The Inner Ear: Nerve Signals Start Here



The EarGrade Level: PrimaryTime Allocated: 30 minutesObjective: students will identify the three parts of the ear including the components in those parts and their functionsMaterials Needed:Diagram of the ear with colours to identify 3 different partsWhiteboard/ whiteboard markersPlasticineSkewersIntroductionShow students a diagram of the ear. Review what they remember about the ear. Can they name any parts? Can they identify the outer, middle and inner ear? Which parts of the ear can they see?Explain to students that today we are going to become experts on the ear because we will be making models out of clay to show our parents at fair next week.ProcedureShow students a diagram of the ear. Review each of the three parts along with their components and functions. REVIEWThe Outer Ear: Catch the WaveThe outer ear is called the pinna. This is the part of the ear that people can see. It’s what people pierce to wear earrings and what your friend whispers into when it’s time for a secret. The main job of the outer ear is to collect sounds, whether they’re your friend’s whispers or a barking dog.The outer ear also includes the ear canal, where wax is produced. Earwax is that gunky stuff that protects the canal. Earwax contains chemicals that fight off infections that could hurt the skin inside the ear canal. It also collects dirt to help keep the ear canal clean. So earwax isn’t just gross. It’s gross and useful.The Middle Ear: Good VibrationsAfter sound waves enter the outer ear, they travel through the ear canal and make their way to the middle ear. The middle ear’s main job is to take those sound waves and turn them into vibrations that are delivered to the inner ear. To do this, it needs the eardrum, which is a thin piece of skin stretched tight like a drum.The eardrum separates the outer ear from the middle ear. The middle ear has 3 tiny bones. They are the three tiniest, most delicate bones in your body. They include:the hammer which is attached to the eardrum the anvil which is attached to the hammerthe stirrup the smallest bone in the body, which is attached to the anvil When sound waves reach the eardrum, they cause the eardrum to vibrate. When the eardrum vibrates, it moves the three tiny bones — from the hammer to the anvil and then to the stirrup. These bones help sound move along on its journey into the inner ear.The Inner Ear: Nerve Signals Start HereSound comes into the inner ear as vibrations and enters the cochlea a small, curled tube in the inner ear. The cochlea is filled with liquid, which is set into motion, like a wave, when the three tiny bones vibrate.The cochlea is also lined with tiny cells covered in tiny hairs that are so small you would need a microscope to see them. They may be small, but they’re awfully important. When sound reaches the cochlea, the vibrations (sound) cause the hairs on the cells to move, creating nerve signals that the brain understands as sound. The brain puts it together and hooray! You hear your favorite song on the radio.ActivityAfter students have reviewed the parts of the ear, demonstrate a sample model made with plasticine to provide students with a visual of how to use different colours to represent the different parts of the ears. Once students have completed their models they can print the words of the parts of the ear in the boxes attached and the teacher will pin them as the students identify the parts the labels belong to.ClosingTime permitting, students can share their models in circle and discuss what they have learned. Models will be displayed on the window ledge for parents to observe at fair.Assessment:Informal – Monitor student participation in class discussion/review of the ear and listen to students responses to questions asked about the ear. Observe students plasticine model and evaluate students understanding of the parts of the ear as they identify them with their labels. ................
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