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Pick and Plan
100 Brain-Compatible Strategies for Lesson Design



July 2007 | 144 pages | Corwin
Pick and Plan offers teachers 100 classroom-ready activities that are based upon how the brain learns and remembers new information. Beginning with a brief overview of the building blocks of the brain, four memory pathways, and what the research says, the author then introduces a five-part lesson planning model: engager, frame, activity, debrief, and story/metaphor. The book offers sample lessons that demonstrate each part of the model in practice, allowing the teacher to 'pick and plan' on an as-needed basis with a fully browsable table of contents. Research sidebars and lively discourse make the book a teacher-friendly resource for beginning or veteran teachers who want to liven up their lesson planning with brain-friendly strategies in mind.
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Author
 
Part I. At the Beginning
 
1. The Building Blocks of the Brain: How We Learn
Brain Functions

 
Memory Pathways

 
 
Part II. The Lesson Plan
 
2. Engager
Strategy 1. Interview: Man on the Street

 
Strategy 2. Who am I?

 
Strategy 3. Reporter Relay

 
Strategy 4. Do You Know Your Neighbor

 
Strategy 5. Corners

 
Strategy 6. Fishbowl Discussion

 
Strategy 7. Fill 'er Up

 
Strategy 8. Word Play

 
Strategy 9. Scavenger Hunt

 
Strategy 10. Dialogue Circles

 
Strategy 11. What's Missing

 
Strategy 12. Mystery Box

 
Strategy 13. Crossed Wires: Telephone With a Twist

 
Strategy 14. Collaborative Stories

 
Strategy 15. To Tell the Truth

 
Strategy 16. Quick Draw

 
Strategy 17. Categories

 
Strategy 18. Life Boat

 
Strategy 19. Hot Potato With a Twist

 
Strategy 20. Two Truths and a Lie

 
 
3. Frame
 
4. Activity
Strategy 21. Writing

 
Strategy 22. Mnemonic Devices

 
Strategy 23. Peer Discussion/Peer Teaching

 
Strategy 24. Graphic Organizers

 
Strategy 25. Storytelling

 
Strategy 26. Guest Speaker

 
Strategy 27. Movement

 
Strategy 28. Role Play

 
Strategy 29. Celebrations

 
Strategy 30. Debate

 
Strategy 31. Music

 
Strategy 32. Reading Strategies

 
Strategy 33. Field Trips

 
Strategy 34. Discovery Learning

 
Strategy 35. Cooperative Learning

 
Strategy 36. Rituals

 
Strategy 37. Novelty

 
Strategy 38. Art and Creativity

 
Strategy 39. Scaffolding

 
Strategy 40. Manipulatives/Models

 
 
5. Debrief
Strategy 41. Up!

 
Strategy 42. Board Races

 
Strategy 43. Hot Potato With a Twist

 
Strategy 44. Seven Up With a Splash

 
Strategy 45. Jeopardy

 
Strategy 46. Bingo

 
Strategy 47. Cartoons

 
Strategy 48. Each One, Teach Three

 
Strategy 49. Schema Mapping

 
Strategy 50. Turn to Your Neighbor

 
Strategy 51. Interview the Expert

 
Strategy 52. Alphabet Summaries

 
Strategy 53. Bumper Stickers

 
Strategy 54. Newsbreak!

 
Strategy 55. Top Ten

 
Strategy 56. Hot Dog

 
Strategy 57. Give Them the Finger

 
Strategy 58. Circle Stories

 
Strategy 59. Concentration

 
Strategy 60. Flyswatter

 
 
6. Metaphor and Story
 
7. How to Mix a Group
Strategy 61. Playing Cards: Color (Two Groups)

 
Strategy 62. Playing Cards: Suit (Four Groups)

 
Strategy 63. Playing Cards: Number

 
Strategy 64. Playing Cards: Number and Color

 
Strategy 65. Birthday Line-up

 
Strategy 66. Birthday Week

 
Strategy 67. Numbered Craft Sticks

 
Strategy 68. Color of Clothing

 
Strategy 69. Volunteers

 
Strategy 70. Physical Attributes

 
Strategy 71. Hobbies

 
Strategy 72. Collections

 
Strategy 73. Last Number of Phone Number

 
Strategy 74. Last Letter of Name

 
Strategy 75. Four Corners

 
Strategy 76. Picture Match

 
Strategy 77. Proverbs

 
Strategy 78. Opposites

 
Strategy 79. Synonyms

 
Strategy 80. Categories

 
 
8. Breaks/Energizers
Strategy 81. Foot/Arm Spin

 
Strategy 82. Same/Different Pictures

 
Strategy 83. Indoor Volleyball

 
Strategy 84. Name Game

 
Strategy 85. Isometrics

 
Strategy 86. Simon Says

 
Strategy 87. Hand Slap

 
Strategy 88. Jumping Jacks

 
Strategy 89. Criss-Cross

 
Strategy 90. Follow the Leader

 
Strategy 91. Line Dancing

 
Strategy 92. Stretching

 
Strategy 93. Toss Across

 
Strategy 94. Juggling

 
Strategy 95. Jacks

 
Strategy 96. Gotcha!

 
Strategy 97. Rhythm

 
Strategy 98. Kick the Can: Desk Style

 
Strategy 99. Silent Ball

 
Strategy 100. Have a Ball!

 
 
Appendix A. Lesson Plan Samples
 
Appendix B. Elements of Activities
 
References
 
Index

"A wealth of knowledge and practical strategies are packed into this lesson planning book. Teachers will use this informative book to design quality lessons to reach all learners. This one won't gather dust; it will be that dog-eared, coffee-stained, often-used volume!"

Sandra Hess, Assistant Superintendent
Warsaw Community Schools, IN

"Using a four-part model and field-tested teaching strategies, Utter has developed a mix-and-match format for creating an endless variety of dynamic, brain-friendly lesson plans."

Bonnie Rogers, Coordinator of Adult Education
Fort Wayne Community Schools, IN

"If you really want to energize your teaching, this is the book for you. The research-based content is full of ideas presented in a practical and user-friendly format."

Joanne Cearbaugh, ESL Methods Instructor
Taylor University

"it is refreshing to have ideas that will help me tap into new strategies for organizing my lesson plans to help my students learn."

Jana J. Ames, Literacy Coach
Pahvant Elementary, Richfield, UT

"Presents an activities-based workbook to teachers, offering strategies to tailor classroom activities to students' individual learning styles and needs. Sample lessons and sidebars of information accompany classroom-specific routines and suggestions gleaned from real-world applications that work."

California Bookwatch, August 2007

For instructors

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