LESSON PLANS
Each plan combines a lesson about the brain with a fun activity for students to complete. The lessons include a formal lesson plan for the teacher/instructor and PowerPoint slides to present to students. The lessons are organized by grade and age level.
FOR GRADES K-5 (5-11 years old):
Build-a-Brain
This exercise incorporates a basic
neuroanatomy lesson with a fun sensory and motor activity where students get to
create the brain of an imaginary animal using Play-Doh.
Expose Your Nose
This exercise incorporates a lesson
on the sense of smell with an experiment that allows students to observe and
gather scientific observations.
Protect Your Brain
This exercise incorporates a lesson on
the ventricular system and common brain injuries with a demonstration of the
importance of cerebrospinal fluid in keeping the brain safe from injury.
FOR GRADES 6-8 (12-14 years old):
Design an Imaginary Animal:
This exercise integrates a basic neuroanatomy lesson with a creative group activity where students get to design an imaginary animal and build its brain out of Play-Doh.
Touch-a-Brain:
This exercise is an extension of the Design an Imaginary Animal neuroanatomy lesson. Touch-a-Brain builds on the information learned in Design an Imaginary Animal by giving students the opportunity to touch a real sheep and/or human brain.
Pipe Cleaner Neuron:
This exercise combines a lesson on the neuron and neurotransmission with a hands-on activity where students get to create a realistic model neuron out of pipe cleaners.
Now You See It, Now You Don’t:
This exercise incorporates a lesson on the stages of memory formation with a fun activity where students get to test their short-term memory.
Optical Illusions:
This exercise combines a lesson on the visual system with the opportunity for students to look at some optical illusions and learn how they trick our brains.
