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Teaching Kids and Teens about the Brain and Neuroscience

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Science of the Brain: How the Mind Works

It may seem like the Internet has an overwhelming number of links but it’s really quite simple compared to the human brain, which has roughly 1,000 trillion connections—about the same as the number of leaves on all the trees in a rainforest. Nevertheless, trying to navigate the Web in search of precisely what you’re looking for can make you feel like you’re lost in the forest. There are countless sites on brain structure, brain function, and brain fitness. You’ll see brain images of every type as well as photos of actual human and animal brains from every angle and perspective. There are plenty of teaching tools including games, experiments, labs, and lesson plans. You’ll even find a host of blogs about the brain. Using this guide to brain science on the Web can give you a “head” start.

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The Brain and Neuroscience Basics

The U.S. government declared the 1990s the “Decade of the Brain,” and the amount and ... read more »

The Functions and Structure of the Brain

There is such a wealth of information on the Internet on the topics of neuroanatomy (brain ... read more »

The Latest Brain and Neuroscience Research

Although scientists are only beginning to scratch the surface, new technologies are helping to ... read more »

Blogs about Brain and Neuroscience Issues

If you don’t have the time or interest to pore over abstracts or dryly written academic ... read more »

Teaching Kids and Teens about the Brain and Neuroscience

More and more teachers—from elementary to college level—are posting their curricula online, turning the Internet into a huge database of educational resources. Whether you need sample lesson plans, assignments or exams, ideas for labs or projects, or an entire college course syllabus, you can find it all on the Web.

Dulcinea's Insight

  • Many good ideas may be gleaned by perusing these sites, but be sure not to fall into the trap of simply replicating the work posted by another teacher or professor.
  • Don’t be too quick to dismiss activities that appear to be just for fun. Many suggestions—such as making edible neurons and playing synaptic tag—can teach students a lot about the brain and enable them to grasp complex concepts such as the role of neurotransmitters, enzymes, and dendrites.
  • Be especially cognizant of your audience if you’ll be using brain images for a lecture or presentation. MRI scans might be very useful when shown at a professional conference, but of little interest to young school students who would likely learn much more from a virtual talking brain. Use particular discretion when displaying images of cadaver brains, which may be considered unethical and offensive to some individuals.

Dulcinea's Picks

Neuroscience For Kids includes a huge selection of games, experiments, projects, videos, and lesson plans for elementary, middle school, and high school students, all of which aim to make learning about the brain and neuroscience both fun and highly informative.
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BrainConnection has student-oriented information about the brain along with games, puzzles, and other learning activities. Find information for teachers about the brain and learning or how best to stimulate the growing child brain, as well as a free biweekly e-newsletter discussing the latest in brain science. Don’t miss the “Library” for a selection of some of the best books about neuroscience and how the brain and mind affect behavior, including several memoirs by individuals suffering from rare brain disorders. All books are linked to Amazon.com, where they can be further reviewed and purchased.
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NIDA (National Institute for Drug Abuse) for Teens is a government program designed to teach school students about the effects of drugs on the brain and body. Access the games, quizzes, and puzzles to learn important information in a fun and interesting way. Take a look at the “Teacher’s Guide” for complete lecture information and graphics, lesson plans, activities, and quizzes.
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BrainsRule! is a collaborative effort between The University of Nebraska at Omaha and the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. With its funky sound effects and bright colors, the site is geared primarily toward kids, allowing them to play brain games, create personal brain Web pages, and ask questions to brain experts. The site also offers information for teachers including lesson plans with hands-on classroom activities aimed at making learning about neuroscience and the brain fun and exciting. For neuroscience professionals, BrainsRule! provides research resources and funding opportunities, a daily neuroscience news feed, and a link to National Institutes of Health Faculty of Undergraduate Neuroscience site.
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Improving Brain Fitness and Health

With life expectancy on the rise, it’s becoming increasingly important to preserve cognitive ... read more »

Buying Neuroscience Textbooks and Other Brain Reference Material

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Community Links in Science of the Brain

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