An Introduction To the Human Brain

I always like to start out the school year by teaching my students a little bit about the human brain. It's good to know what's going on in your own head, in a way, it might even make you a better learner. Over the course of the school year, we will talk about cells, the brain, and how the human body works. We will also discuss learning styles, and how each particular brain is different.

• First, we will start off by learning a little bit about the human brain. So CLICK HERE to read about the Control Centers of the brain. 
• Next up, it's time to make a model of the human brain using a fun potato flake mixture. (for you teachers out there wondering what this looks like, here's the recipe:

1.5 cups instant potato flakes
2.5 cups hot water
2 cups clean sand (can be found at home building stores or landscaping stores)
1 gallon Ziploc bag
Place all the ingredients into the Ziploc bag and combine thoroughly. You can squish the mixture around with your hands or you can use a spoon to stir it. After mixing completely, the bag should weigh about three pounds and have the consistency of a real brain.

• Here are a few videos (a TED Talk video that maps the brain, and a video with cool facts about the brain):

A Map of the Brain:

 10 Amazing Facts About the Brain:

Now, we're ready to take a closer look at how our own brains work.

Take the Edutopia Learning Style Quiz to find out how you learn best.

Here's my results, we'll take the time to discuss in class what this means: