Make a Neuron
Materials
- Pictures or photographs of example neurons (have different types of neurons, examples of synapses, labeled diagrams)
- Small beads
- Pipe cleaners
- Other art materials
- Heavy duty paper
- Glue
- Tape
- Markers
Prep before activity
- Review information about the neuron
- The Neuron
- Action Potential
- Synapse Structure – skip to chemical synapse
Instructions
- Using the example pictures, have participants create their own model of a neuron using the given materials
- Guide participant’s creations by telling what the different parts are and what they do
Discussion Points
- The brain is made up of billions of individual nerve cells (neurons)
- There are different types of neurons: unipolar, bipolar, multipolar, pyramidal cells, Purkinje cells
- Neurons can be different shapes and sizes
- Some neurons excite (turn on) other neurons, some inhibit (turn off)
- A neuron has 4 basic parts: the dendrites, the cell body (also called the "soma"), the axon and the axon terminal
Faculty Coordinators
Valerie Hedges, PhD
Casey Henley, PhD
MSUNeuroscienceOutreach
@gmail.com