Baa-Baa, Brain Week
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No Comments [ Add Comment ]By BETH YOUNG
Standard-Examiner Davis Bureau
CENTERVILLE --Monte McLaws carefully holds a sheep's brain in his gloved hand and explains the different sections.
"This is a cerebellum right here," he said. "It helps you balance and with motor skills. This is the brain stem and it sends messages throughout your body. It goes down your spinal cord."
Not a visiting brain surgeon or scientist, McLaws is a fourth-grader at Reading Elementary School. Almost all of the students gently cradle and touch the brains as part of the grand finale of Brain Week.
"Treat the brains with respect. Don't poke it. Don't push it. Don't squeeze it," said Peggy Hyde, Reading Elementary teacher who has been conducting Brain Week for 12 years.
"You can feel it. Feel the outer cerebral cortex. Look at the medulla and the hippocampus. Does it feel any different than other parts of the brain?"
Since the beginning of school, fourth-graders have been learning all about the brain and what it can do for them.
"It's a great jump start for the year," said Jackie Corbidge, another fourth-grade teacher. "The kids are excited because it's different. Anything you can do out of the ordinary to teach makes it worthwhile."
Both teachers said the brain is a great teaching tool because they can use it for all parts of the curriculum -- science, language, health and even self-esteem.
"The brain is an amazing organ," Hyde said. "We tell kids they can do anything they want with their brain. Whatever they want to be. Whatever they want to do. They can."
Students also learned how they can take care of their brain so it can take care of them.
"The brain is really, really important," said fourth-grader Sarah Cutler. "When you are riding a bike or scooter, wear a helmet. Don't take drugs or smoke or anything that could harm your brain."
Not every student was eager to hold a brain or even get that close to one.
"It's kind of disgusting, but it's not as bad as it was before," said Tara Farmer, one of several students who at first scooted their chairs away.
"It's sort of gross, but more fun than gross," said Shaylee Fowers.
By the end of the activity all of the students in the class had taken the opportunity to hold a brain.
"They get caught up in the excitement of holding the brain," Hyde said. "They see the other kids doing it and think, 'I can do this, too,' and they are not going to be left out."
Most of the students agreed that Brain Week was a smart way to start the school year.
"I think it's cool," Monte said. "I am not grossed out at all."
At the end of the week, parents are invited to the school so the students can show off their brain skills with different activities, complete with eating a Jell-O brain.
"One year we had a doctor in here and he said, 'Wow, these kids know their stuff,' " said Hyde. "Years go by and the students still remember this."
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