Brain Education Program
Grades 7-8
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Thank you to the Cambridge & North Dumfries Community Foundation and the City of Waterloo for their support which allowed us to develop this educational resource. 
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The Human Brain
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Our brain is our body's command centre for the nervous system. Messages are constantly sent and received in the brain. The brain is like a control centre that sends and receives messages from our 5 senses.
It is divided into four main lobes: - The Frontal Lobe - The Parietal Lobe - The Temporal Lobe - The Occipital Lobe The fifth major part of the brain is the Cerebellum. Each lobe is responsible for important functions that we rely on every day! |
Freepik. (2020). Parts of the Human Brain.
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Neurons
The human brain is made up of billions of cells called Neurons. Their function is to produce signals (packets of information) and pass them on to other neurons. This neuronal activity is how we think, move and feel.
Neurons are different from other cells in our body because they have specialized branches, called Dendrites and Axons. No other cells in the body have these specialized branches!
Neurons are different from other cells in our body because they have specialized branches, called Dendrites and Axons. No other cells in the body have these specialized branches!
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Axon: Sends messages to other neurons
Dendrite: Receives messages from other neurons
Dendrite: Receives messages from other neurons
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Our skin cells and hair cells always grow back. A broken arm or bruise can recover, but damaged neurons cannot. The best cure for brain damage is prevention. |
Brain Lobe Functions
The brain is important for everything we do! When we move, touch, see, think and feel emotions, we are using our brain!
Different areas of the brain that serve different functions are called lobes.
We have four specialized lobes. We also have a structure located at the back of the brain, called the cerebellum, which contains over 50% of the total number of neurons in the brain!
Humans have 5 basic senses: touch, smell, taste, hearing and sight.
When we use our senses, information is sent to our brains to help us perceive the world around us.
Different areas of the brain that serve different functions are called lobes.
We have four specialized lobes. We also have a structure located at the back of the brain, called the cerebellum, which contains over 50% of the total number of neurons in the brain!
Humans have 5 basic senses: touch, smell, taste, hearing and sight.
When we use our senses, information is sent to our brains to help us perceive the world around us.
Cerebellum
The Cerebellum is an important part of the brain, but it is not one of the lobes.
It helps us when we play sports and helps us stay balanced on our bikes and skateboards.
It helps us when we play sports and helps us stay balanced on our bikes and skateboards.
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The 5 senses are sometimes inter-related to each other and some of their functions might also be connected to other lobes of the brain. For example: Smell is linked to Taste, which enhances our appreciation of food (when we have a cold, a plugged nose decreases our enjoyment of food). Smell and taste work together to bring out the real “flavour” of our favourite foods! |
Smell
The sense of smell allows us to detect chemicals in the air. Another name for the sense of smell is olfaction.
Chemicals are breathed in through our nose and bind to special receptors. These receptors are found high up inside the nose in an area called the olfactory (smell) area. Information about which receptors have been activated is then sent to the olfactory bulb and then travels higher into the brain. We can then become aware of what it is we smell in the world around us.
Notice that the brain links smell to memory and also to emotions. For example, smelling popcorn can trigger a memory of being at the theatre and having happy times with friends, and smelling chocolate cookies might evoke memories of good times with Grandma and your love for her.
Chemicals are breathed in through our nose and bind to special receptors. These receptors are found high up inside the nose in an area called the olfactory (smell) area. Information about which receptors have been activated is then sent to the olfactory bulb and then travels higher into the brain. We can then become aware of what it is we smell in the world around us.
Notice that the brain links smell to memory and also to emotions. For example, smelling popcorn can trigger a memory of being at the theatre and having happy times with friends, and smelling chocolate cookies might evoke memories of good times with Grandma and your love for her.
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Some people in the world have no sense of smell. This is called anosmia. A serious head injury may cause anosmia. What kinds of good smells would you miss smelling if you had anosmia? Could anosmia be dangerous in any situations? |
Taste
Taste is located in the Parietal Lobe. The 4 types of taste are: Sweet, Sour, Salty and Bitter.
We have fewer taste buds at the back of the tongue than at the front, an advantage for eating foods we dislike or taking our medicine by placing them towards the back of the tongue. Notice that medicine is made to leave a bitter aftertaste to prevent harmful effects from taking too much.
Although it varies for each individual, the average tongue has about 10,000 taste buds. Different areas of the tongue are sensitive to different flavours.
Although it varies for each individual, the average tongue has about 10,000 taste buds. Different areas of the tongue are sensitive to different flavours.
Kolte, S. (2019). What are different taste buds?
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Our tongue’s taste buds DO grow back if damaged, but the neurons in our brain DO NOT! So, if you burn your tongue, there is no permanent damage to your sense of taste.
Why is it a good thing that we can grow new taste receptor cells? What things would you miss tasting if you lost your sense of taste? |
Vision
Eyes use RODS to see black and white as well as in the dark and CONES to see colours. Looking at a screen for too long can make the rods and cones adapt to overstimulation and lose sensitivity, thereby creating negative afterimages (still see video game images after turning game off with images originally red now green).
Some people can only see the world in shades of black and white. This is known as achromatopsia. Damage to cones in the retina or in specific areas of the occipital lobe may result in achromatopsia.
Eyes are the window to the brain, protect them by:
Some people can only see the world in shades of black and white. This is known as achromatopsia. Damage to cones in the retina or in specific areas of the occipital lobe may result in achromatopsia.
Eyes are the window to the brain, protect them by:
- Walking, not running, with sharp things in your hands
- Using good lighting when reading, writing, or using the computer
- Not looking directly at the sun
- Wearing proper eye protection during sports
- Getting your eyes regularly examined
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BRAIN FACT: Visual illusions can occur from different properties in the Occipital lobe of the brain as it processes information. So, your perception of an illusion has more to do with the way you process information in your brain and less with the optics of your eye. For example, do you see a bunny or duck in the image below? Maybe you can see both! |
Hearing
Hearing is in the Temporal Lobe. The outer ear captures sound and sends it to the auditory cortex in the Temporal lobe. Hearing is important for 5 reasons:
1) Communication
2) Danger/Risk alert (sirens, bear growling, mosquitoes buzzing)
3) Enjoyment (music, birds singing, etc.)
4) Awareness of our surroundings (near vs. far, soft vs. loud, high vs. low pitch, directional, kinds of sounds like car, vs. dog, vs, scratching on blackboard). The brain uses memory of previous experiences to teach us to recognize and distinguish sounds (train whistle is different from a car honking or a school bell).
5) Physical Balance which is associated with Vision and the Occipital Lobe.
People can lose some or all of their hearing because of loud noises and head injuries.
1) Communication
2) Danger/Risk alert (sirens, bear growling, mosquitoes buzzing)
3) Enjoyment (music, birds singing, etc.)
4) Awareness of our surroundings (near vs. far, soft vs. loud, high vs. low pitch, directional, kinds of sounds like car, vs. dog, vs, scratching on blackboard). The brain uses memory of previous experiences to teach us to recognize and distinguish sounds (train whistle is different from a car honking or a school bell).
5) Physical Balance which is associated with Vision and the Occipital Lobe.
People can lose some or all of their hearing because of loud noises and head injuries.
Do animals hear Sound?
The ability to hear is only found in vertebrates and insects. Within these groups, mammals and birds have the most developed sense of hearing. Different animals hear sound waves in different ranges of frequencies.
The ability to hear is only found in vertebrates and insects. Within these groups, mammals and birds have the most developed sense of hearing. Different animals hear sound waves in different ranges of frequencies.
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Your ears never stop hearing, even when you sleep! Your brain just tries to ignore incoming sounds to keep you asleep.
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Touch
Touch, from our largest sense organ (skin) is located in the Parietal Lobe. The four types of touch include pain, temperature, pressure, and vibration, and are important for:
1) Comfort (teddy, snuggly)
2) Detecting danger (hot stove)
3) Personal contact (hugs from people and pets)
The unusual body proportions of the homunculus reflect the relative sizes of sensory receiving areas from different body parts. The larger the area in the brain used to represent the body part, the more sensitive the body part.
1) Comfort (teddy, snuggly)
2) Detecting danger (hot stove)
3) Personal contact (hugs from people and pets)
The unusual body proportions of the homunculus reflect the relative sizes of sensory receiving areas from different body parts. The larger the area in the brain used to represent the body part, the more sensitive the body part.
eSchooltoday. (2020). The five senses.
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You might not like feeling pain, but pain is actually useful for you. Pain is a warning sign that tells you to stop doing what you are doing to protect you. Some people are born with no sense of pain, which you might think is good, but it is actually extremely dangerous! |
Your brain is important for all 5 of your senses: taste, vision, hearing, smell and touch! Protect your 5 senses by WEARING A HELMET!
Concussion Safety
A concussion is a type of brain injury caused by a blow to the head, face, neck, or body, making your brain bounce back and forth against the inside of your skull and affecting your overall function. Falls are the most common cause of concussion, with contact sports, such as football or hockey, being the second most common.
Symptoms from concussions typically last 7-10 days, but in some cases can persist longer than a year. Thankfully, most people usually recover fully from concussions if they take the proper rest and care as needed.
The 3 keys to recovering from a concussion include recognizing, reporting, and resting.
Symptoms from concussions typically last 7-10 days, but in some cases can persist longer than a year. Thankfully, most people usually recover fully from concussions if they take the proper rest and care as needed.
The 3 keys to recovering from a concussion include recognizing, reporting, and resting.
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Do you recognize any of these famous athletes who have all had concussions? Can you think of anyone else who has had a concussion? Have you ever had one? |
Symptoms of a Concussion
If you think you or someone you know might have a concussion, it is important to take action immediately! Symptoms can begin immediately, or they might not occur for hours, days, weeks, or sometimes even months following your injury. Don’t wait to seek medical attention and get assessed, the sooner you recognize a concussion the better chances you have of healing! Remember that each individual is different and symptoms can vary from person to person.
Concussion Management
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If you think yourself or a friend might have a concussion, immediately follow the STAR rule! |
What to do when you have a concussion:
What to do for a family member or friend with a concussion?:
Consequences of a repetitive concussion within hours or days:
- Rest
- Reduce screen time
- Reduce physical activity
What to do for a family member or friend with a concussion?:
- Read to them
- Play a quiet game with them
- Make an art project with them
- Send them a card
- Be patient
Consequences of a repetitive concussion within hours or days:
- Second impact symptom (SIS)
- Prolonged post-concussion symptom (PCS)
- Impairments of movement, sight, hearing, speech, cognitive function, sensation
- Death
Brain Protection
Why Protect your Brain?
Your brain is very fragile and delicate, so it requires maximum protection. Because it controls vital functions such as breathing, swallowing, your heartbeat, and more; without it you can’t live. Protect your brain at all costs, you only have one!
Here are some quick and easy ways to ensure you are protecting your brain and keeping it healthy:
1) Get regular exercise
2) Eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of water
3) Try cognitive exercise such as puzzles, cards, learning new skills, building vocabulary, etc…
4) Limit stress levels
5) Get 8 hours of sleep a night
6) Get regular medical assessments
7) Follow medical advice
8) Stay socially engaged
9) Wear proper head protective gear
10) Avoid all types of head injury by taking extra precaution
Your brain is very fragile and delicate, so it requires maximum protection. Because it controls vital functions such as breathing, swallowing, your heartbeat, and more; without it you can’t live. Protect your brain at all costs, you only have one!
Here are some quick and easy ways to ensure you are protecting your brain and keeping it healthy:
1) Get regular exercise
2) Eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of water
3) Try cognitive exercise such as puzzles, cards, learning new skills, building vocabulary, etc…
4) Limit stress levels
5) Get 8 hours of sleep a night
6) Get regular medical assessments
7) Follow medical advice
8) Stay socially engaged
9) Wear proper head protective gear
10) Avoid all types of head injury by taking extra precaution
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What actions do you take to protect your brain? Can you think of any other ways to protect your brain that we haven’t mentioned?
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Evolution of Helmets
In the past, professionals had often failed to realize the importance of protective gear in many different sports and activities. Take a look at the photo below to see the evolution of hockey masks from 1959 to today.
Luckily, today we know much more about how to protect the human brain, and helmets are built to reduce risk of serious brain injury and death by ensuring most of the impact is absorbed by the helmet, rather than your head.
Luckily, today we know much more about how to protect the human brain, and helmets are built to reduce risk of serious brain injury and death by ensuring most of the impact is absorbed by the helmet, rather than your head.
Helmet Safety
Wearing a helmet is necessary to protect your head. It is very important to wear one when participating in sports or wheeled activities (bikes, scooters, rollerblades, skateboards, etc…). It provides a cushion for your head and brain in case of a fall and can help prevent head injury.
Remember to follow the 2V1 rule when putting on your helmet and ensuring that if you have a ponytail, it is safely thread through the back of the helmet, allowing it to rest on your head properly and fit correctly.
Ask an adult for help when putting on your helmet to make sure you are safely wearing it!
Remember to follow the 2V1 rule when putting on your helmet and ensuring that if you have a ponytail, it is safely thread through the back of the helmet, allowing it to rest on your head properly and fit correctly.
Ask an adult for help when putting on your helmet to make sure you are safely wearing it!
