Brain: An Introduction to Neurology, 2nd Edtn

SKU
045002
ISBN
9798986863719
Grade 4-8
Teaching Method
Traditional
Teacher-centered curriculum commonly used in classrooms that may include a text, teacher manual, tests, etc.
Charlotte Mason
A methodology based on the work of a 19th century educator who maintained that children learn best from literature (Living Books), not textbooks.
Classical
A methodology based on the Latin Trivium (three stages of learning), including the grammar stage (memorization and facts), logic stage (critical thinking), and rhetoric stage (developing/defending ideas).
Unit Study
A thematic or topical approach centered around one topic that integrates multiple subject areas.
Montessori (Discovery)
A methodology based on the work of a 20th century educator that emphasizes student and sensory-driven discovery learning and real-life applications.
Other
Other methodologies
Religious Content
Secular
Contains content contrary to common Christian beliefs (i.e. evolution).
Neutral
Avoids religious or theoretical topics or presents multiple viewpoints without preference.
Christian/Religious
Faith-based or including instructional religious content.
Learning Modality
Auditory
Learns through listening, talking out loud or reading out loud.
Visual
Learns through seeing, prefers written instructions and visual materials.
Kinesthetic/Tactile (Hands-On)
Learns through moving, doing and touching.
Multi-Sensory
Curriculum that employ a variety of activities/components.
Presentation
Sequential
Curriculum progresses through well-defined learning objectives. Emphasizes mastery before moving to the next topic.
Spiral
Topics and concepts are repeated from level to level, adding more depth at each pass and connecting with review.
Conceptual/Topical
Focus is on the “why,” often with a unifying concept as well as specific skills; coverage may be broader.
Teacher Involvement
Low Teacher Involvement
Student-led materials; parent acts as a facilitator.
Medium Teacher Involvement
A mix of teacher-led time and independent student work.
High Teacher Involvement
Teacher-led lessons; may utilize discussions, hands-on activities and working together.
Additional Materials Required
No other materials needed
Everything you need is included.
Other Materials Required
There are additional required resources that are a separate purchase.
Other Materials Optional
There are additional resources mentioned or recommended but are not absolutely necessary.
Consumable
Consumable
Designed to be written in; not reusable.
Non-Consumable
Not designed to be written in; reusable.
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Description

New 2nd edition (2022) updates include: book is now bound (not looseleaf and not 3-hole punched), some color images have been added, and video links have been updated.

While I already knew that Ellen McHenry has a talent for making complicated topics fun and understandable for middle schoolers, I was impressed all over again when I saw this study on the brain. I mean, it seems manageable to teach chemistry to kids, but neurology? Things can get complicated when you start following nerve pathways across and through the brain! However, I was relieved to see that you don't need to be a brain surgeon to teach this course.

The book has two parts:  the student content and an answer key, both of which include reproducibles that you can copy for your own family or one classroom. The student content is at the core of the course and includes all of the text and text-based activities. There are ten topical chapters in the booklet, plus "half-chapters" that end in .5 and cover "extras" that you could choose to cover or skip, depending on your interest and time available. The chapters cover the history of brain research, basic brain anatomy, the right and left sides of the brain, the parts of the brain and their functions, brain cells, neurons, learning and memory, the brain's connection to the body, sleep and brain doctors. Each chapter includes several pages of friendly, straight-forward text on the topic, augmented by graphics and the little fingerprint guys you might recognize from the author's chemistry programs. Several review activities are provided at the end of each chapter. These are quite wide-ranging in format, so much so that I'm just going to have to give you specific examples! For instance, in the first chapter on brain research, the first activity asks students to research different brain scans on the internet and answer a question about each, then read to find out more about Phineas Gage (the strangest story in brain research!). Finally, students complete a color-by-number "PET Scan." In the chapter about brain parts and functions you'll find a crossword puzzle to complete, a diagram to color the parts of the brain, and "The Brain Song" to listen to, which is available as a download on the author's website.

Other fun activities include making a 9-square puzzle of connected neurons and using the right and left sides of your brain to complete specific challenges. An answer key is provided at the end of the student portion and contains all of the answers to activities with specific answers. The teacher's section is primarily made up of more involved, hands-on activities. These are organized by corresponding chapter and include fun ideas like making a brain "hemisphere hat" using the reproducible patterns that show the different areas of the brain, doing an MRI on an orange, making a human neuronal network, building an edible neuron, and much, much more. I was very impressed with the hands-on activities overall; they are very creative! This would be a very fun curriculum to use with a co-op, or with several of your children at one time. I would recommend finding some good text resources on the brain, as the visuals are a bit limited here and there may be topics you'll want to read more about. I do, however, think the content and the activities here will definitely capture children's interest! 140 pages. ~ Jess/Sara

Publisher's Description of Brain: An Introduction to Neurology, 2nd Edtn

NOTE: This product used to come with a CD. In the new format, it does not need a CD. The audio files plus digital files of activity pages are available through a web address listed in the book.

  • Target age group: ages 8-14
  • Special feature: This curriculum has two levels in order to accommodate students of varying ages and ability levels. Everyone does level one, and those who are capable do level two as well.
  • Special feature: This curriculum has two levels in order to accommodate students of varying ages and ability levels. Everyone does level one, and those who are capable do level two, as well.
  • Time allowance: As few as 4 weeks or as many as 9 weeks. It depends on how fast you want to push through. There are ten chapters, but the last two can be done together. I've done it in 6 weeks (7 class sessions that met once a week) but we did have to pick and choose which activities to do as a group. If you are doing it with just one child at home and he/she can't get enough science, you could get through it in a few weeks. The material in each chapter of the student text shouldn't be done all on one day. You can read the text one day, and do an activity on several other days.
  • Topics covered in student text: History of brain research, basic anatomy of the brain, blood-brain barrier, roles of left and right hemispheres, savant syndrome, neurons, other types of brain cells (the unsung heroes!), how nerve impulses travel, neuron networks, learning and memory, the peripheral nervous system, reflexes, sleep, brain doctors, basic brain problems.
  • Activities included: In the student text: color brain anatomy drawings and brains scans, looking at brain scan images via Internet, crossword and other types of word puzzles, left-right brain demonstrations, left-right brain survey, a song about the brain parts, a puzzle to cut out and put together, a neuron network demo, review quizzes, Internet addresses where you can meet people notable in the brain research world, mnemonics, learning style survey, categorizing memories, a famous poem written while the author was asleep, and Rorschach ink blots.
  • In the teacher/parent activity guide: MRI of an orange, hands-on-head tour of cerebrum, brain cookies, comparing human brain to animal brain via Internet images, cerebrospinal fluid experiment, observing meninge-like membrane, left-right brain games, brain hat showing lobes, the -Ectomy game, edible neuron models, neuron art, neuron relay race, domino demonstration, memory games, neuron endings experiment, reflex relay, dream game, ink blot art activity

Category Description for Ellen Mchenry's Basement Workshop

Author Ellen McHenry is known for her straightforward approach to a variety of science topics. This curriculum is full of age-appropriate explanations, hands-on activities, and the familiar Ellen McHenry fingerprint characters and cartoons. The author discusses the difference between observable facts and inference, focusing on the facts. Courses are well-written, allowing children to understand more complex topics easily. Student activities vary and may include pencil-and-paperwork (like word puzzles or quizzes), internet links or a hands-on project. Illustrations are a mix of black and white, and color.

One book is required for the course, and includes the reproducible Student Text with activities , and a Teacher Section. Additional Student Books are available for most courses. This is a great option for parents/teachers with multiple students-like in a co-op or classroom. Activity pages in the core book are reproducible for families or single classroom use. The author has set up a YouTube® channel with a myriad of short videos to accompany the courses. Worth mentioning, the courses are completely doable without this bonus internet content. An exceptional science option for upper elementary and middle school ages to learn topics with more depth compared to many other science programs.

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Product Format:Other
Brand:Ellen McHenry's Basement Workshop
Author:Ellen Johnston McHenry
Grades:4-8
ISBN:9798986863719
Length in Inches:11
Width in Inches:8.5
Height in Inches:0.25
Weight in Pounds:0.8
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