Brain-Compatible Activities, Grades 6-8

A Corwin Press Classroom Activity Book" Practical, brain-compatible activities every elementary teacher can use! Brain research has provided a tremendous opportunity to develop instructional techniques that facilitate the brain's innate learning capacity. As educators, we can take this knowledge and apply it to the strategies we use in our classrooms. This essential resource, based on David A. Sousa's best-seller provides ready-to-use, brain-compatible activities that feature some of the following strategies: Graphic organizers Mnemonic devices Cooperative learning Movement to enhance retention Music to stimulate brain activity and creativity These activities, correlated with national standards, cover all the content areas in grades 6-8 and include topics such as vocabulary, characterization, percentages, word problems, family history, historical research, mitosis, chemical equations, and much more! The more we understand how the brain learns, the more instructional options we have. This unique resource helps you make the most of the brain's learning potential and transform your teaching practices to engage every student in your classroom. For other grade-specific Corwin Press Classroom books, please see: Brain-Compatible Activities, Grades K-2 Brain-Compatible Activities, Grades 3-5 About the Author David A. Sousa, an international educational consultant, has served at all levels of education in New Jersey public schools, including superintendent, supervisor of instruction, K-12 director of science, and junior and senior high school science instructor. Sousa has also been an adjunct professor of education at Seton Hall University, and a visiting lecturer at Rutgers University. Sousa has presented at national conventions of educational organizations and has conducted workshops on brain research and science education in hundreds of school districts and at colleges and universities across the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia. He has edited science books and published numerous books and articles in leading educational journals on staff development, science education, and brain research. Sousa has a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from Massachusetts State College at Bridgewater, a master of arts in teaching degree in science from Harvard University, and a doctorate from Rutgers University.

Table of Contents:
Connections to Standards Introduction Put It Into Practice 1. Language Arts Idiom Interviews Uninvited to Tea Sinking Sub Hink Pink Think! 2. Mathematics Is it a Deal? Metric Measurement Run Situation Cell Phone Acting Out 3. Social Studies 1950s Hoop-la Family Totem Guess Who? To Vote or Not to Vote 4. Science We Will Rock You Mitosis Focus Heart Walk Picturing Chemical Equations 5. Physical Education and the Arts Personal Petroglyphs Mozart Metaphors Cartoons Can Teach Fitness Instructor Answer Key References

About the Author :
DR. David A. Sousa is an international consultant in educational neuroscience and author of more than twenty books that suggest ways educators and parents can translate current brain research into strategies for improving learning. A member of the Cognitive Neuroscience Society, he has conducted workshops in hundreds of school districts on brain research, instructional skills, and science education at the preK–12 and university levels. He has made presentations to more than two hundred thousand educators at national conventions of educational organizations and to regional and local school districts across the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. Dr. Sousa has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts, a master of arts in teaching degree in science from Harvard University, and a doctorate from Rutgers University. His teaching experience covers all levels. He has taught senior high school science and served as a K–12 director of science, supervisor of instruction, and district superintendent in New Jersey schools. He was an adjunct professor of education at Seton Hall University for ten years and a visiting lecturer at Rutgers University. Prior to his career in New Jersey, Dr. Sousa taught at the American School of Paris (France) and served for five years as a foreign service officer and science advisor at the US diplomatic missions in Geneva (Switzerland) and Vienna (Austria). Dr. Sousa has edited science books and published dozens of articles in leading journals on professional development, science education, and educational research. His most popular books for educators include How the Brain Learns, now in its sixth edition; How the Special Needs Brain Learns, second edition; How the Gifted Brain Learns; How the Brain Learns to Read, second edition; How the Brain Influences Behavior; How the ELL Brain Learns; Differentiation and the Brain, second edition (with Carol Tomlinson); and How the Brain Learns Mathematics, second edition, which was selected by the Independent Book Publishers Association as one of the best professional development books. The Leadership Brain suggests ways for educators to lead today’s schools more effectively. Dr. Sousa’s books have been published in French, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Korean, Russian, and several other languages. His book Brainwork: The Neuroscience Behind How We Lead Others is written for business and organizational leaders. Dr. Sousa is past president of the National Staff Development Council (now called Learning Forward). He has received numerous awards from professional associations, school districts, and educational foundations for his commitment to research, staff development, and science education. He received the Distinguished Alumni Award and an honorary doctorate from Bridgewater State University and an honorary doctorate in humane letters from Gratz College in Philadelphia. Dr. Sousa has been interviewed on the NBC Today show, by other television programs, and by National Public Radio about his work with schools using brain research. He makes his home in south Florida.

Review :
“The different grade levels and approaches of these workbooks make them a top pick for any library strong in classroom workbooks and activities for teachers. Each workbook holds some 96 pages of projects, with fill-in blanks and ideas perfect for photocopying and classroom use. All are outstanding workbooks that teachers will appreciate.”