Engage the Brain: Games, Science, Grades 6-8

Download a Sample Lesson Plan and Student Activity

Real learning can be fun with games for the brain!

The Engage the Brain: Games series offers practical activities that energize students, increase brain connections to content, and reinforce learning in a nonthreatening atmosphere.

Derived from tested, research-based strategies found in the bestseller Worksheets Don't Grow Dendrites, this book provides activities that incorporate games aligned with national academic standards for science, including physical science, life science, and earth and space science.

You will find brain-friendly activities that can be integrated easily into your lesson plans to inspire enthusiasm and help students achieve. Each game provides learning objectives, a comprehensive materials list, step-by-step guidelines for playing the game, activities for extended learning, and required reproducibles such as game cards, game boards, and scorecards. Discover favorites such as scavenger hunt, hot potato, bingo, and charades applied to middle school science content in games like Laboratory Scavenger Hunt, Energy Bingo, and Space Secrets. All games include a focus activity, modeling, guided practice, independent practice, and a closing. Students actively process content as they play existing games, and construct and design a variety of new ones.

Use these engaging activities to supplement your curriculum goals in

• Elements and compounds
• Animals, the human body, and genetics
• Earth and life cycles
• Solar system and space science
• Energy, time, and more!

Watch your students thrive and grow with creative experiences that incorporate movement, teamwork, healthy competition, and interpersonal skills!