Psychology Brain Things for Kids!: Sleep and Dream Processes

In this one-time class, we will learn about sleep and dream processes in the brain. We will explore the REM cycles, scientific theories about why we dream, the benefits of sleep, and the impact on the brain. The average person spends nearly six years of their lives sleeping and dreaming. While sleeping, we experience stages of REM, which include: REM, NREM1, NREM2, and NREM3 of which we experience feelings of falling, body jerking, rapid eye movement, and deep sleep. Sleep is essential for mood regulation and balanced hormones. A few scientific theories about WHY we sleep will be discussed, which include: Wish fulfillment, Information Processing Theory (Dreams help us sort out the days' events), Physiological Function Theory (Dreaming promotes neural development and preserves neural pathways), and how dreams are an important part of cognitive development. This class is structured with power-point slides that are easy to follow along with. I believe in teaching the students through experiences rather than memorization. The more the students participate and interact with fellow students and the teacher, the more we will get out of the class. I use a person-centered and positive teaching approach. All that is required of this class is to be ready to have fun. Let's have fun and dive into the complex world of the human brain!