Grades 3-5 Module 1

Understanding How The Brain Works

Primary Understanding

Students will explore and evaluate information on how the brain makes connections.

Module Description

Students will explore the changes in their brains during the adolescent years. A focus on how social relationships and sensitivity to reward make them uniquely vulnerable to the positive and negative effects of using technology.

Module Vocabulary

Neuron - cells of the nervous system, including the brain
Synapse - the space between two neurons, where neurons use chemical and electrical signals to communicate with each other
Synaptic pruning - the process of removing synapses or brain connections
Myelin - a substance that wraps around part of the neuron to help neurons communicate more efficiently with each other
Myelination - the process of adding myelin to neurons
Striatum - a structure in the brain's center that supports learning and responding to rewards. The striatum is divided into the ventral striatum, which includes the nucleus accumbens, and the dorsal striatum.
Reward processing - how the brain learns from reward. The striatum is one part of the brain used for reward processing.
Prefrontal Cortex (PFC) - the front part of the brain that supports many functions, including planning, self-control, and social processing

Module Materials

Lesson slides
Internet-connected devices for students (alternative activities are suggested if such devices are not available for students in class)
Neuron Image (digital or physical copies)

Module Standards

CDC National Health Standards for Middle School
1.5.1, 1.5.2, 1.5.3

2.5.2, 2.5.3, 2.5.5, 2.5.6

4.5.2, 4.5.3 

5.5.2,5.5.3

6.5.1, 6.5.2

  • Essential question

    What are the essential parts of the brain, and how does the brain send and receive messages?

    Learning intention

    Explain how the developing brain sends and receives messages.

    Lesson vocabulary

    Neuron - cells of the nervous system, including the brain
    Synapse - the space between two neurons, where neurons use chemical and electrical signals to communicate with each other
    Synaptic pruning - the process of removing synapses, or brain connections
    Myelin - a substance that wraps around part of the neuron to help neurons communicate more efficiently with each other
    Myelination - the process of adding myelin to neurons


    Lesson materials

    Neuron Printable

    Lesson slides

    Playdough

    crayons

    paper

    Lesson standards - CDC National standards by grade level

    1.5.1, 1.5.2, 1.5.3

    2.5.2, 2.5.3, 2.5.5, 2.5.6

    4.5.2, 4.5.3 

    5.5.2, 5.5.3

    6.5.1, 6.5.2

    Lesson plan

    Introduction (~10 minutes)
    Say: Work with the person to your right to record everything you know about your brain. Allow 5 minutes. When done,  record responses on board.  Ask: How do you think your brain changes and grows as you get older?  record responses on board.  Group any similar response.  You are going to watch a video that will introduce you to the brain. Record three to five facts about your brain while watching the video.
    (Slide 9) Watch: A tour of the Brain

    Turn and Talk (~10 minutes)
    Say: Now that you have identified some facts about the brain, share with the person on your right what stuck with you. Compare the information from the video to the students original responses.

    Call on pairs to share responses. Record answers on an anchor chart.

    Say: When you take care off your brain, your brain learns by making healthy choices. Can you remeber some healthy tips from the video? (eat healthy foods, sleep, excercise)

    Allow 5 minutes to record all responses on an anchor chart. Say, “Now that we have learned about the parts of the brain, let's watch a video about how you use your brain.

    Let's review some vocabulary that you may hear in the video.” 

    Review the vocabulary on slide 11.

    (Slide 12) Watch: Sci show kids about the brain.

    Video recap: Can anyone share which part of the brain helps make good decisions?”  Yes, the prefrontal cortex.  This is an extraordinary part of the brain that is the last area to develop.  It is not fully developed until around 24 or 25 years old.  Put your hand on your forehead.  Behind your hand is the prefrontal cortex.  Which part is behind my hand?  When does it develop? 

    A superhighway of connections ensures that all your brain's messages get to the correct place. Do you know how these signals are sent? Neurons send them. 

    (Slide 13) - Explain that the brain has a unique way of communicating. It communicates and learns through neurons. Neurons send and receive messages. They are the building blocks that make up our brains. 

    (Slide 14) What does that look like to an everyday kid?  Review the slide.

    (Slide 15) The brain can send a message.  What is the brain telling the soccer player to do? Kick the ball. Can you give another example of messages your brain sends?

    (Slide 16) The brain can also receive messages.  What message is the boy receiving?  Can you provide another example of a message you might receive?

    (Slide 17) - Let’s zoom in: Zoom in on the parts of the neuron.  Explain that neurons communicate using chemicals and electrical signals between the dendrites and the axon terminals.

    (Slide 19) - Look at neurons A and B.  Neuron A sends a message down the axon and attaches to Neuron B’s dendrite receptors. This occurs in the gap between the two neurons and is called a synapse. Synapses convert an electrical signal into a chemical signal and then back.
    (Slide 20)Watch - ( stop the video at 3:18:00). Review the vocabulary word Synaptic Pruning.  Simplify by reiterating that as a young child, many neural pathways are established, and as adolescence approaches, a process of specialization occurs, and synapses that are not used are removed.  Use it or lose it. 

    (Slide 22) Recap - once the neuron activity has been completed and cleaned up, review the recap page with the class. 

    Activity- Build a Neuron- (~15 minutes) Create and label a neuron by drawing, creating a model using playdough, using craft supplies, etc. See slides 17-18. Ask students to identify the parts of the neuron with a partner.  When done, ask each group to create a scenario where the brain might send or receive a message.  Share with the class, and correct accordingly.  This activity can be modified based on age group. Coloring page, craft ideas. More craft ideas. 


    Family Connection - To help reinforce the lesson from the day, have the students choose one of the options from (slide 21).  During the next class, ask them to share their family connection experience.