Embedded Files
Teacher Overview
This unit is designed for grades 6-8. Students are using the interactive brain map tool to explore different areas of the brain and what causes them to activate, as well as how they interact as a system together. Students translate this understanding to a work of art and create their own art work that explains the cause and effect of various areas in the piece.
Students need opportunities to explore, think deeply about the cause and effect of relationships on systems, and to build their own creativity. That’s why this unit is such a wonderful example of integration: we are truly using the arts to synthesize, analyze and create a representation of learning about systems’ interactions. This is a wonderful way to include STEAM in a variety of settings: science, technology and the arts are all presented and elegantly woven throughout the unit.
Throughout this unit, we’re also building upon the foundational Crosscutting Concepts found in the Next Generation Science Standards. Much like the Standards for Mathematical Practices, these concepts truly expand all grade-levels and are woven in and through the identified standards in each grade. This is a wonderful way to begin looking for a place to integrate in the Science Standards as they contain many intentional parallels to other disciplines.
Printables
You can download this PDF packet of all the printable documents in this unit. This may save you time when looking for handouts. Simply download the packet, select the printable handout you want students to use and make as many copies as necessary for your class.
DOWNLOAD THE FULL PACK OF PRINTABLES
Assessment
There are two assessments for this unit. One is the checklist found below. The other is a student feedback form found in the Let's Present It area.
STANDARDS ASSESSED
STANDARDS ASSESSED
CORE Standards Addressed
These are the standards that will be assessed at the end of the unit.
Science Standard
MS-LS1-8. Gather and synthesize information that sensory receptors respond to stimuli by sending messages to the brain for immediate behavior or storage as memories.
Visual Art Standard
VA:Re8.1.8 Interpret art by analyzing how the interaction of subject matter, characteristics of form and structure, use of media, art-making approaches, and relevant contextual information contributes to understanding messages or ideas and mood conveyed.
ADDITIONAL STANDARDS ADDRESSED
ADDITIONAL STANDARDS ADDRESSED
Additional Standards Addressed
These are the standards which are also addressed in the unit, but which are not the focus for assessment of skills and process.
NGSS Crosscutting Concept
4: Systems and System Models. In grades 6-8, students can understand that systems may interact with other systems; they may have sub-systems and be a part of larger complex systems. They can use models to represent systems and their interactions—such as inputs, processes and outputs—and energy, matter, and information flows within systems. They can also learn that models are limited in that they only represent certain aspects of the system under study.
Visual Art
VA:Pr6.1.8 Analyze why and how an exhibition or collection may influence ideas, beliefs, and experiences.
VA:Re7.1.8 Explain how a person’s aesthetic choices are influenced by culture and environment and impact the visual image that one conveys to others.
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