1. The Brain

2. Location and Description
Located inside your skull
Not very large, size of a head of cauliflower
Controls the body
Houses your thoughts and memories
Creates your feelings and emotions
Not actually pink, actually a dull grey color
Larger brains doesn’t necissarily mean more intelligent, depends on what part of the brain is larger

3. What makes up the brain? Mostly made up of neurons
Neurons are cells that can transfer information to and from the brain
Split into two different hemispheres, the left and right hemispheres
Each hemisphere controls opposite side of body
100 billion neurons in brain
Left hemisphere orientated: emphasis on reason and logic
Right hemisphere orientated: emphasis on creativity and imagination

4. Connecting the brain to the body
The brain stem connects the brain to the spinal cord
The spinal cord sends messages from the brain down to the rest of the body
The spinal cord is filled with interneurons, neurons that transmit information
Spinal cord must be protected, protected by Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)
CSF also protects the brain and brainstem
Injuries to back may damage the spinal cord, and cause paralysis, make sure kids keep back safe

5. Three Major Types of Neurons
Sensory Neurons
Receives information from outside world through senses such as sight, taste, smell, and transmit them to the brain
Motor Neurons
Sends messages from brain to muscles to move
Interneurons
Transmits information from sensory neurons to the brain and from the brain to motor neurons

6. Major Parts of the Brain
Cerebrum
Cerebellum
Brain Stem
Most of this will be extra, most information will be in notes
Use own discretion on whether these lessons should be taught

7. Cerebrum Largest part of the brain
Allows you to move your body on your command
Center of thoughts, personality, and receives information from sensory neurons
Split into five major lobes that control thought and memory, sight, sound, smell, and touch and movement

8. Cerebellum Second largest part of brain
Controls involuntary movement, or movement that is not controlled by thoughts such as breathing
Also controls balance and posture
Also controls spatial awareness, how we can know where things are without looking, such as bringing a spoon to one’s mouth without looking at the spoon

9. Brain Stem Connects brain to spinal cord
Controls life supporting systems such as heart rate and digestion
Also regulates sleep
Also called medulla
Made up of three parts, midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata