4 minutes):

   • The teacher should gather all students and promote a brief group discussion about the solutions or conclusions reached by each team.
   • Each group will have up to 2 minutes to share their ideas and findings with the class.
   • During the presentations, the teacher should encourage the active participation of all students, asking questions to ensure that everyone is understanding the subject and to stimulate the exchange of ideas between groups.

2. Connection with theory (2 - 3 minutes):

   • The teacher should then make the connection between the practical activities carried out and the theory presented at the beginning of the lesson.
   • For example, they can ask students how the structure of the neuron they assembled relates to the parts of the nervous system that were studied.
   • Similarly, the teacher can ask how the activity of simulating nerve impulses illustrates the process of information transmission in the nervous system.
   • The goal is for students to realize that practical activities are not only fun but also an effective way to learn and reinforce theoretical concepts.

3. Reflection on learning (2 - 3 minutes):

   • To end the lesson, the teacher should propose that students reflect for a minute on the following questions:
     1. What was the most important concept learned today?
     2. What questions have not been answered yet?
   • After the reflection, some students may be invited to share their answers with the class.
   • Students' answers can help the teacher assess the effectiveness of the lesson and identify possible gaps in students' understanding, which can be addressed in future classes.

4. Feedback and clarification of doubts (1 minute):

   • The teacher should take advantage of the end of the lesson to thank the students for their participation, reinforce the importance of the nervous system for the functioning of the human body, and make themselves available to clarify any doubts that students may have.
   • Additionally, the teacher can request brief feedback from students about the lesson, asking what they thought of the practical activities and if they felt they were able to understand the content. This feedback can be very useful to improve the planning of future lessons.

Conclusion (5 - 7 minutes)

1. Content summary (1 - 2 minutes):

   • The teacher should give a brief summary of the main points covered in the lesson, reinforcing the structure and functions of the nervous system, the importance of neurons, and the transmission of nerve impulses.
   • It is important for the teacher to check if all essential concepts were understood by the class, and if necessary, briefly revisit any topic that raised doubts.

2. Connection between theory and practice (1 - 2 minutes):

   • The teacher should highlight how the practical activities carried out during the lesson helped to illustrate and reinforce the theoretical concepts presented.
   • For example, they can mention how building the neuron in cardboard allowed for a better visualization of its structure, or how the activity of simulating nerve impulses helped to understand the transmission of information in the nervous system in a playful and simplified way.

3. Extra materials (1 - 2 minutes):

   • The teacher should suggest additional study materials for students who wish to deepen their knowledge of the nervous system.
   • These materials may include books, videos, science websites, and educational apps.
   • It is important for the teacher to provide a list with varied resources, so that students can choose those that best suit their learning style.

4. Importance of the nervous system in daily life (1 minute):

   • Finally, the teacher should emphasize the importance of the nervous system in our daily lives.
   • They can mention, for example, how the nervous system allows us to perform simple tasks, such as walking and talking, to more complex ones, such as thinking and feeling emotions.
   • The teacher can also emphasize how the nervous system is involved in practically all our interactions with the world, from perceiving a pleasant smell to responding to a dangerous situation.

5. Closure (1 minute):

   • To conclude the lesson, the teacher should thank the students for their participation and effort, reinforce the importance of continuous study, and say goodbye, making it clear that they are available to clarify doubts and discuss the content in future classes.