Today we have some questions children often ask Dr. JoAnn Deak about the brain when she's giving her presentations at schools. Here are her answers:
What does the brain feel like?
Well, the best way to describe it: go to the store and buy an uncooked skinless chicken breast and touch it. You've got it!
What color is it?
A live brain is kind of pinkish. Part of the reason has to do with the fact that it has a lot of blood going to it. The brain is very needy and greedy. It works so hard that it uses much of the oxygen and blood glucose (from the nutritious good food we eat) to keep it functioning well. Without the blood supply, it is kind of between a white and light gray color.
Why is it so wrinkled?
This is such and important question. Humans have the most wrinkled brain of all animals. The cortex that forms the big two hemispheric pecan looking brain starts out like a little gray pizza in the fetus. It is only about a centimeter thick. As it grows and hits the skull, if it stopped growing, we would have the intelligence of say, a cat. So, it needs to keep growing and would end up about six feet in diameter. That is too big a head for humans to have. So, the cortex begins to fold in on itself, the more wrinkles, the more complex and smarter the species!
Does the brain grow?
You bet! It is designed to grow as long as we live. We have 100 billion neurons, little chemical electrical wires that lead to thinking, feeling, doing... It acts somewhat like a muscle. When parts are used those neurons get bigger, the ends, called dendrites, grow magnificently and literally make that part of our brain bigger. In the brain field, there is a saying related to this: "Use it or lose it!"
If you have questions for Dr. Deak, by all means leave them in the comments. If you're interested in learning more about Dr. Deak's school presentations please visit her website.
Be sure to visit Sharp Brains today for an inside look at the book, and explore this fascinating site for more information!
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7 comments:
I've had the great fortune of participating in the audience during one of Dr. Deak's teacher workshops. She is passionate, engaging, motivating, funny, and ever-so knowledgable. Principals, reach out to her at www.deakgroup.com.
One of the nice things about this book is that I've found, even as an adult, I'm still learning! And now I'm not as concerned about my aging brain losing its elasticity, as quickly as the other parts of my body, as long as I keep using it. Thanks Little Pickle!
Kids come up with the greatest questions!
cheers, Jenn
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Dr. Deak continues to teach me something new with each post, today..100 billion neurons working to make us feel, think and do! The book explains this in a way that is easy to understand (finally). Thank you Dr. Deak and to Little Pickle Press!
As a teacher, I love the questions that my 18 little darlings ask each and every day.
oneflute85@aol.com
The most powerful thing students can learn is that they can learn! Exercising that brain simply by thinking about how they think and learn is the best tool for overcoming the idea that some kids are "just smart" and some kids are "lucky" in school! askmsdorothy@questioningdot.com
I have always loved books and reading and am trying to get my second graders to feel the same. In readers workshop I teach my students to choose books that exercise their brains, specifically their reading muscles.
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