In-Person Class Activity: Sleep and Altered States

Essential Question:

How does sleep impact our mental and physical health?

🎯 Objectives:

Explore the relationship between sleep patterns and cognitive performance.
Collect and analyze data on personal sleep habits.
Discuss the psychological and physical effects of sleep deprivation.

🧩 Materials:

Sleep logs (1 week of data, completed by students prior to class)
Cognitive performance test (e.g., simple reaction time app or Stroop test)
Graph paper or software for data visualization

🔍 Procedure:

📅 Pre-Class Preparation (1 Week):
Ask students to track their sleep using a log. Have them record:

Bedtime and wake time
Any interruptions during sleep
Perceived quality of sleep each night

📖 Introduction (10 minutes):
Discuss the importance of sleep for mental health, memory, and physical health.
Present research findings on how sleep deprivation impacts cognitive function.

🧪 Lab Activity (20 minutes):

Students analyze their sleep logs and calculate their average sleep duration and quality ratings.
Conduct an in-class cognitive performance test (e.g., reaction time app, Stroop test).
Compare results between students with different sleep patterns:
- Less than 6 hours
- 6–8 hours
- More than 8 hours

📊 Data Collection (5 minutes):
Students create a visual representation (chart or graph) of their sleep data alongside their performance results.

🗣️ Class Discussion (10 minutes):
Begin with small group conversations, then discuss as a class:

How do sleep patterns correlate with cognitive performance?
Did students with longer sleep durations perform better?
What lifestyle changes could improve sleep and performance?

💬 Discussion Prompts:

How does sleep deprivation affect mood and behavior?
What cultural or societal factors influence sleep habits?
What strategies can help improve sleep quality and duration?

🛌 7-Day Sleep Log

Sleep Log
Date	Bedtime	Wake Time	Sleep Interruptions	Sleep Quality (1–5)	Notes (Dreams, Mood, etc.)
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7