Science·The Human Body·conceptual
The Nervous System
Understand that the nervous system has two parts — the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and nerves that branch throughout the body — and that nerve signals travel at high speed to coordinate senses, thought, and movement
Suggested ages 9–11
Learning journey
Your child is discovering how their body works — exploring the respiratory, circulatory, and nervous systems in detail, and understanding how lifestyle choices affect their health and development.
Evidence of understanding
- Name the two parts of the nervous system: central (brain + spinal cord) and peripheral (nerves throughout the body)
- Describe the reflex arc: stimulus → sensory nerve → spinal cord/brain → motor nerve → muscle response
- State that nerve signals travel extremely fast, which is why reflexes happen almost instantly
Assessment prompt
Can The Nervous System explain how a message travels from their finger to their brain when they touch something hot, and then back to their hand to pull it away?
Standards alignment
No external standards are linked to this topic.