Brain Learning Lesson Plan

Mindy Rudiger
Essential Question:
How does my brain learn?
Materials:
Google Slideshow Brain
titled Lesson Plan
Lobes of the Brain worksheet
Button (or other applicable manipulative)
Learning Targets:
Students will understand the four lobes of the brain.
Students will understand how dendrites and axons create learning.
Students will show how learning happens using manipulatives.
Lesson Plan:
(Show slide 4) Present the essential question to the class. Brainstorm answers with partner, whole
group. Share learning targets, letting students know they will answer the essential question after
todays lessons.
(Show slide 5) Display image of brain lobes. Draw attention to 4 lobes of the brain. Have students
touch own skull as introduce the lobes of the brain. Have students repeat lobe names after you.
Coloring sheet - lobes of the brain. Label function of each lobe if desired.
Frontal: judgement, decisions, planning
Parietal (mnemonically - pa-rye-it-al): sensory, motor
Occipital: vision, visualizations
Temporal: memory
Have students
Head,
use
Shoulders,
the tune of
Knees,

and Toes
to add their own words relating to
the lobes of the brain. (Show slide 6)
(Show slide 7) Explain to students that the lobes of the brain are made up of cells. Each cell has a
cell body, with dendrites (bring information to the cell), and axons (take information away from the
cell).
Show parts of a cell in relation to the arm. The hand represents the cell body. The fingers represent
the dendrites. The arm represents the axon. Explain arm representation in connection to realistic
illustration. Watch video explanation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwxXKZnKiUE Start at
1:07
BIG IDEA: Explain that learning happens when dendrites and axons meetup!
Watch microscope video of learning happening: http://www.organizedwonder.com/videos/1353
Show learning with arm representation - have student hold arm and identify the cell body, dendrites,
and axons of their arm representation. Connect one persons dendrites (fingers) to the other
persons axon (arm). Group says learning when connection happens.
(Show slide 9) Message Transmitter - group makes one circle about arms distance away. Explain that
your body is the cell body. Your left hand/fingers are the dendrites (receive information). Your
right arm is the axon (sends information away). One person starts by passing the neurotransmitters
(button) from axon to other persons dendrites, and continue passing around the circle. Group says
aloud in unison learning each time learning happens, when the button is passed from one person to
the next.
Closing:
Again, ask students to answer the essential question. Check for understanding of how learning happens.