Along nerve cells, electrical impulses carry information much more rapidly than is possible by diffusion of blood flow. Learning about the brain should be an adventure. Certainly there are many new words and unfamiliar terms to remember, but the best way to discover how the brain works is by experimentation and hands-on activities. The Project 2061 benchmarks provide one framework within which to build resources related to neuroscience for students of different ages. For elementary school students, activities should focus on the senses.
Older students can direct their attention to neuroanatomy and neurophysiology.
Vision, audition, gustation, somatosensation, olfaction - a young student may not know these words, but certainly knows that the eyes, ears, tongue, skin and nose bring information from the outside world. Simple experiments using touch boxes, taste and smell tests, or visual illusions can reinforce the concept that the brain processes and interprets external stimuli. Older students can devise their own experiments to test their classmates' sensory abilities and to extend their learning by asking questions about gender and age differences. Students and teachers can also discuss disabilities and neural plasticity while learning about the senses. Neuroanatomy should not be a dry, boring exercise in memorization.