Teaching Neuroscience and the Brain for Kids

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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. Use the Science of the Brain Web Guide to get 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 Structure and Functions of the Brain

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

Neuroscience and Brain Research

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

Neuroscience and Brain Blogs

There are numerous neuroscience and brain blogs on the Web, many of which ... read more »

Teaching Neuroscience and the Brain for Kids

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, or ideas for labs and projects, teaching neuroscience and the brain for kids is easy with help from the Web.

Insights for Teaching Neuroscience and the Brain for Kids

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 aware 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. Use particular discretion when displaying images of cadaver brains, which may be considered unethical and offensive to some individuals.

Top Sites for Teaching Neuroscience and the Brain for Kids

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, as well as a free monthly e-newsletter discussing the latest in information about the brain and learning.

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NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse) for Teens is a government program designed to teach students about the effects of drugs on the brain and body. Access the brain 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 of 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.

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