What’s happening in their heads?

1. What’s happening in their heads? An introduction to some neuroscience behind SEAL

2. Revisiting Learning What is learning? How do we learn? What role does emotion play?

3. NEO CORTEX The ‘Thinking’ Brain Left Right Words Creativity Patterns Sequences Imagination Analysis Whole picture • LIMBIC BRAIN • The ‘Feeling’ Brain • Five senses • Emotional Memory • Context • REPTILIAN BRAIN • The ‘Survival’ Brain • Basic body systems • Desire to avoid harm

4. Processing learning • The role of the cortex • Right or left? • Or both?

5. The Role of the Limbic System • Senses • Thalamus • Hippocampus • Amygdala • Hypothalamus • Cortical lobes

6. The importance of PFC Pre Frontal Cortex …or this bit ‘ere

7. Birth to three matters From birth to three years a child learns an amazing array of social and emotional skills. Interactions at this age actually builds brain networks in the PFC. Add wall

8. Hormones alone are not responsible! Pruning at this age is similar to changes in infant brains Frontal lobe is a hot bed of activity and bears little resemblance to a child or adults brain The amygdala is used to guide responses more than the frontal lobes Teenage brain

9. Emotional States • Fear • Joy • Sadness • Disgust • Surprise • Anger

10. Snakes, spiders and sabre tooth tigers..... … risks, tests and bully boy fighters? Learner stress

11. NEO CORTEX The ‘Thinking’ Brain Left Right Words Creativity Patterns Sequences Imagination Analysis Whole picture • LIMBIC BRAIN • The ‘Feeling’ Brain • Five senses • Emotional Memory • Context • REPTILIAN BRAIN • The ‘Survival’ Brain • Basic body systems • Desire to avoid harm

12. Zones for Learning • Comfort Zone • Challenge Zone • Stress Zone

13. Would you like to know more? Check out PBS www.pbs.org/wnte/brain/outreach/episodes.html Neuroscience for Kids http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/neurok.html Brain activities www.brainconnection.com