Objectives of this curriculum are: To introduce the brain functions and awareness of thoughts To introduce the concept of choice in our thoughts To relate thoughts to emotions To introduce the idea of subconscious thoughts and functions of the brain To introduce deep breathing for relaxation To introduce relationship of thoughts to self-esteem

1. My Brain
1st – 3rd Grade Elementary
Curriculum
Introduction to brain
science

2. Objective
 To introduce the brain functions and
awareness of thoughts
 To introduce the concept of choice in our
thoughts
 To relate thoughts to emotions
 To introduce the idea of subconscious
thoughts and functions of the brain
 To introduce deep breathing for
relaxation
 To introduce relationship of thoughts to
self-esteem

3. Overview
 Discussion: My brain
 Activity: Positive thoughts coloring sheet
 Activity: Thought Choices
 Activity: Deep Breathing
 Video: Sid The Science Kid- Relaxation
Investigation and Breathe In Breathe Out
 Discussion: What we learned

4. Materials Needed
 Optional: book from the recommended
reading list
 Anatomy of the brain diagram- included
 Crayons, colored pencils, pencils, pens
 Nap mats, blankets, or room to stretch out
 Internet connection and tv or monitor to
show video- links included
 Positive thoughts coloring sheet- included

5. My Brain

6. Optional Reading
Choose a book and read it to the children
then discuss it.
Recommended reading:
 The Magic School Bus Explores the Senses
 Look Inside Your Brain
 Young Genius: Brains
 How Does Your Brain Work? (Rookie Read-
About Health)

7. Discussion: My Brain
Teacher show the children the picture of
the brain. Describe the brain, it’s location,
approximate size. Let the children know
that every person and animal has a brain.
Give examples like dogs, cats, monkeys,
fish, etc. Explain that we have brains
because we are alive and that our brains
help us in many ways. Every living thing has
a type of brain. Explain that every part of
our body is connected to our brain. Show
the diagram of the nervous system.

8. My Brain is
Connected to
My Body

9. Discussion: My Brain
Ask the kids these questions to explain how
our brains work
 What kinds of things do our brains do?
 Learn new things
 Senses
 Think about things
 etc

10. Discussion: Memory
Everything that we see, touch, taste, smell,
or hear is copied and stored in our brains.
 Can you remember what you ate for
breakfast today?
That is because your brain was paying
attention. We call this memory. As we get
older there are things we will remember
really well, and things we will not remember
so well, but EVERYTHING is still in there. Our
brains remember it for us.

11. Discussion: Thoughts
Our thoughts are also stored in our brains.
Whatever we think about stays in there.
The wonderful thing about our thoughts is
that we can choose what we think about.
We get to decide if we want to think about
a book we like to read or (more examples
of fun things).
Ask the children:
 What do you like to think about?
These are all good choices.

12. Discussion: Thoughts
 Isit more fun to think about playing
outside or cleaning up your room?
 Give some more examples of positive or
negative things kids might think about.
 How do you feel when you think about
(positive examples)?
 When we think about things that make us
happy, how do we feel?
 And what about when we think about
things that are sad?

13. Activity: Thought Choices
We get to choose which one to think about. All
we have to do is start thinking about the things
that make us happier.
 Think about something that makes you really
happy (give examples like a pet, birthday
party etc).
 Close your eyes, and make a picture of it in
your mind.
 What does it look like? Does it smell? Does it
taste? What does it feel like? Does it make a
noise?

14. Activity: Thought Choices
Allow the children to keep thinking of their
good things for about a minute
 Now how do you feel?
 Was it fun to think of things that make us
happy?
We can do this any time we want to. We just
choose to focus on something that makes us
happy. You can do this at night before you go
to bed or when you first wake up.

15. Discussion: Skills and Talents
 Has someone ever told you that you have
done a really good job at something?
 Have you ever tried something that you
thought would be hard?
 What happened?
 Did you practice and practice until you
got better?

16. Discussion: Skills and Talents
When we practice something over and
over again our brain remembers how we
did it and helps us to get better. Eventually
it becomes something that you can do
easily without even thinking about it. We
call this a talent or skill.
 What is your talent? What are you good
at? What is a skill you have?
 How do you feel when you talk about
your talents and skills?

17. Activity: Positive Thoughts
Pass out the
Positive thoughts
handout and let
the children
draw or write in
their talents and
skills and things
that make them
happy.

18. Discussion: Positive
Thoughts Handout
Do you remember what I told you about
the brain recording everything that we see,
touch, taste, smell, and feel and what we
think?
Look at the pictures you just drew.
 Are these things we want our brains to
remember?
 Are these things we want to think more
about?

19. Discussion: Positive
Thoughts Handout
 Have you ever been called a name you
don’t like?
 How does that make you feel?
 Is it true?
 Look at your picture you just drew. What
do you think you can do when someone
says something about you that is not true
or calls you a name?
 What do you think you can do when you
are sad?

20. Breathing
Awareness and relaxation

21. Discussion: Breathing
Our brains have a lot of jobs. And the amazing
thing about our brains is that they do these jobs
all at the same time. Our brain works so fast, that
scientists are still learning just how fast our brains
work and how many things they do.
Show the diagram of the nervous system again.
If we could watch our thoughts travel from our
heads to our toes, it would move so fast that we
might not even see it. That is how fast our brains
are.

22. Discussion: Breathing
The signals that go from our brain to our
body happen all the time, mostly without us
thinking about it.
One example is BREATHING. Let’s take a
minute to listen to our breathing.
Breathe in, breathe out.
In. Out.
(now breathe in and out without talking)

23. Video Instructions
On the next page, click the photo. You will
be taken to the PBS Kids website videos
page. You have to scroll through the videos
to “Breathing Investigation” which is just a
few clicks down.
After breathing investigation click “songs”
on the left and go to “Breathe In Breath
Out”.
The kids do not need to nap, but allow
them to listen to their breathing while the
music plays.

24. Relaxation Investigation
Teacher: play
the video
Relaxation
investigation
then play the
song about
breathing.

25. Discussion: Breathing
Now ask:
 How do you feel?
 We just spent a minute thinking about our
breathing, but what happens when we
don’t think about it, are we still breathing?
 Our brain continues to tell our body to
breathe even when we are not thinking
about breathing. This is one way that our
brain helps us without us even knowing it.

26. Discussion: Wrap up
Review with the children:
 What our brains do for us
 How we choose what to think about
 How we feel when we think of positive vs
negative things
 How to replace criticism/name calling
with positive ideas
 How breathing works
 How we feel when we listen to our
breathing