The Brain

It's surprising how many kids don't know that their brain is located in their head.

Objectives

Children participating will be able to recognize a picture of the brain and spinal cord
Children ages 2 ½-4 can use texture to describe an object Cog. I
ages 3-4 can tell the name and use of simple objects and sounds Lang. IIA
and ages 2-2 ½ can draw simple strokes FM II

 

Materials

Pictures and illustrations of brain and spinal cord; felt pens; paper with pre-drawn body outline for each child.

Procedures

1. Seat children around the table. Show them illustrations and pictures of the brain and spinal cord. Ask the children to feel their heads, rap on their heads with their knuckles, and feel the lump in the back of their necks. Tell them that inside their head is a hard bone shell called the skull. The hard lumps in their necks go right down their backs (check out a friend to be sure). Explain that these bones are inside. Talk about the importance of the brain and nerves being protected.

2. Ask some questions--name, ages, etc. Ask how they can remember these things. (Brain.) Ask children to put one hand up in the air, then down.

Describe the process: "You hear me say to put your hand up by listening with your ears. The ears are connected to your brains, so your brains understand and send signals to your arm muscles to go up."

3. Ask children if they have ever gotten burned on a hot stove. (They all have dramatic stories of profound injuries.) "Did it feel hot? Did it hurt?" (Of course!) Describe the feeling of heat and pain going through the nerves to the brain. Review--the brain thinks, remembers things, feels, and makes muscles move, etc.

4. Give children pre-drawn body outlines and let them draw their brain and nervous system. Refer to pictures and illustrations.