Curated OER
Author Study: Cynthia Rylant
Explore the life's work of one of the great children's authors using this ten-lesson author study unit. After first performing some whole-group research into the life of Cynthia Rylant, the class goes on to read six different...
Curated OER
Matter: Solids, Liquids, and Gases
Review the states of matter with your second graders using this resource. Learners first review what they know about solids, liquids, and gases. Then, they fill out a chart to show what they have learned. Finally, they engage in a...
Polar Trec
Rings of Life
Individuals analyze tree rings to determine the health of an ecosystem. They then look at otoliths of fish, hard calcium carbonate structures located behind the brain, in the same manner.
The New York Times
Stress Less: Understanding How Your Mind and Body Respond to Anxiety
What could be more relevant to teens and preteens than experiencing stress? Use an article from the New York Times website to practice valuable Common Core skills for informational text reading, and also get a discussion going in your...
Curated OER
Nervous System
Get to know the body's central nervous system through an engaging game of nervous system telephone. But this isn't your average game of telephone. Here, pupils must find a way to communicate a message to the brain without speaking....
Curated OER
What's Wrong?
Students analyze case studies to explore similarities and differences among illnesses. PET images are examined to explore how scientists investigate the changes in the way the brain functions during depression.
Curated OER
Welcome to the First Day of School!
Classmates participate in a variety of getting-to-know-you activities for the first day of school. They make resolutions, become detectives about their fellow classmates, learn about each other by playing switch, and make...
Curated OER
Whose Brain is THAT?!
Students explore various animal brains. For this animal anatomy lesson, students compare and contrast animal brains with the brain of a human. They record several characteristics in a data table for each brain they observe.
Curated OER
Congruent Polygons: Copying Stretchy Shapes
Third graders investigate congruent polygons through dance. In this congruency lesson plan, 3rd graders do the "brain dance" as a warm up. They review polygon names by singing "The Polygon Chant," before mirroring congruent shapes with a...
Baylor College
What Is a Neuron?
Your class won't get on your nerves while doing this modeling activity! After teaching the structure and function of a neuron using the included diagrams, give individuals some clay and chenille stems so that they can make their own...
Cornell University
Shedding a "Little" Light on Cancer Surgery
Many types of cancer treatments now depend on nanotechnology—a big "little" discovery. Scholars begin by removing "malignant" tissue from simulated brains, one using fluorescent markers thanks to nanotechnology and one without. This...
Exploratorium
Blind Spot
A small card with a dot and an X is held at arm's length and used to show youngsters where their blind spot is. This illuminating little activity is a compact addition to your lesson on the structure of the eye as it explains the part of...
California Academy of Science
Color Vision Genetics Evolution Simulation
At one point, all mammals carried only two color receptors, but now most humans carry three. An informative presentation and hands-on activity demonstrate how this evolved through genetics. By participating in the activity, pupils...
Core Knowledge Foundation
The Human Body—Systems and Senses Tell It Again!™ Read-Aloud Anthology
Nine lessons over three weeks explore the human body through read-alouds. Third graders listen to and discuss a reading followed by extension activities, including word work and comprehension practice. Learners draft a narrative essay.
Curated OER
Exploring the Left and Right Sides of the Brain
Explore the Human brain. Young scholars become familiar with the left and right hemispheres of the human brain and engage in activities that activate powers that are dominant in each hemisphere.
Curated OER
Brain Manipulative Model
Students visualize the major human brain divisions by using a manipulative puzzle to discover the names and functions of the regions. They use this hands-on anatomy aid to study the braqin regions.
Curated OER
Making an Illustrated Dictionary with Geographic Terms
Students, in groups, explore geographic terms using left and right brain activities.
Curated OER
The Brain Reflex System And How It Works
Students explore reflexes. In this biology lesson plan, students discover the basic facts about the reflex systems of the brain as they take part in hands-on activities.
Curated OER
Anatomy of the Brain
Students explore human anatomy by completing a quiz. In this brain instructional activity, students read assigned text which discusses the different elements of the human brain and how they are used in everyday experiences. Students...
Curated OER
Body Image
High schoolers read and answer questions on neural processing and the Pinocchio Illusion. They relate and discuss these topics in conjunction with body-image disorders such as anorexia and bulimia . This activity include video extension...
Curated OER
Remember to Stop and Smell the Roses: Olfaction and its Relationship to Memory
Students discover that olfaction elicits memory associations. They investigate how olfaction compares to other sensory modalities in the formation of memories. This is a hands-on lab activity guaranteed to build memories in your students!
Curated OER
The Stroop Effect
Students explore the specific areas of the brain that process different types of information. They examine processing conflicts. Students participate in a hands-on minds-on activity using the Stroop Effect. They design psychological...
Curated OER
The Nervous System
In this nervous system learning exercise, students complete a crossword puzzle given 15 clues about the structures of the nervous system such as the brain and spinal cord and the functions of the nervous system.
Curated OER
Mind Mapping
Students explore the functions of the brain. They create their own "live" model comparing a phrenology chart to our modern understanding of brain function and anatomy. Students compare and contrast brain models.