4. You can even increase
the amount of weight
you lift, or miles you run
because your muscles
have gotten bigger and
can handle more than
they could when you
first started!
7. Did you know that your brain is a muscle, too?
Just like the muscles in your arms and legs, the more
you challenge and push your brain, the bigger and
stronger it becomes.
8. Many people really believe that we are either
born smart or dumb, but that is not true!
Your intelligence is malleable – meaning it
can change.
Just like lifting weights makes you stronger,
your brain grows bigger the more you use it.
So working harder in school makes you
smarter!
But if you don’t use it, you might lose it!
9.
10. Here are some quotes from an article called,
“You Can Grow Your Intelligence – New
Research Shows the Brain Can Be Developed
Like a Muscle”
from the
National Association of Independent Schools
Washington, DC
Winter 2008
11. The cortex of your
brain has billions of
tiny nerve cells, called
neurons.
The cortex plays a key
role in memory,
attention, perceptual
awareness, thought,
language, and
consciousness.
12. The nerve cells have
branches connecting
them to other cells and
the communication
through these brain
cells is what allows us
to think and solve
problems.
13. When you learn new
things, these tiny
connections in the
brain actually multiply
and get stronger. The
more that you
challenge your mind
to learn, the more
your brain cells grow.
14. Then, the things that
you once thought were
difficult or maybe even
impossible – like
learning a new
language – seem to
become really easy.
It’s because your brain
has become larger, and
yes, smarter!
15. Which one of these babies do you think is the
smartest?
16. Everyone knows that babies are born without
being able to talk or understand language.
But somehow, all babies learn to speak their
parents’ language in the first few years of
their life.
How do they do it?
17. From the first day
babies are born, they
hear people around
them talk.
They have to try to
make sense of these
strange sounds and
figure out what they
mean.
In a way, they are
exercising their brains
by listening hard!
18.
Soon, babies start to
practice talking – even
though at first it just
comes out as goo-goo
sounds.
But eventually, words
start coming out, and
then by the time they
turn three, most babies
can speak a whole
sentence almost
perfectly.
Goo-goo,
ga-ga!
19. Once children learn a
language, they don’t
forget it.
The child’s brain has
changed – it has
actually gotten
smarter!
The babies’ brain cells
get larger and grow
new connections
between them.
20. These new, stronger connections make the
child’s brain stronger and smarter, just like a
weightlifter’s big muscles make them
stronger.
21. Just like a weightlifter or a ball player, to be a
brain athlete you have to exercise and
practice.
By practicing you make your brain stronger.
You also learn new skills that let you use your
brain in a smarter way – just like a basketball
player learns new moves.
22. Many people miss
out on the chance
to grow a strong
brain because they
think they can’t do
it, or that it’s too
hard.
23. It does take work,
just like becoming
stronger physically
or becoming a
better ball player
does. Sometimes it
even hurts!!
24. But when you feel yourself getting stronger
and smarter it is worth it!
25. NO PAIN, NO GAIN…
IT’S TIME TO GROW YOUR BRAIN!
PART 2
26. Are we born smart?
How is your brain like a muscle?
Do you believe intelligence is malleable
(meaning, it can change)?
If you believe intelligence IS malleable, do you
think you will be more positive when facing
challenges and more likely to meet your goals?
Why?
How do you change how smart you are? Can
you?
27.
Throughout camp, we will
be exercising our brains
with fun team-building
challenges.
Not only will these
challenges trigger your
creative thinking and get
your mental juices flowing,
but you will also improve
your cooperation and
communication skills,
which are life skills that are
beneficial to reaching
optimum success!
28. Our world is filled with creative people.
Think about inventions like the Chia Pet, the Swiffer,
or Silly Bands – someone had to create them! Maybe
one day you will create a famous invention!
Creativity can’t be taught like math.
So when it comes to creativity, there are no right or
wrong answers.
When you participate in open-ended learning
activities, you are given the chance to expand your
mind, solve problems in multiple ways, and express
your unique ideas.
29. Getting along with peers is an important part of
your daily life – at any age!
The way you interact with others says a lot about
you as a person and influences your reputation.
▪ If you’re easy to get along with, dependable,
and considerate of others, you will gain respect.
Cooperating with others in a group maximizes your
understanding of the term teamwork and
encourages creative problem solving.
30.
When cooperating with others, keep in mind:
Every person has strengths and weaknesses
Every person has limitations and abilities
Every person can contribute a thought or idea –
even if it does seem a little wacky!
Competing with other team members will get you
no where – you’re only as strong as your weakest
– or most difficult teammate.
31. There are so many ways we can communicate with
one another, and it is our obligation to be able to do
so clearly.
Communicating involves:
Listening
Comprehending
The ability to express an idea clearly
The only way to learn to communicate more clearly
is to practice.
You will see how effective communication skills will
aid in tackling the team challenges successfully!
32. You will have a few challenges during your time
here in Mr Cull’s class.
Your first challenge will be to organise your
homework…you may want to start working
on those brain muscles!