Enduring Understandings

• The brain and nervous system control everything a person does, thinks, and feels.

• Individual brains have different strengths and weaknesses.

Essential Questions

• How does my brain work?

• How do I learn best?

• How do my actions directly affect my brain’s performance?

 Content/Standards:

         CORE

CONNECTIONS

PRACTICE

IDENTITY

Concepts

• Nervous System

• Brain

• Spinal Cord

• Nerves

• Memory

• Reflexes

• Sleep

• Neurons

• Logic

• Imagination

• Learning styles

• Reptilian brain

• Psychology/

• Psychologist

• Perceptions

• Optical Illusions

• Selectivity

• Bias

• Memory

Psychology/

Psychologist

• Models

• Charts

• Data

• Experiments

• Learners

• Careers

Principles

• The left cerebrum is better at language, math, and step-by-step thinking.

• The right cerebrum is better at music, art appreciation, and creativity.

• The cerebellum aids balance and helps muscles work together.

• Sleep, exercise, and a healthy diet help your brain to work at its best

• The brain selects the information it processes and remembers.

• Tricks of the mind and eye can create false impressions or beliefs.

• Individuals learn in different ways.

• Intelligence can be defined in multiple ways.

• Individuals have different interests, strengths, and learning styles.

• Understanding ones own learning style and intelligences can help one make suitable career choices.

Skills

• Compare and contrast functions of major parts of human brain

• Analyze differences between creative and critical thinking

• Draw conclusions as to how the human brain functions optimally

• Classify optical illusions

• Observe and collect data about what was seen and heard.

• Compare data among other observers.

• Draw conclusions about the nature of perception.

• Conduct experiments (reaction times and memory).

• Graph and analyze data.

• Create bar, line, and pie graphs that reflect students’ multiple intelligences

• Analyze personal profile

• Assess relative strengths of the dimensions within each intelligence

• Research career that matches individual strengths and interests

Student Outcomes

Students will:

• Know the major parts of the brain and understand their functions.

• Know ways in which they can improve their own brain performance.

• Understand the physiological basis of perception.

• Understand their own learning styles and preferences.

Materials

Books:

Armstrong, Thomas. (2003) You’re Smarter Than You Think. Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit Publishing, Inc.

Block, Richard & Yuker, Harold. (1992) Can You Believe Your Eyes? New York: Brunner/Mazel Inc.

Greenfield, Susan A. (1996) The Human Mind Explained. New York: Henry Holt and Company, Inc.

Kagan, Spencer & Miguel. (1998) Multiple Intelligences. San Clemente, CA: Kagan Cooperative Learning.

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