Tuesday, 27 February

In class

  1. Unit 1 assessment.
  2. The Teen Stress Survey

Assignments

  1. Complete the Teen Stress Survey if you didn’t do so during class.

Friday, 23 February

In class

  1. Return and discuss Reference Quiz 2
  2. Review for the Unit 1 exam.

Assignments

  1. Review for the Unit 1 exam on Tuesday.
  2. Complete your Unit 1 notecard. Write your name in the upper right hand corner and have it ready to turn in after the exam.
Preparing early and often in small chunks of time is a evidence-supported approach to learning and doing well on assessments.
Preparing early and often in small chunks of time is a evidence-supported approach to learning and doing well on assessments.
Preparing early and often in small chunks of time is a evidence-supported approach to learning and doing well on assessments.

Wednesday, 21 February

In class

  1. Daily Calm Wednesday.
  2. Return notebooks.
  3. Collect and discuss Defined by Category analysis questions.
  4. How important is belief?
    • Documentary: The Power of Belief

Assignments

  1. Read p. 36.
  2. Unit 1 exam next Tuesday, 27 February.
Many climbers of the world’s tallest mountains credit a strong belief they have in their abilities to overcome the incredible challenges of the task.
Many climbers of the world’s tallest mountains credit a strong belief they have in their abilities to overcome the incredible challenges of the task.
Many climbers of the world’s tallest mountains credit a strong belief they have in their abilities to overcome the incredible challenges of the task.

Friday, 16 February

In class

  1. Review brain anatomy and physiology.
  2. Reference Quiz 2.
  3. The Brain: Our Universe Within, Part 2.
  4. Finalized notebooks and turned them in.

Assignments

  1. Read the essay Defined by Category (p. 46-47). Answer the reflection and analysis question paper and have ready to turn in on Wednesday.
A 3D rendering and axial MR images showing the subcortical grey matter structures being analyzed through fMRI.
A 3D rendering and axial MR images showing the subcortical grey matter structures being analyzed through fMRI.
A 3D rendering and axial MR images showing the subcortical grey matter structures being analyzed through fMRI.

Wednesday, 14 February

In class

  1. Collect Mike The Chicken extra credit.
  2. Breathing meditation.
  3. Quiz 1 returned and discussed.
  4. Brain Evolution and Function Continued:

Assignments

  1. Review for Reference Quiz 2 next class covering the material in p. 22 – 35
  2. Finalize your notebook to be turned in on Friday.
  3. Continue watching the documentary, The Brain: Our Universe Within, up to time stamp 19:40 before class on Friday.
Where does consciousness come from? This is among the most difficult questions being asked today in neuroscience and philosophy of mind.
Where does consciousness come from? This is among the most difficult questions being asked today in neuroscience and philosophy of mind.
Where does consciousness come from? This is among the most difficult questions being asked today in neuroscience and philosophy of mind.

Monday, 12 February

In class

  1. Meditative breathing for 2 minutes.
  2. Habituation Stations.
  3. A time your senses fooled you.
  4. The first evolution of the brain.

Assignments

  1. Read, take notes, and answer questions on p. 29 – 35.
  2. Your notebook will be collected on Friday, 16 February.
  3. Unit 1 exam coming soon…
  4. Extra credit 1: Mike the Chicken.
    • Research Mike the Chicken from any website that is not Wikipedia. (Print off the first page of the website showing the web address.)
    • Type responses to the following three questions:
      1. Give the who, what, where for Mike.
      2. Explain why he is famous.
      3. Explain what we learned about the brain from Mike.
    • Print your responses, staple the website page to the bottom, and have ready to turn in at the start of class Wednesday.

Thursday, 8 February

In class

  1. A quick review session.
  2. Reference Quiz 1
  3. Optical illusions, Day 2

Assignments

  1. Read p. 22-28 and answer the questions in your notebook.
    • Notebooks will be collected on Friday, 16 February.
  2. Read In the Blink of an Ear (p. 41-45) and then, using what you learned in the reading, formulate a response to the Unit 1, Objective 3 in your notebook.
What do you see?

Tuesday, 6 February

In class

  1. Time to breathe.
  2. Reviewing for the Reference Quiz 1 given next class.
  3. Senses, Perception, and Illusions.

Assignments

  1. Review for the quiz next class.
Point of focus illusions confuse your brain on orientation in space.

Friday, 2 February

In class

  1. RAOK cards.
  2. Anatomy and physiology of the neuron.
  3. The neuron action potential
  4. Senses and Perception

Assignments

  1. Pages 20 and 21.
  2. Your first quiz will be given on Thursday covering the material in p. 7 – 21.
An artistic rendering of a group of neurons.
An artistic rendering of a group of neurons.
An artistic rendering of a group of neurons.

Wednesday, 31 January

In class

  1. Learning to Breathe
  2. Discussion of the Seligman Test of Optimism.
  3. Locus of Control.

Assignments

  1. Read, take notes, and answer the questions in your notebook for pages 12 – 18.
  2. Finish your reflection questions for the LoC instrument. pdf
Denali National Park in Alaska. One of my favorite places.

Monday, 29 January

In class

  1. Review of the SLANT behaviors.
  2. Name game quiz.
  3. Getting to know me.
  4. Optimism and Positive Person discussion.
  5. Optimist instrument test.

Assignments

  1. Read pages 7-11 and take notes in your notebook. Leave space between sections and answer the questions when encountered.
  2. Complete and email me (mgrdinic@glenbrook225.org) your About Me presentation by the end of the day Friday. Here is mine as a template.
  3. Materials and homework check at the start of class on Wednesday.
Optimism can be applied in many ways.

Thursday, 25 January

In class

  1. Welcome and introductions.
  2. The syllabus, routines, and expectations.
  3. What is Brain Studies?
  4. Practical Neuroscience 1: SLANT
  5. A method to remember names.
  6. The Positive Person quiz.

Assignments

  1. Bring required materials outlined in the syllabus.
  2. Prepare your new bound composition notebook by doing the following:
    • In pen, write your name and Brain Studies 161 on the front cover.
    • Leave the first two pages blank to create a table of contents.
  3. At the top of a new page in your notebook write Why I Took Brain Studies and then write a 1-2 paragraph response.
  4. At the top of a new page write Positive Person Reflection and then write 1-2 paragraphs reflecting upon your score and how well you feel it accurately describes you as a person.
Actions and behaviors that you take everyday can make changes in your brain.