Brain, Stress, and Learning Lesson Plan
• This lesson plan discusses the brain, stress, and learning. There are notes
attached to each slide to explain what the slide is about.
• This lesson plan will include topics covering the Wyoming Science Academic
Content Standards for Grade Span 5-8 listed below:
• CONTENT STANDARD 1. CONCEPTS AND PROCESSES
• In the context of unifying concepts and processes, students develop an
understanding of scientific content through inquiry. Science is a dynamic
process; concepts and content are best learned through inquiry and
investigation.
• ACADEMIC CONTENT STANDARD 1. CONCEPTS AND PROCESSES
• Students learn about scientific content through inquiry.
• 8.A.S.1.1 Students relate different organ systems with their specialized
function.
• 8.A.S.1.3 Students describe interconnectedness of diverse organisms within an
ecosystem.
• 8.A.S.2.1 Students use science reference materials to answer science
questions and present findings.
Developed by Shawna McBride
University of Wyoming
Science Posse
Human Brain
Human Brain
Where do things happen in the brain?
What is memory?
• Memory is the capacity we have to remember
– things that happened in the past
– things that will happen in the future
• Connections between neurons
How do we learn and remember things?
• When we learn something
the wiring of our brain
changes
– Make new connections
– Strengthen old connections
Questions
• What did you have or will you have for lunch
today?
• What did you have for lunch a week ago?
What types of memories do we have?
• Short-term
• Long-term
How do we make long-term
memories stick?
Touch
Actions
Sights
Emotion
Hippocampus
Perception
Sounds
Smells
Alzheimer‘s
Do you think you have a good memory?
Let’s try this again, with a slight twist
What is stress and how does it
affect memory?
• Anything that requires us to change or adapt
• Stress can be damaging to memory
What other things affect memories?
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Sights
Sounds
Smells
Touch
Taste
Emotion
Actions
Let’s try to memorize something
else
Japanese numbers 1-10
Link things with a Sound or an Action
Memory Tricks
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Link information to visual cues
Link information to actions or physical cues
Link information to rhymes or songs
Use Mnemonics—memorize first letters
Draw Mind Maps
Chunk information
Practice, practice, practice
Get emotionally involved
Mnemonics
• Names of the Great Lakes
– H-O-M-E-S; Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie,
Superior
• Colors of the spectrum
– R-o-y G. B-i-v; Red Orange Yellow Green Blue
Indigo Violet
Let’s try one
• Three branches of government
– Executive
– Legislative
– Judicial
Mind Maps
Let’s try one
At School
After
School
Activities
Reduce Stress
At Home
The End