Of all the mysteries of the world, the HUMAN BRAIN is one of the most fascinating, and it literally connects to all topics of study since it is the organ devoted to LEARNING. In my classroom, a study of the brain began in 3rd grade GT class as part of our year-long unit: SYSTEMS, which included the systems of the body (see “Novel Ways to Study the Workings of the Human Body” ~ Grades K-3).
Many GT/GATE teachers include neuroscience studies in their curricula, and there are outstanding resources, activities, and lesson ideas- too many to mention them all! However, I can recommend some that I’ve used, and start a conversation (through comments below) that can become an archive of our best ideas.
INTRODUCTION ~ Here is a 10-15 minute interactive presentation that can be used at home or at school to introduce a study of the brain. As students journey on a “Train of Thought,” they are presented with a rationale for the study, some basic and novel information, and a few optical illusions just for fun, all meant to get them prepared for further study. The presentation is designed for use with advanced students in 3rd – 5th grade, but could be edited for use with other grades. You can make a copy HERE. Even if you don’t want to use it as a self-guided activity, you may want to use the video excerpts included.
This book, Your 21st Century Brain, is one I discovered in a museum store several years ago. There are many hands-on activities, the pages are colorful and enticing, and the authors do not “talk down” to kids but use scientific vocabulary. Chapter titles match scientific areas of study: Neuroanatomy, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, Psychology, and Thinking How We Think.
In my class, we also had class sets of KIDS DISCOVER: The Brain magazine which my students loved. However, Kids Discover Online is also awesome and offers a 30-day free trial, so you could use that period to supplement your neuroscience mini-unit. The content is highly engaging and interactive.
METACOGNITION, CONNECTIONS, and DEPTH ~ Throughout a neuroscience mini-unit, students can be guided into making connections to other topics and in their research. We tied our study of the brain to Six-Hat Thinking, a Connect-the-Dot Research project, and unanswered questions about the brain and learning. The Hidden-Picture project could also be incorporated to show how perspective changes as you get additional information.
Kids can create metaphors using DETAILS they’ve learned concerning how brains work. The brain is often compared to a computer, but what other metaphors can students create? HERE is an amazing list started by neuroscientist Patrick Gunkel. You could also ask students to explain how the brain is NOT like a computer.
When students are challenged to create something original based on their learning, they are working at a higher level, too, so students may want to research brain-related topics. In the “Seeker Space” section of our Kid-Created DoSeum, we had displays about Music and the Brain and What Happens When You’re Sleeping? Another idea is to incorporate one or more of the lesson ideas detailed in the KID-CREATED category on this site.
Consider offering some of the hands-on activities below as open-ended challenges (e.g. rather than supplying materials, have students make models using self-selected materials).
HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES
Pictured below are a few activities that can enhance a study of the brain.
- Model of the Cerebral Cortex (Four Lobes)– made from homemade clay (2 parts flour, 1 part salt, 1 part water). The students rolled pieces of clay into “snakes,” then twisted them to create the wrinkled appearance of the folds, the sulci (grooves) and gyri (bumps). We usually created these models after learning about the four lobes of the cerebral cortex and then painted the four lobes in different colors.
- Model of a Neuron – made from 3 pipe cleaners, each a different color. One was balled up to create the cell body of the nerve cell. Another was twisted to create the axon and synapses, and the third was cut up into smaller pieces twisted together to create the dendrites.
- Brain Hemisphere/ Lobes of the Brain Hat – Students make a wearable hat! (link here)
- Brain Stations – these were activities around the room in which students had to do an experiment or perform something. Students worked their way through the stations in pairs, timing each other on completion of activities such as the Stroop Effect (word/color test) and “CAN Y0U R3AD T4IS?” activities. One of the stations shown is a blind maze activity (A.I.M.S.), but I cannot find any explanation of this online.
- Dissect a Brain – my classes never did this, but several of my colleagues did dissections with their students and had a blast! HERE is one source of supplies and information, and there are many YouTube videos that can help!
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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Creative Learning Challenge ~ As part of our mini-unit, my students enjoyed learning a bit about memory and recall. It may be controversial, but there is good science to back up the importance of committing some things to memory, and the key is being able to recall the information hours, days, or even years later! This is where creativity comes in. My students enjoyed this challenge and amazed me with their methods for learning new things by creating original songs, rhymes, mnemonics, visuals, etc. I always introduced this project by reciting something I’d learned (see it HERE), which they enjoyed! THIS is also kind of a fun video about using bizarre images to memorize random words. My students tested their abilities with the peg method (one-bun, two-shoe…) and they loved sharing the outrageous mental images they’d used to memorize a grocery list of ten items.
Neuroscience for Kids ~ fantastic website for kids with brain games, experiments, jokes, and lots of information. You can also participate in BRAIN AWARENESS WEEK through this site.
“Use Your Brain!” (YouTube video ~ SciShow Kids) for the younger ones
Brain Hemisphere / Lobes of the Brain HAT – a hat students can wear!
Bill Nye the Science Guy: The Brain ~ Season Two, Episode 14… I used excerpts in the introductory presentation, but I also love the explanation of how the brain is “folded” so that it can hold lots of information.
Sam’s Brainy Adventure ~ Sam is reading about the brain when he falls asleep. In his dream, he finds out he is inside his own brain! He meets some guides who take him on an exploration of the nervous system.
Brain for Kids: OLogy – games, stories, videos, and hands-on activities for students in K-5
What are some different neuroscience lessons and activities you’ve used with students? Please add comments to share ideas and resources you have found engaging for your students in a study of the BRAIN!