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Science Launch G4 / Week 10 / Friday
5/6
Week 10 · Senses and Signals

Friday

Senses plus memory
// How animals take in information and respond
⏱ about 15 min

Friday: Senses plus memory

The school fire alarm practice starts with a loud beeping. Rocket's class stands, lines up and walks outside calmly.

On the field, Rocket says, "I did not even have to think. My feet just knew what to do."

"You practiced it before," Raven says. "What do you notice about how practice helped?"

Nova circles the line of students. "I found a pattern," she says. "Your ears gave new information. Your memory told you what it meant."

Animals use senses and memories

Animals use what they sense right now and what they remember to decide how to act.

Your ears heard the alarm. Your memory of practice told you to line up and walk out.

Scientists describe this as a system. Information goes in, the brain processes it, and an action comes out.

Information inBrain uses memoryAction out
Ears hear the alarmRemembers the practiceWalks outside calmly
Eyes see a red light at a crosswalkRemembers red means stopWaits on the curb
Nose smells smokeRemembers smoke can mean fireTells a grown-up
Part of the systemIs it information coming in?
Seeing a red light?
Waiting on the curb?
Hearing an alarm?
Walking outside?
WHY THIS EXERCISESorting inputs from actions helps you model how the senses and brain work together.
MEMORY MATTERS
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
Why did Rocket know what to do when the alarm rang?
You hear thunder outside. Which sense took in that information?
You remember to go indoors when it thunders. What do you do?

Practice builds memory

The first time you do something, you may need to think hard.

After practice, your memory helps you act quickly.

That is why Rocket's class practices fire drills.

SENSES AND MEMORY
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
Your eyes see a red light at a crosswalk. What does your memory tell you?
You smell smoke. What is the safe action?
THE ALARM SYSTEM
  • ?The alarm beeps.
  • ?Ears take in the sound.
  • ?Nerves carry the message to the brain.
  • ?The brain remembers the practice.
  • ?Muscles walk you outside calmly.
WHY THIS EXERCISEInformation in, brain plus memory, action out.
Animals use their senses and their ____ to decide how to act.
Walking outside during a fire drill is an ____.
Draw a three box chart: information in, brain uses memory, action out. Fill it in for something you do every day.
Part of the systemIs it an action coming out?
Telling a grown-up about smoke?
Smelling smoke?
Waiting on the curb?
WHY THIS EXERCISESenses bring information in. Muscles carry actions out.
Which body part uses memory to decide what to do?
WHY THIS EXERCISEYour brain uses memory to decide how to act.

You modeled a whole signal system! Tomorrow at Launch Lab, your family plays sense detective.

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