BioEd Online

Meet Your Brain

Get the basics about brain parts and functions.

Neuron to Neuron

Learn about cells of the nervous system and brain.

Sensing the World

How does the brain process sensory information?

Learning and Memory

How does the brain learn new information and recall memories?

The Brain and Education

Neuroscience can help to optimize teaching and learning.

Understandings about brain function in health, aging, learning and disease are growing with breathtaking speed. The Learning Brain and BrainLink^® projects have and continue to develop and evaluate science teaching resources on emerging areas in neuroscience for use with elementary and secondary school students. Topics include brain structure, neurons and the nervous system, human senses and movement, learning and memory, diseases of the nervous system, and the effects of drugs on the brain and body.

The links on this page contain complete teacher guides, individual lessons on the brain, digital slides, video presentations and related content to enhance your instruction.

The Learning Brain project is part of the National Institutes of Health’s Blueprint for Neuroscience Education program, and is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the Science Education Partnership Award program, Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health. The BrainLink project was funded by a Science Education Partnership Award.

The Learning Brain: K-5

K-1: The Senses Teacher's Guide

Students investigate sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch, and discover how the brain and the senses are connected. (9 activities)

Grade(s)
K-2

Slide Set

K-1: The Senses Classroom Slides

This slide set is designed for use with activities found in K-1: The Senses Teacher’s Guide.

Grade(s)
K-2

Making Sense!

Making Sense! is a colorful, engaging picture/storybook that introduces students to the brain and the five senses as they solve mystery picture puzzles.

Grade(s)
K-2

Thumbnail Image for Train Your Brain: The Neuroscience of Learned Behaviors

Train Your Brain: 3-5

How do we learn and remember things? Students investigate how some behaviors work without conscious thought, and how other skills can be newly acquired or improved upon. (11 activities)

Brain Comparisons: 3-8

Brain Comparisons Teacher's Guide

Students learn the brain has three main parts, the skull provides protection for the brain, brains differ in size and shape among animals, and more. (6 activities)

Skullduggery: A Case of Cranium Confusion

The NeuroExplorers find themselves creeping around caves, where they hope to help Professor Ottzinger find the missing skull of the Mishigara Man and clear the Professor’s name!

Brain Comparisons Explorations

Extension activities designed for use in class (see "Sample Sequence" in the teacher's guide) or the magazine may be taken home to share with family and friends.

Brain Comparisons: The Reading Link

Reading and language arts worksheets for use the book, Skullduggery: A Case of Cranium Confusion.

Memory and Learning: 3-8

Memory and Learning Teacher's Guide

Students discover how their brains store and retrieve information and, subsequently, how to be more effective learners. (7 activities)

Danger at Rocky River: A Memorable Misadventure

NeuroExplorer Max reveals that his grandfather has Alzheimer’s disease. When the club members arrive to visit, they learn Rocky River is rising—and Max’s grandfather is missing. Will they find Max’s Grandpa in time?

Memory and Learning Explorations

Extension activities designed for use in class (see "Sample Sequence" in the teacher's guide) or the magazine may be taken home to share with family and friends.

Memory and Learning: The Reading Link

Language arts and reading worksheets for use with the student storybook, Danger at Rocky River: A Memorable Misadventure.

Motor System: 3-8

Motor System Teacher's Guide

Students investigate the brain and motor system, including the anatomy of motor neurons and their function, voluntary and involuntary movements, and how muscles and nerves produce movement. (10 activities)

Trouble at Tsavo: The Tale of the Black Rhino

The NeuroExplorers watch in awe as Shiloh Nimbus play tennis. The game is so intense that, after a few minutes, they no longer "see" the players’ wheelchairs. What happened to Shiloh?

Motor System Explorations

Extension activities designed for use in class (see "Sample Sequence" in the teacher's guide) or the magazine may be taken home to share with family and friends.

Motor System: The Reading Link

Reading and language arts worksheets for use the book, Trouble at Tsavo: The Tale of the Black Rhino.

Sensory System: 3-8

Sensory System Teacher's Guide

Students learn how the brain, sensory neurons and five senses work together to receive and process information from outside of the body and inside of the body enabling humans to survive. (9 activities)

The Cookie Crumbles: A Case of Sensory Sleuthing

Josh Kavil receives a new box of cookies containing a mint-condition baseball trading card. But the cookies inside are stale. What could be the reason for this discrepancy?

Sensory System Explorations

Extension activities designed for use in class (see "Sample Sequence" in the teacher's guide) or the magazine may be taken home to share with family and friends.

Sensory System: The Reading Link

Reading and language arts worksheets for use the book, The Cookie Crumbles: A Case of Sensory Sleuthing.

Brain Chemistry: 6-12

The integrated components of the Brain Chemistry unit enable students to explore chemical communication in the brain and nervous system, while building a deeper understanding of the powerful effects of drugs in the brain and body. Unit materials are adaptable to a variety of grade levels and teaching and learning styles.

Brain Chemistry Teacher's Guide

Students learn about the brain, neurons, chemical communication in the body, risk perception and how personal choices can affect brain function and performance. (9 activities)

Thumbnail Image for The Brain, Neurons and Brain Chemistry

Slide Set

Brain Chemistry Classroom Slides

Did you ever wonder why you can respond so quickly when you are startled? Wonder why you can “see” a picture in your mind’s eye? Discover the brain and its powerful communicators, neurons.

Legacy of Lost Canyon

Legacy of Lost Canyon is an engaging mystery adventure story that also teaches science and health concepts related to the brain, central nervous system and chemicals in the body.

Brain Chemistry Explorations

Magazine containing articles and activities on topics including plants which stimulate or depress certain aspects of the nervous system, the structure of the brain, neurons and the nervous system, and more.