The Pennsylvania State University Workforce Education and Development Competency-Based Teacher Education

Lesson Plan – The Ear: Anatomy and Function

Name of Instructor: Dawn Shaffer, RN

Program Title: Health/Medical Assisting Services, Other CIP 51.0899

Course Title: Health Careers

Unit Title: The Special Senses

Lesson Title: The Ear: Anatomy and Function

Lesson Performance Objective: Given a lecture, worksheets and activity, the student will describe the parts of the ear and their function with 80% accuracy on worksheets and diagram of the ear quiz.

Time (length of lesson): 30 minutes

Equipment and Materials needed: Computer with internet connection Power point presentation Text book Worksheets Play-dough or modeling clay

Academic Standard(s) and Anchor(s) and/or Common Core Standard addressed by this lesson:

CC.1.2.11-12.J: Acquire and use accurately general academic and domain-specific words and phrases, sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.

CC.1.2.11-12.L: Read and comprehend literary non-fiction and

informational text on grade level, reading independently and proficiently.

CC.1.5.11-12.A: Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions on grades level topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.

Technical Standard(s) or Competencies taught in this lesson: POS Task 1107: Identify the basic structure and explain the

function and disease processes for the Nervous System, including the Sensory Organs

Introduction UDL Multiple Means of Engagement): Ask students: “Can you hear me?” Ask students: “Which part of our body allows you to hear me?” Ask students: “How do your ears receive the sound of my voice

and make sense of what I’m saying?” The transmission of sound waves to the brain for interpretation

is a very complex process, involving many structures within the ear.

In this lesson, we will discuss the different parts of the ear and learn how sound waves reach the brain, which allows for our sense of hearing.

In addition, the ear is also important in maintaining our body’s balance and equilibrium. We will look at those structures of the ear, as well.

So, let’s talk about the ear!

Body: (UDL - Multiple Means of Representation)Lecture & Power Point Presentation:The Ear:• The organ that controls hearing and balance• Transmits sound waves to the auditory nerve• Auditory nerve relays information to the brain for interpretation• Consists of the outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear

The Outer Ear:• Pinna or Auricle

• Visible portion of ear• Made of elastic cartilage covered by skin• Serves to channel sound waves into the ear

• Auditory Canal • Sound waves travel thorough it to the tympanic

membrane• Special glands in canal produce cerumen, which protects

the ear.• Tympanic membrane

• “Ear drum”• Vibrates when sound waves hit it & transmits sound

waves to middle ear• Separates outer from middle ear

The Middle Ear:• Contains Ossicles (3 smallest bones in the body)

• Malleus (Hammer)• Incus (Anvil)• Stapes (Stirrup)• These bones are connected & transmit sound waves from

tympanic membrane to inner ear• Play Youtube Video: “Ear Bones Song” by learnthroughsong to

demonstrate how the ossicles transmit sound• Eustachian (Auditory) tube

• Connects middle ear to pharynx• Allows air to enter the middle ear & helps equalize are

pressure on both sides of tympanic membraneThe Inner Ear:• Oval window

• A membrane that separates middle ear from inner ear• Vestibule

• acts as entrance to 2 other parts of inner ear, cochlea & Organ of Corti

• Cochlea • Shaped like snail shell• Contains delicate, hair-like cells that composes Organ of

Corti• Organ of Corti

• The receptors of sound waves• Transmits impulses from sound waves to the auditory

nerve• Auditory nerve transmits impulses to temporal lobe of

cerebrum, where they are interpreted as hearing.• Semicircular canals

• Contain a liquid & delicate hair-like cells that bend when the liquid moves with head & body movements

• Impulses are sent from semicircular canals to cerebellum, which helps to maintain sense of balance & equilibrium

Following the presentation, students will use Play-Dough or Modeling Clay to create an anatomically correct representation of the outer, middle, and inner ear structures. The student will also explain the function of each structure to the instructor.

Summary: As you have learned in this lesson, many structures make up

the ear. Every structure in the ear plays an important role in our sense

of hearing and our ability to control our balance. If any of the structures of the ear are damaged by injury or

disease, there may be improper transmission of sound waves through the ear, which can lead to hearing loss or deafness.

We will discuss the diseases and abnormal conditions of the ear in our next lesson.

Student Assessment (attach a copy of the assessment instrument that will be used to assess students for this lesson): (UDL- Multiple Means of Expression)

The ability to create an anatomically correct representation of the structures of the ear with Play-Dough and explain their functions.

Worksheets Diagram of the Ear Quiz