Lesson Plan
Brain Builders Game Plan
Students will comprehend that their brains can grow and adapt through persistent effort and varied strategies, fostering a robust growth mindset.
Understanding brain plasticity empowers students to view academic and personal challenges as opportunities for significant growth, not fixed limitations. This lesson helps them cultivate resilience and a lifelong love for learning.
Audience
6th Grade Class
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Through advanced interactive games, thought-provoking discussions, and reflective activities, students will explore the mechanisms of brain growth and adaptation.
Materials
Whiteboard or projector, Markers or pens, Your Amazing Growing Brain Slide Deck, Neuro-Pathway Obstacle Course Game Cards, and Brain Stretch Challenges Activity Sheet
Prep
Review Materials and Setup
15 minutes
- Review the Brain Builders Game Plan and associated materials: Your Amazing Growing Brain Slide Deck, Neuro-Pathway Obstacle Course Game Cards, and Brain Stretch Challenges Activity Sheet.
- Ensure projector or whiteboard is ready for the slide deck.
- Print and cut out the Neuro-Pathway Obstacle Course Game Cards from the game document itself.
- Make copies of the Brain Stretch Challenges Activity Sheet for each student.
Step 1
Introduction: Your Dynamic Brain
5 minutes
- Begin by asking students what they already know about how their brains work and learn. (2 minutes)
- Introduce the concept of a 'growth mindset,' explaining that brains are not static but can be developed and strengthened like a muscle through effort and strategy. (3 minutes)
- Teacher Note: Use Your Amazing Growing Brain Slide Deck Slide 1-2.
Step 2
Exploring Neuroplasticity with Slides
10 minutes
- Present slides that explain neuroplasticity, using analogies to illustrate how learning creates and strengthens neural connections. (5 minutes)
- Facilitate a short discussion, prompting students to share personal examples of when they felt their brain 'grow' through tackling a new challenge or mastering a skill. (5 minutes)
- Teacher Note: Use Your Amazing Growing Brain Slide Deck Slide 3-5.
Step 3
Activity: Neuro-Pathway Obstacle Course Game
15 minutes
- Explain the rules for the Neuro-Pathway Obstacle Course Game. Students will work in small groups to solve complex challenges, emphasizing the use of diverse strategies. (3 minutes)
- Distribute Neuro-Pathway Obstacle Course Game Cards and allow groups to engage with the challenges. (10 minutes)
- Circulate among groups to offer guidance, observe problem-solving approaches, and encourage experimentation with new strategies. (2 minutes)
- Teacher Note: This game is designed to practically demonstrate that varied approaches lead to successful outcomes and 'build' new neural pathways.
Step 4
Debrief and Deepen Growth Mindset Understanding
10 minutes
- Re-convene the class for a debriefing session. Discuss their experiences and observations from the game. (5 minutes)
- Ask questions like: 'What happened when your initial strategy didn't work, and you tried a new one?' 'How did it feel when your brain persevered and found a solution?' (3 minutes)
- Formally introduce and discuss the 'growth mindset,' explicitly linking it to their game experiences and the scientific concept of brain plasticity. (2 minutes)
- Teacher Note: Use Your Amazing Growing Brain Slide Deck Slide 6-7.
Step 5
Wrap-Up: Advanced Brain Stretch Challenges
5 minutes
- Distribute the Brain Stretch Challenges Activity Sheet. (1 minute)
- Explain that these challenges are designed to continue strengthening their brains throughout the week by encouraging them to step outside their comfort zones. (2 minutes)
- Encourage students to reflect on and articulate how they can apply a growth mindset in their academic and personal lives. (2 minutes)
- Teacher Note: This serves as a cool-down and a take-home activity for continued reflection.
Slide Deck
Your Amazing, Dynamic Brain!
What comes to mind when you think about your brain?
How does your brain help you learn new and challenging things?
Welcome students and activate their prior knowledge about the brain. Encourage them to think beyond basic functions.
Brain: Fixed or Flexible?
Imagine a brand new path in a forest. It's hard to walk through at first.
But what happens if you walk the path every day?
Is your brain like a muscle that gets stronger and makes new paths?
Prompt students to consider analogies for brain development. Emphasize that intelligence isn't fixed.
Neuroplasticity: Building Brain Highways!
Your brain is made of billions of tiny cells called neurons.
When you learn or practice, these neurons create stronger connections, like building superhighways in your brain!
This ability of your brain to change and grow is called neuroplasticity.
Explain neuroplasticity using more scientific but accessible language. Emphasize the formation of new connections.
Mistakes? They Make Your Brain Stronger!
Don't be afraid to make mistakes! Each time you struggle and try again, your brain actually creates new connections.
It's like your brain is doing push-ups! Every challenge and effort strengthens your neural pathways.
Reframe mistakes as essential components of learning and brain growth. Connect effort to neural development.
New Strategies, New Superhighways!
If one way to solve a problem isn't working, try a different approach!
Thinking creatively and trying new strategies helps your brain build even more connections and pathways.
It's like discovering multiple routes to your destination!
Explain the benefit of diverse problem-solving strategies. Highlight how different approaches build a richer network of connections.
Embrace the Growth Mindset!
A growth mindset is the belief that your abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work.
It means:
- Embracing challenges
- Persisting in the face of setbacks
- Learning from criticism
- Being inspired by others' success
- Knowing your effort leads to mastery
Introduce the growth mindset more formally, connecting it to their experiences and neuroplasticity.
Your Brain: Always Ready to Grow!
Challenges are opportunities for your brain to build new connections and become more powerful.
Never give up! Keep trying new strategies and learning from every experience!
Your brain is an amazing, ever-growing organ!
Conclude by encouraging students to apply a growth mindset in all areas of their lives, stressing continuous growth.
Game
Neuro-Pathway Obstacle Course: The Game!
IMPORTANT: The Challenge Cards are included directly below and should be printed and cut out for each group.
Objective: To demonstrate how trying different strategies can lead to success and build new neural pathways in your brain.
Materials:
- One set of Game Cards (from this document) per small group (cut out beforehand)
- Pencils or markers
- Optional: Small blocks or LEGOs for building solutions
Instructions:
- Form Small Groups: Get into groups of 3-4 students.
- Pick a Challenge Card: Each group will choose one challenge card.
- The Obstacle Course: Your challenge card has an "obstacle" or a problem to solve. Your group needs to figure out how to solve it!
- Try Different Pathways: Start by trying one way to solve the challenge. If it doesn't work, don't give up! Talk together and try a different strategy or idea. Each new strategy you try is like building a new pathway in your brain!
- Discuss: Once you solve the challenge (or try several ways), discuss: What was hard? What new strategies did you try? How did your brain feel when you kept trying?
Challenge Cards (Cut these out!)
Challenge Card 1: The Tallest Tower
Your Mission: Build the tallest freestanding tower possible using only 5 pieces of paper and a small piece of tape. You have 3 minutes!
Think about: How can you make paper strong? What shapes are sturdy?
Challenge Card 2: The Marshmallow Bridge
Your Mission: Build a bridge that can hold a single marshmallow, spanning a gap of 8 inches, using only 10 toothpicks and 5 mini marshmallows (as connectors). You have 5 minutes!
Think about: How can you connect things to make them strong? What designs are good for bridges?
Challenge Card 3: The Secret Code
Your Mission: Decode the following message. Each number stands for a letter of the alphabet (1=A, 2=B, etc.). You have 3 minutes!
Code: 7-18-15-23-20-8
Think about: What is the pattern? What letter comes first? How can you keep track of your work?
Challenge Card 4: The Penny Stack
Your Mission: Stack 15 pennies on top of each other using only one hand. You have 2 minutes!
Think about: How can you keep your hand steady? What's the best way to place each penny?
Challenge Card 5: The Unknot
Your Mission: With a partner, each hold one end of a rope that has a knot in the middle. Without letting go of the rope, you need to untie the knot. You have 4 minutes!
Think about: How can you work together? What movements will loosen the knot?
Activity
Brain Stretch Challenges: Keep Your Brain Growing!
Name: _________________________ Date: _________________________
Your brain loves to learn and grow! Just like your body, your brain gets stronger when you give it challenges and try new things. Here are some challenges to help your brain stretch and make new connections this week!
Challenge 1: The Left-Hand/Right-Hand Switch-Up
For one day, try to do everyday tasks with your non-dominant hand. If you're right-handed, use your left. If you're left-handed, use your right!
- Brush your teeth
- Open doors
- Stir your food
- Try drawing a picture
Reflection: How did this feel? Was it easy or hard? What did your brain have to do differently?
Challenge 2: The New Route Explorer
With a grown-up, try taking a different route to a place you go often (like school, the park, or the grocery store). Pay attention to new things you see!
Reflection: What new things did you notice? Did you have to think differently about directions?
Challenge 3: The Puzzle Master
Choose a puzzle you haven't done before (like a jigsaw puzzle, a word search, a Sudoku for kids, or even a riddle). Work on it for at least 15 minutes.
Reflection: What strategy did you use? Did you get stuck? How did you try to solve it?
Challenge 4: Learn a New Skill Bite
Pick a very small new skill to try learning for 10 minutes. It could be:
- How to say "hello" in a new language
- A new card trick
- A new dance move
- Drawing something you've never drawn before
Reflection: What new skill did you try? What did you do to learn it? How did it feel to try something new?
Overall Reflection:
After trying these challenges, what do you think about your brain? How has it grown this week?
Remember, every time you try, you're building a stronger, smarter brain! Keep stretching!