Download Scoring Rubric

Neuron Project
The nervous system is a critical system that sends signals throughout the body to coordinate movements and actions. It
allows communication throughout your body and contains the brain, spinal cord and a large network of nerves. In total,
your nervous system is made of 85 billion nerve cells called neurons. This project aims to help you understand how
neurons work to propagate signals throughout the body.
Your group will have two regular days and one block day to create a poster that explains how neurons in your nervous
system communicate with each other. You may use a variety of resources to research your project. Your assigned
reading and Wikipedia are good starting resources. Make sure to include all of your resources in a works-cited section of
your poster. In addition to the other information, your poster should include a drawing of two connected neurons with
the following labels:
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Soma
Nucleus
Dendrite
Axon
Myelin Sheath
Axon terminal
Synapse
Direction of electrical impulse
On Friday your group will present in a science-fair style to your peers and to your teacher. Your group will be scored on
the following rubric:
Scoring system for each learning target:
3
Mastery of the learning
target.
Learning target is
addressed on the poster.
Students are able to
explain all aspects of the
learning target and
provide detailed answers
to questions asked.
Students are able to make
accurate connections
between the specific
learning target and the
overall function of the
nervous system, and to
the body as a whole
2
Moderate
understanding of the
learning target.
Learning target is
addressed on the
poster.
Students are able to
explain most aspects
of the learning target
and provide answers
to most of the
questions asked.
Students are able to
make accurate
connections between
the specific learning
target and the overall
function of the
nervous system, and
to the body as a
whole
1
Basic understanding of
the learning target.
Learning target is
addressed on the
poster.
Students are able to
explain some aspects
of the learning target
and provide answers
to a few of the
questions asked.
Students are able to
make poor
connections between
the specific learning
target and the overall
function of the
nervous system, and
to the body as a whole
0
Poor or incomplete
understanding of the
learning target.
Learning target is not
addressed on the
poster.
Students are able to
explain few aspects of
the learning target and
provide incorrect
answers to questions
asked.
Students are unable to
make connections
between the specific
learning target and the
overall function of the
nervous system, and
to the body as a whole
Scoring Rubric
Learning Target
Neurons transmit electrical impulses.
The myelination of nerve fibers allows
for salutatory conduction.
Neurons pump sodium and potassium
ions across their membranes to
generate a resting potential.
An action potential consists of
depolarization and repolarization of the
neuron.
Nerve impulses are action potentials
propagated along the axons of neurons.
Propagation of nerve impulses is the
result of local currents that cause each
successive part of the axon to reach the
threshold potential.
Synapses are junctions between
neurons and between neurons and
receptor or effector cells.
When presynaptic neurons are
depolarized they release a
neurotransmitter into the synapse.
A nerve impulse is only initiated if the
threshold potential is reached.
Students should be able to analyze
oscilloscope traces showing resting
potentials and action potentials.
3
2
1
0