Stress and the Brain: A Science Experiment

Courtenay Labson

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Stress and the Brain: A Science Experiment

Understand stress's impact on the brain

In this lesson, students will explore how stress affects the brain by conducting a simple experiment. They will learn about the biological aspects of stress and its impact on learning and memory. This lesson is important as it helps students understand the physiological effects of stress, promoting awareness and strategies for managing stress in their daily lives.

Audience

6th Grade Students

Time

1 hour

Approach

Understand stress's impact on the brain

Materials

Post-it notes, Pens, Stopwatch, Discussion Questions, Worksheet, and Quiz

Step 1

Introduction

10 mins

Begin with a brief discussion on what stress is and how it feels.
Ask students to share their experiences with stress.
Explain the objective of the lesson: to understand how stress affects the brain.

Step 2

Experiment Setup

10 mins

Distribute post-it notes and pens to each student.
Explain the experiment: students will write down a list of words under timed conditions to simulate stress.
Set up a stopwatch for timing the activity.

Step 3

Conduct Experiment

15 mins

Instruct students to write as many words as they can in one minute.
After one minute, ask students to stop and count their words.
Repeat the experiment under a 'stressful' condition (e.g., loud noise or time pressure).

Step 4

Discussion

10 mins

Use the discussion questions to guide a conversation about the experiment.
Discuss how stress affected their ability to recall and write words.
Relate the experiment to real-life situations where stress impacts performance.

Step 5

Reflection and Worksheet

10 mins

Distribute the worksheet for students to reflect on their experience.
Ask students to complete the worksheet individually.
Encourage them to think about strategies to manage stress.

Step 6

Closure and Quiz

5 mins

Summarize the key points of the lesson.
Conduct a short quiz to assess understanding.
Encourage students to share one thing they learned about stress and the brain.

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Discussion

Discussion Questions: Stress and the Brain

This discussion will help students reflect on the experiment and understand the impact of stress on cognitive functions.

How did you feel during the experiment?

Encourage students to describe their emotions and physical sensations.

What differences did you notice between the two conditions?

Guide students to compare their performance under normal and stressful conditions.

How do you think stress affects learning and memory?

Discuss the biological impact of stress on the brain and its implications for learning.

Worksheet

Worksheet: Stress Reflection

This worksheet will guide students to reflect on their personal experiences with stress and the experiment conducted in class.

Describe how you felt during the stressful condition of the experiment.

List two strategies you can use to manage stress in your daily life.

Think about activities that help you relax or focus.

Quiz

Quiz: Stress and the Brain