Objectives:
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a. Students will learn the names of various neurotransmitters.
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b. Students will understand how neurotransmitter inhibitors affect chemical messages.
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c. Students will learn the basic process of neural signals.
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d. Students will develop their agility and speed while performing this game.
Materials:
Tape Player
Selection of the following songs composed by Mozart:
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1. Symphony # 27 in G Major K. 199
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2. Symphony # 31 in D Major K. 297
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3. Symphony # 39 in E- Flat K 543
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4. Andante from the Serenade in D Major K. 250
Anticipatory Set:
Explain to students the components of neurons and how neurotransmitters are important for the transmission of information within the nervous system from one neuron to another. During warm - ups play musical scores and ask for suggestions of other types of music students may want to hear.
Main Activity:
In synaptic tag, the object of the game is to get from one end of the gym (axon) to the other end (dendrites), without getting caught by a neurotransmitter inhibitor (GABA). GABA will be trying to tag or inhibit the exciting neurotransmitters from running across the gym. The teacher will pick one to three players as the "Inhibitors" and the rest of the class will be divided up into "Exciters". The exciters will be divided up into names of exciters, i.e.: dopamine, peptides, adrenaline, etc. When the teacher calls out the name of a specific neural transmitter, those students run to the dendrite side. If GABA tags a runner, they must go back to the axon side of the gym and try again. Give everyone a chance to be an inhibitor and exciter.
GABA's (inhibitor's start in the middle of the Gym)
(figure available in print form)
Homework select one of three handouts in appendix A.
