Background: The human brain has three main parts: the brain stem (safety), the limbic system (emotion), and the cortex (thinking and learning). Students who understand these areas and their functions can better regulate their emotions and thinking.
Today in Class: We discussed the areas of the brain and their functions. We showed how the brain stem and the cortex are separated by the limbic system (the emotional center). When emotions are too strong, they can block clear thinking. Then students colored and labeled the parts of the brain.
Self-Reflection: At work, what part of your brain do you use most? At home, what part do you use most? You need security and emotional balance in order to think clearly. How balanced are the three parts of your own brain?
At-Home Support
Discuss the human brain:
- Could you tell me about the three parts of the brain? (Brain stem, limbic system, cortex) Where are the three parts? (The cortex is at the top, the limbic system in the middle, and the brain stem on the bottom, connecting the brain to the spinal cord.)
- So, what does the brain stem deal with? (Physical safety, survival) What about the limbic system? (Emotion, motivation) What about the cortex? (Thinking, reflecting, analyzing)
- Have you ever had a time when your emotions made it hard to think? Tell me about it.
- I remember when my emotions overwhelmed my thinking: ________________.
- Thanks for telling me about the three parts. It's really interesting to think about which part is active when we do different things.
Student Reflection
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