A note for teachers

We understand that the role of teachers is not only to teach, but to stimulate their students to learn. We know that teachers play a key role in supporting students to develop the skills they need to explore and uncover knowledge for themselves. With the right resources, teachers can be a catalyst for self-directed learning among their students.

We hope that journey through the brain will be one such resource for you and will support your efforts to bring the science and the art of the human brain to life among your students. We have tried to ensure that the book is accessible to all second level students but we think it might be particularly well suited to transition year student learning.

Easily accessible for young people, the book:

• Outlines key information about the brain in short and simple language.
• Uses visual images to represent the many complex structures, mechanisms, and connections within the brain
• Plays a role in promoting well-being. The act of colouring can have beneficial effects on your students' sense of well-being; it can induce a calm state and distract them from their anxieties or worries. 

Interestingly, using this book has the potential to activate both hemispheres of the brain as it promotes creativity as well as encouraging people to focus and organise their thoughts and action.

How to use the book

You can use the book in a number of ways. For example, consider the following:

• Use the accompanying and additional notes to run a brain class or workshop, using the book as a resource during the class.
• Give students the book and encourage them to choose one aspect of the brain to research further as part of brain science project. This could work well as a group project for the class. 
• Run a mind-body well-being session with the students. As part of the session, explain the relationship between the brain, human emotions and the human body. Talk about the importance of meditation and mindfulness. Encourage students to choose an image of from the book and to take time in class to colour it in. If you do this, be sure to give enough time to the class for them to colour slowly and mindfully. At the end of the session, ask students to reflect on the process of colouring and encourage a discussion about the link between the brain, mindfulness and well-being

You can order a copy of the book for your school by emailing brainjourney@rcsi.ie.