Objective

Students will gain understanding of how reflexes work by testing their reaction times.

Instructions

  • Students will pair up. One of them holds a ruler vertically in the air while the other partner gets ready to try and catch it.
  • Partner holding ruler drops it and the other student attempts to catch it as quickly as possible.
  • Students measure how far the ruler falls before it is caught.
  • Repeat test 5 times and compare results from each attempt.
  • Students will complete the following worksheet on their results from test.

Worksheet: https://micromodule339.opened.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/9229/2025/03/Reflex-Test.pdf

  • Teams answer reflection questions:
    • How fast did you catch the ruler?
    • How does this test demonstrate how the nervous system affects reaction times?
    • Why do you think your reflexes helped?