Lesson Plans
Lesson Plans
Free Download as PDF files
University of Washington, Seattle
Visual Illusions
Watch a number of visual illusions
Focuses on limitations of the visual system and how the brain “sees” things that aren’t there.
Discuss: sensation versus perception, receptor adaptation and fatigue, aspects of visual processing...
Mirror Drawing
Try to trace images while looking into a mirror
Focuses on sensory integration and adaptation to visual changes.
Discuss: how one sense - vision - guides another - touch and motor control, and how this can be changed over time...
Prism Goggles
Try to handle objects while wearing light-bending goggles
Focuses on sensory integration and adaptation to visual changes.
Discuss: how vision guides spatial awareness, and how this can be changed over time...
Download PDF (Updated 05-29-2008) | Watch video demo
Face Paint & Brain Crafts
Make models of neurons and brains & wear neuro-face paint
Focuses on hands-on involvement and science as fun and stimulating.
Discuss: what are you making, what does it do in real life, what’s your favorite thing about the brain...
Insect Senses
Learn how other organisms have the same senses as us, but use them differently
Focuses on how our senses have evolved to help us navigate our environment.
Discuss: how you use your senses; how other animals use their senses; the scientific method...
Primacy and Recency
Experience a preference to remember first (primacy) and last items (recency) of a list
Focuses on how our brain organizes information and compensates when it can’t do everything.
Discuss: why we might remember things this way; limits of human memory...
Temperature Experiment (“Magic Water”)
Experience a touch-illusion when one hand is adapted to cold water and the other is adapted to hot water.
Focuses on sensory adaptation.
Discuss: what you sense depends on what you sensed before; what else adapts; why might senses adapt...
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