How we laugh

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In this lesson, students explore gelotology, the science of laughter, and its benefits to our social, mental, and physical well-being. This depth of knowledge regarding the human organism allows high-school students to develop a more sophisticated understanding of how the nervous system and the brain work together. For example, by the end of high school, students should know that the nervous system works via electrochemical signals in the nerves and that these signals are transferred from one nerve to the next. In addition, they should know that these signals are what allows the human mind to process ideas, and ideas about ideas. Furthermore, their knowledge base should include that people have the ability to produce many associations internally, with or without receiving information from their senses. By the end of high school, students should understand the following three concepts about human health. First, they should know that communication between the cells of different systems is required to coordinate diverse activities. Second, they should understand that expectations, moods, and prior experiences of human beings affect how they interpret new perceptions or ideas. Third, students should know that ideas about what constitutes good mental health and proper treatment for abnormal mental states, vary from one culture to another and from one time period to another. As an introduction to this lesson, students rate themselves as to how happy they feel and the class discusses what their thoughts on laughter and mental health. Then, using the online activity sheet, students visit web resources to find out more information about laughter and the brain’s reaction to this stimulus. Next, students examine the benefits of laughter in terms of our social, mental, and physical well-being. Finally, students read another article on how laughter affects the brain, and they draw a picture and describe the process. Science NetLinks provides links to the student online activity sheet, a variety of web resources, and detailed instructions for completing the lesson. This lesson plan also suggests extension activities and contains links to other websites that facilitate this learning.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment