Brain Warriors: Science for a Brainy Day!
Learn the human anatomy of your brain & practice techniques to strengthen it. Discover how your most important organ works. From neurons to your memory, the amygdala and your emotions, the 4 lobes and the 5 senses, growth mindset & more!
Lisa Harris, M.Ed. Reading Specialist
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(223)
What's included
1 live meeting
55 mins in-class hours per weekAssessment
The R.I.S.E & Review Sequence at the end of the session allows ME to see your student's learning. It will also help YOU to gauge learning if you are nearby to see it. Another way to judge learning is to discuss the class content with your child afterwards. Do you understand your child's explanation of what they learned? Does it sound reasonable and include a few details? That's the best indicator of learning!Class Experience
US Grade 2 - 4
This Ongoing class is a fun way for your child to learn all about how their brain works! Enrolled students can learn the answers to ALL of the interesting questions, or they can pop in and out to take the sessions that most interest them. We will explore questions commonly asked by this age group (see topic schedule below). What should you expect in each class? All Brain Warriors classes are active and offer a WIDE VARIETY of age appropriate activities to help young learners understand and develop an even greater curiosity about their amazing brain. Types of activities include: * The R.I.S.E Sequence (in EVERY class). An active wellness sequence (including hydration, movement/exercise, mindful breathing, and positive affirmations) designed to ignite the brain for the focused and creative learning to come. * Slide Presentation: colorful slide presentations and interactive information to teach and illustrate concepts * Demonstration: MODELS to increase understanding of information * Music: songs about the brain, health, and wellness * Weekly "Brain Joke" * Games & Activities: charades, emoji races, drawing, memory games & more * Videos: very short, age appropriate videos illustrating or solidifying concepts learned in class * Discussion: guided interaction between students and teacher for concept clarification, sharing of ideas and projects, and connection with peers * Fun Learning Checks at the end of EVERY class: The popular Brain Warriors "R.I.S.E & Review “ activity during which students actively show what they have learned at the end of each session Topic Schedule WEEK OF: FOCUS & ATTENTION: Can I Train My Brain Like I Can Train My Puppy? (pre-frontal cortex; mindfulness/meditation) SCREEN TIME, BED TIME, MEAL TIME: Does Having Rules Help My Brain? (healthy decisions; brain health; addiction chemicals) BRAIN PARTS: What Are They and What Do They All Do? (cerebral cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, brain stem, cerebellum, prefrontal cortex, thalamus, etc) NEURONS: How Do My Brain Cells Talk To Each Other? (neurons; neuroplasticity) GROWTH MINDSET: Can My Thoughts Change My Brain? (neuroplasticity; exercise; breathing; mindfulness) HYDRATION: Which Drink Is My Brain Thirsty For? (hydration/dehydration; effects of sugar) FEELINGS: Do They Come From My Heart or My Brain? (sensations vs. feelings; brain chemicals) BLOOD: How Does It Travel to My Brain? (circulatory system; blood vessels; dilate/constrict) LEFT/RIGHT BRAIN: Is it True I Use One Side More? (hemispheres; corpus callosum) WRINKLES: Is My Brain Wrinkled Because It’s Getting Old? (cerebrum; cerebral cortex) BRAIN FREEZE: Ouch! What Really Happens When I Eat Ice Cream? (nerves; neuralgia) MEMORY: How Can I Help My Brain Remember Things? (associated brain parts; long term vs. short term) LANGUAGE: Why Can’t My Cat Speak, Read, & Write Like I Can? (communication; language areas of the brain) MOVEMENT: Why is Exercise Like Brain Candy? (frontal lobe; cerebellum; brain protein BDNF) MY SENSES: How Does My Brain Tell Me What I Like to Eat? (brain lobes; sensory processes) EMOTIONS: Why Does My Brain Make Me Act That Way? (amygdala; pre-frontal cortex; brain chemicals) FOCUS & ATTENTION: Can I Train My Brain Like I Can Train My Puppy? (pre-frontal cortex; mindfulness/meditation) (These topics will repeat after the last session listed.)
Learning Goals
Depending on the week, Learning Goals will vary and can be determined by the content in parenthesis in the description above.
Also...
Students will begin to connect their learning, health & wellness, thoughts, feelings & emotions with the actual body part that controls them - their BRAIN!
Students will be introduced to the basic parts and functions of the brain.
Students will be introduced to the nervous system and the circulatory system.
Students will learn about the basic cells in the brain (neurons), how they work to help us learn, and what we can do to help THEM do their job!
Students will learn that the brain can sustain injury if we are not careful, and how to keep it safe and protected.
Students will learn how their daily activities, food and drinks, screen time rules, and bedtime affect their brain function.
This course will enable students to understand that their brain, the "boss of the body", is more under their control than they might know, and that there are simple strategies they can do to improve the way their own brain functions.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Students will be moving during this class and may need supervision to clear a space free of debris or obstructions.
Students will be using scissors in some classes.
Supply List
Water bottle (EVERY CLASS) Space for physical movement (EVERY CLASS) For SOME classes, you will also need: printer to print downloads paper pencils, pens, crayons, etc. scissors & glue stick
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined April, 2020
4.9
223reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
The quick version of my background is that I’m a retired first grade teacher and reading specialist (after 34 years!), as well as a certified yoga instructor living in Southern California with my husband and adorable “teacher's pet” Buddy.
But, the story of how I became “The Brain Lady” began when I discovered the incredible science of neuroplasticity while studying yoga anatomy during advanced certifications.
Diving into a lay-person's study of neuroscience, I learned (and continue to learn) so many things that you might think an elementary school teacher should already know about the brain - and they definitely SHOULD! I learned how memory works, the way that physical movement affects learning, wellness habits that affect the ability to focus, make decisions and self-regulate, how a child’s early developmental movement patterns affect learning, and so much more! Surprisingly, none of my teacher training included this information - even though I attended a prestigious teachers college focused on developmental learning practices.
Armed with this knowledge, I began to step-outside-the-boxes I felt confined to as a public school teacher, and to teach based on neuroscience instead of mandated curriculum or traditional practices.
Using what I'd learned about the brain, and my many years of classroom experience, I developed a highly motivating and actionable wellness sequence called R.I.S.E. and quickly discovered that my students were showing increased focus, improved memory and retention of information, better self-regulation, fewer behavioral issues and consistently high attendance. My students thrived while using The R.I.S.E Sequence!
The incredibly empowering part of learning how our brain works is discovering that we are more in control than we think, and we CAN change our own brain, increase our potential for achievement, health and happiness. This is especially important for children to understand.
I knew that it was The R.I.S.E Sequence that was impacting student's brains in positive ways, and I wasn’t ready to leave all of my methods and enthusiasm for brain science behind when I retired. So that’s why I teach on Outschool now, and I look forward to making an impact on learners from around the world! Reviews
Live Group Class
$12
weekly1x per week
55 min
Completed by 40 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 7-10
1-6 learners per class
