Can you hear Me Now? - Connecticut Science Center - …€¦ · · 2014-03-28Can You Hear Me Now? 5.2. Science: Sense organs: The Sense of Hearing ... IMPORTANT NOTE TO THE TEACHER:

Can you hear Me Now?

Created by Staff Scientist Joanna Correa

Connecticut Science Center

April 2011

CT - 5.2 - Perceiving and responding to information about the environment is critical to the survival of organisms.


250 Columbus Blvd. Hartford, CT 06103 www.CTScienceCenter.org Version 1-2011 2

Table of Contents Section Page

SCIENCE STATE FRAMEWORKS ...................................................................................................................................................... 3

HEALTH STATE STANDARDS ........................................................................................................................................................... 3

Core Science Curriculum Frameworks .............................................................................................................................................. 4

UNDERLYING CONCEPTS: STUDENTS SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT: ................................................................................... 4

GRADE LEVEL EXPECTATIONS: STUDENTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO: .......................................................................................... 4

CMT EXPECTED PERFORMANCES .................................................................................................................................................. 4

AGE APPROPRIATENESS ................................................................................................................................................................... 4

Type of Program .................................................................................................................................................................................. 5

Duration of Program ........................................................................................................................................................................... 5

Attendance Capacity and Space Accommodations ........................................................................................................................ 5

Languages ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 5

Disclaimer ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 6

Can You Hear Me Now? ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6

General Description ............................................................................................................................................................................ 6

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES .................................................................................................................................................................... 7

KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS ......................................................................................................................................................... 10

DELIVERY OF THE PROGRAM ........................................................................................................................................................ 12

SAFETY ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 12

CONNECTICUT SCIENCE CENTER CONNECTIONS .................................................................................................................. 13

GOING FURTHER .............................................................................................................................................................................. 13



Can You Hear Me Now?

5.2. Science: Sense organs: The Sense of Hearing

Science Enrichment: Physiology

Health Standard # 1: Core Concepts of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

Health Standard # 3: Self Management of Healthy Behaviors

This program is part of the CHEFA grant initiatives on Science and Health Education for the 5th grade.

Science State Frameworks 5.2 - Perceiving and responding to information about the environment is critical to the survival of organisms. Enrichment Content Standard for High School Science in Physiology: Organisms have a variety of mechanisms to combat disease: The skin provides nonspecific

defenses against infection.

Health State Standards P.1.3. Identify and describe functions of body parts (e.g. ears)

P.1.9. Discuss germs and their connection to illness H.1.1. Analyze how behaviors can affect health maintenance and disease prevention P.3.3. Identify personal health and cleaning behaviors that might need to be discussed with a healthcare professional and may need to be changed. E.3.5. Develop and practice safety techniques to avoid and reduce injury and disease



Core Science Curriculum Frameworks 5.2.a. The sense organs perceive stimuli from the environment and send signals to the brain through the nervous system.

Underlying Concepts: Students should understand that: 1. Animals have sense organs that are structured to gather information about their environment. Information perceived by the senses allows animals to find food, water, mates and protection.

2. Each sense organ perceives specific kinds of stimuli. Some human senses are more or less developed than the senses of other animals. 4. The human ear is structured to collect sound vibrations from the environment and pass them through the middle ear (eardrum and small bones) and inner ear (hair lined tubes) to the auditory nerve where they are transformed into electrical signals that are sent to different parts of the brain. SCIENTIFIC LITERACY TERMINOLOGY: sense organ, vibration.

Grade Level Expectations: Students should be able to:

1. Explain the role of the sensory organs the ears, in perceiving stimuli (e.g., sound) and sending signals to the brain.

5. Identify the major structures of the human ear, and explain their functions.

CMT Expected Performances 5.2 - B21. Science Curriculum: Describe the structure and function of the human sense of hearing and the signals it perceives.

Age Appropriateness

Age Appropriateness: 6 and Up

School grades: This program can be presented to 1st graders and up. Student interest has been observed from 1st grade, and up to 9th grade.



IMPORTANT NOTE TO THE TEACHER: This program presents science and medical content, on the subject matter of the sense of hearing and the human ear. Students of different ages are more or less familiarized with the human body and its many parts, such as the ears.

To maximize their learning experience and the enjoyment of your students, the program will be adapted delivered to the grade level or average age of the group.

Please be sure to communicate in advance, to the presenting Staff Scientist the approximate age level and school grade of your group(s) of students. It is advisable to do this during the making of arrangements to attend the program.

Type of Program Gallery Floor hands-on presenter guided activity.

Duration of Program Each presentation of the program will last up to 30 minutes, depending on the size of the group. The size of the attending group should be mentioned during the making of arrangements to the program. The program can be arranged to be presented multiple times by prior request, to meet the requirements for larger groups. For multiple presentations, there will be a reset and clean up time between presentations to prepare for the next group.

Please make sure to discuss scheduling details with the presenting Staff Scientist at the time of arranging your group’s attendance to this Gallery Program.

Attendance Capacity and Space Accommodations The physical setting can accommodate approximately up to 20 people. There will be active

participants and passive audience, and /or those waiting for their turn.

Maximum group size of participating students per session of presentation: 16 students. They will not all be active at the same time but will take turns.

Setting accommodations: Some parts of the activity are to be done while standing and others will be done sitting. The activity is accessible for students on wheel chairs.

Languages The program is delivered in English, but currently the option of having the program delivered in

Spanish, or bilingually, depending on your group’s needs is available.



Languages other than English, in which the program can be delivered is subject to the availability of presenters with the skill. For inquiries about particular language requests, please contact the Staff Scientists in advance prior to your visit.

Disclaimer The information provided by this program and contained in this written program package is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice and is not intended to supplement or replace medical care or information provided by a qualified health care professional. The Connecticut Science Center and the creators, authors and presenters of this program assume no responsibility, and shall not be liable, for any damages or injury resulting from your reliance on any information provided by this program or contained in the written program package.

Can You Hear Me Now? General Description

Learn the structure and function of the sense of hearing organs: The Ears. Explore the form and function of the outer ear’s canal and discover how the ear canal is involved in our hearing, much more than we had given thought to…!

Students will go through a hands-on guided activity using otoscopes to look inside ear canals of life size simulated human ears. Students will get a comprehensive look at the outer ear parts: the ear canal, the eardrum and the earwax that are present in a normal and healthy ear.



Students will explore some normal and abnormal conditions of the ear canal and tympanic membrane, like the presence of ear wax, infections and foreign bodies. Proper ear care practices will also be discussed. The program will give a special emphasis on ear wax: its production, function, and its importance as part of the immune system to keep germs out and off.

Program Objectives After completing this program, attending students should have gained some understanding on:

1. The sense of Hearing organ: the Ear. 1.1. What is the Ear? 1.2. What are the ears for? 1.3. What else do they do?

THE HUMAN EAR: The ears are the sense organs of hearing. They allow us to hear and to have body balance when we walk or are standing up.

2. The Parts of the Ear:

2.1. Outer ear 2.2. middle ear

2.3. inner ear

PARTS OF THE EAR: The part of the ear that we can see and touch is called outer ear. Our ears have more parts. These parts we don’t see, because they are inside our heads. The parts inside our head are called middle ear and inner ear. When the doctor looks inside the ear with an otoscope, he sees the ear canal and the eardrum. He also sees Earwax and sometimes, other things. Healthy ears have earwax. A Healthy Eardrum is of a uniform pinkish gray color. An infected eardrum looks red and swollen.

3. A Healthy ear canal and eardrum:

3.1. Earwax



3.2. The Eardrum or Tympanic membrane

EAR WAX: Ear wax is a soft, natural oily and sticky substance that is excreted by the skin inside the ear canal.

Its function is to act as a water repellent and to keep the ear canal and ear drum protected. Any foreign object, be it dust, bacteria or small insects, get trapped in the ear wax before getting inside to damage the ear. The ear wax then dries out and falls out, keeping the ear clean. The Eardrum or Tympanic membrane is the membrane that separates the outer ear from the internal ear (middle ear and inner ear). The eardrum vibrates to sound, so that we can hear. 4. Unhealthy ears can be painful.

4.1. Am I cleaning too much? Is this dangerous for my ears?

4.2. What is an ear infection?

4.3. What is a pierced eardrum?

4.4. Strange things that can get inside the ears.

4.5. What do we do??

Even though earwax seems yucky, it serves an important purpose. Therefore, it should not be removed. Too much cleaning can leave the ear unprotected and more susceptible to ear infections.

An ear infection is an inflammation of the ear, caused by a bacterium, virus or fungus proliferating in there. Some people suffer ear injuries in which the eardrum membrane gets ruptured. This is a pierced eardrum. Sometimes eardrums can be pierced by placing foreign objects inside the ear: like cotton swabs, pencils, other objects, or sometimes foreign objects can get inside the ear accidentally, like flying or crawling small insects. All this situations are solved by the Ear Doctor.

5. Proper Ear Care: 5.1. Just clean the opening of

your Ears. 5.2. Don’t put anything smaller

than your elbows in your ears.

Wash your ears with soap and water during your shower, or just clean the opening of your ear gently with a washcloth.

There's an old saying that you shouldn't put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear. Not all old sayings are true, but this one is! You can hurt your ear by



poking around in there. It's not even a good idea to use a cotton swab. This can push wax deeper in your ear, where it can get stuck. Irritating the ear canal with a cotton swab can even lead to an ear canal infection.

And definitely don't put anything sharp in your ear because it can cause bleeding or serious damage. If you think you have dirt or too much earwax in your ear, ask your mom or dad to help you clean it out.



Key Terms and Concepts

Physiology

Science that studies the how does the body and the individual body parts (like the organs), of living things work. Physiologists are Biology scientists.

Ear Canal The ear canal is the tunnel, or ear hole through which sound travels to the inside of the ear, The Ear Canal stops at the Eardrum.

The Eardrum (or Tympanic Membrane)

Is a thin membrane that vibrates when sound waves reach it. It separates the ear canal and outer ear from the inner ear and middle ear.

The Eustachian tube

Is another tube-like part of the ear, but this one is located close to the nose and throat, that connects the middle ear to the back of the nose; it is lined with mucus just like the nose and throat. The Eustachian tubes equalize the pressure between the inside of the ears and the air outside. When you "pop" your ears as you change altitude (going up a mountain or in an airplane), you are equalizing the air pressure in your middle. You do this passing air through your Eustachian tubes. Not only air passes through them, also fluid from your middle ear to your nasal passages. Cold, flu, and allergies can irritate the Eustachian tube and cause the lining of this passageway to become swollen.

Nervous System /Auditory nerve The Auditory nerve carries sound in the form of electrochemical signals to your brain. Your brain notices the sound. The auditory nerve begins in your inner ear (at the cochlea) and is connected to your brain. Earwax Also called Cerumen by health care professionals, Ear wax is an oily soft, substance produced by your ears. It is excreted by skin glands in the linning of the ear canal. People of all ages are constantly producing ear wax. And just as we produce it, we shed it off! Yes, earwax dries and flakes and comes out on its own, without us even noticing it. Ear wax acts as a water repellent and also keeps the ear canal and ear drum protected. Any foreign object, be it dust, bacteria or gnats or small insects, get trapped in the ear wax before getting inside to



damage the ear. As the old dry ear wax falls out with all the things it trapped, keeps he ears clean. Infection

Ear Infections are called Otitis by scientists. “Oti” means ear and “itis” means inflammation. Therefore to have an ear infection means that our ears are tender, probably swollen, most likely in pain, and inflammation reaction is going on. The reaction is against agents that caused the inflammation process or infection. These ear infection causing agents are bacterium, viruses or even fungus. When the infection was caused by a fungus it’s called Otomycosis.

Ruptured Eardrum When too much fluid builds up in the middle ear, it can put pressure on the eardrum until it ruptures. Signs of a ruptured eardrum include yellow, brown, or white fluid draining from the ear. Pain may disappear suddenly because the pressure of the fluid on the eardrum is gone. Although a ruptured eardrum sounds frightening, it usually heals itself in a couple of weeks. Cotton Swabs Cotton swabs are not a good idea. Cotton threads often stay in, harboring bacteria. The cotton swabs can also be lodged too deep or the child can suddenly move and the swab can puncture the ear drum. Ear Tubes Ear tubes are little plastic tube devices placed by doctors to let fluid drain out of the middle ear and prevent fluid from building back up. This can decrease pressure and pain, while restoring hearing. The tubes are usually left in for 8 to 18 months until they fall out on their own. Swimmer’s Ear Swimmer's ear is an infection that occurs when water is trapped in the external ear canal. Bacteria breed in the water and cause pain, swelling, and itching of the outer ear. Although it's often associated with swimming, anyone can get swimmer's ear. The condition is usually treated with ear drops and is not a cause of middle ear infections.



Delivery of the Program Activity 1: Introduction to the Ears as the Organs of the Sense of Hearing and Body Balance.

Sounds will be played as we explore the ears as sense of hearing organs and a balance test will be done which aims at understanding the part that ears play at maintaining body balance when standing up and walking.

Activity 2: Introduction to the Ear Canal. What do you think we would find inside our ears if we could look inside?? Notice and Wonder

Activity 3: Ear Exam: The students will examine the ears of ear simulators and other sets of ears, using the medical tool for that purpose: The Otoscope. The will be shown first 1) normal healthy ear canals with Ear Wax. They will be shown isolated earwax (simulated) in Petri dishes and earwax will be discussed. Then they will be shown other sets of ears with pathological or injured conditions: 2) Ear Infections, 3) Ruptured Eardrums and 4) Foreign object inside ear canal. The foreign object will be removed following the appropriate technique usually performed at healthcare institutions.

Activity 4: Proper Ear care practices will be shown and discussed. Cotton swabs in ? or Cotton Swabs out?

Safety Prior to coming to this gallery program review with your students

expectations for appropriate behavior, handling of materials, and cooperative group procedures to be sure the activities are accessible and above all, safe for all.

Once at the site, supervise your group. Students will be expected to behave

according to common practices in laboratory settings: wear safety protective barriers (like gloves, aprons and goggles) if they are instructed to do so, do not strike objects or handle them roughly, listen to instructions carefully, and make sure materials are handled appropriately.

Latex gloves are not used in the science center; however please check in advance for the presence of allergies to nitrile or vinyl, since safety materials made of these compounds might be present. Although rare, some skin reactions to nitrile have been observed.



For more comprehensive information on science safety, consult the guidelines from the Council of State Science Supervisors; Connecticut Department of Education: http://www.csss-science.org/downloads/scisaf_cal.pdf

Connecticut Science Center Connections

Sight and Sound Experience Exhibits – 4 North Sight and Sound Gallery

Rube Goldberg Machines Exhibit – 5 North Invention Dimension Gallery

Discovery Center 5.1 Sound Program: Ride the Wave – Discovery Labs.

Discovery Center 5.2 Senses Program: Making Sense of Your Senses – Discovery Labs.

Connecticut Science Center Outreach Program Sound.

Going Further

1. American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). 11400 Tomahawk Creek Parkway Leawood, KS 66211-2672, (913) 906-6000 ; (800) 274-2237 : http://www.familydoctor.org/

2. American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery One Prince St. Alexandria, VA 22314-3357 (703) 836-4444 : http://www.entnet.org/

3. Your Gross and Cool Body http://yucky.discovery.com/flash/body/

4. Kids Health: http://kidshealth.org/

5. Family Doctor: http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/tools/symptom.html



Gallery Science 5.2 Can You Hear Me Now? *

Find the Staff Scientist in the Body LAB! 5th Floor south

*If you wish for your students to take advantage of this Gallery Science program, you must make arrangements with a Gallery Scientist 30 days prior to your visit. For more information please contact Joanna Correa at [email protected]

Draw a diagram of an ear with the ear canal and the position of the eardrum

Draw a healthy Eardrum

What substance should be there?

Draw an injured or unhealthy Eardrum

What is wrong with it? How did that happen?

How can you keep your ears healthy?

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Can you hear Me Now? - Connecticut Science Center - …€¦ · · 2014-03-28Can You Hear Me Now? 5.2. Science: Sense organs: The Sense of Hearing ... IMPORTANT NOTE TO THE TEACHER: