Serving advanced learners (and their teachers) since 2012.

What's In My Brain Lessons

Students determine what topic I’m thinking of by analyzing two categories of examples.

Science

What’s In My Brain: Inventions vs Discovery
What’s In My Brain: Inventions vs Discovery
We’re looking at inventions vs discoveries.
Gr 2-8
What’s In My Brain: Paperclip vs Straw
What’s In My Brain: Paperclip vs Straw
We’re looking at magnetic vs. non-magnetic materials.
Gr 2-8
What’s In My Brain: Lion vs Bear
What’s In My Brain: Lion vs Bear
We’re looking at carnivores vs omnivores.
Gr 2-8
What’s In My Brain: Guinea Pig vs Potbelly
What’s In My Brain: Guinea Pig vs Potbelly
What do guinea pigs, shooting stars, and seahorses have in common? They’re all misnomers!
Gr 2-8
What’s In My Brain: Ball vs Book
What’s In My Brain: Ball vs Book
Let’s look at Kinetic vs Potential Energy!
Gr 2-8
What’s In My Brain!? Gold vs Wood
What’s In My Brain!? Gold vs Wood
Some of these examples are conductors and some are insulators!
Gr 2-8
What’s In My Brain: Ramp vs Bike
What’s In My Brain: Ramp vs Bike
Two columns. One is an example, one isn’t. Can you figure out the hidden rule before the big reveal?
Gr 2-8

Earth Science

What’s In My Brain: Crocodile vs Tree Frog
What’s In My Brain: Crocodile vs Tree Frog
Is it a reptile or an amphibian?
Gr 2-8
What’s In My Brain: Narwhal vs Penguin
What’s In My Brain: Narwhal vs Penguin
We’re looking at the arctic vs the antarctic.
Gr 2-8
What’s In My Brain!? Japan vs Jamaica
What’s In My Brain!? Japan vs Jamaica
Is it an island or an archipelago?
Gr 2-8

Ecology

What’s In My Brain: Grass vs Mold
What’s In My Brain: Grass vs Mold
Two columns. One is an example, one isn’t. Can you figure out the hidden rule before the big reveal?
Gr 2-8
What’s In My Brain: Coral vs Water Lilies
What’s In My Brain: Coral vs Water Lilies
Let’s look at saltwater vs freshwater organisms.
Gr 2-8
What’s In My Brain: Tree vs Tree
What’s In My Brain: Tree vs Tree
Let’s look at deciduous vs coniferous trees.
Gr 2-8
What’s In My Brain!? Walnut vs Clouds
What’s In My Brain!? Walnut vs Clouds
Let’s look at living vs non-living things.
Gr 2-8
Concept Attainment: Hornet vs Tiger
Concept Attainment: Hornet vs Tiger
Can your class spot the vertebrates vs invertebrates?
Gr 2-8
What’s In My Brain: Owl vs Eagle
What’s In My Brain: Owl vs Eagle
Some of these animals are nocturnal and some are diurnal.
Gr 2-8

Language Arts

What’s In My Brain: Primary Sources
What’s In My Brain: Primary Sources
Two columns. One is an example, one isn’t. Can you figure out the hidden rule before the big reveal?
Gr 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8

Grammar

What’s In My Brain: May vs May
What’s In My Brain: May vs May
The word “may” can be used for possibility or permission. It’s a modal auxiliary verb!
Gr 2-8
What’s In My Brain: Painting vs Painting
What’s In My Brain: Painting vs Painting
Two columns of sentences. Something is different about them. Can you figure out the rule?
Gr 2-8
What’s In My Brain: Cute Baby vs Fast Cheetah
What’s In My Brain: Cute Baby vs Fast Cheetah
Can students spot similes vs metaphors?
Gr 2-8
What’s In My Brain – Independent vs Dependent
What’s In My Brain – Independent vs Dependent
These clauses are sorted into two groups. What’s the rule? No definitions given — just examples.
Gr 2-8
Simple or Compound Sentences – What’s In My Brain?
Simple or Compound Sentences – What’s In My Brain?
Can your students spot simple sentences vs compound sentences?
Gr 2-8
Run On or Not? – What’s In My Brain
Run On or Not? – What’s In My Brain
Can your students spot the run-on sentences?
Gr 2-8
Complex or Compound – What’s In My Brain
Complex or Compound – What’s In My Brain
Can your class spot the complex sentences vs compound sentences?
Gr 2-8
What’s In My Brain: Progressive vs Simple Tenses
What’s In My Brain: Progressive vs Simple Tenses
Will your students notice progressive tense vs simple tense?
Gr 2-8
What’s In My Brain – The Park vs The Museum
What’s In My Brain – The Park vs The Museum
We’re looking at the past progressive tense and the simple past tense.
Gr 2-8

Social Studies

What’s In My Brain: Spain vs Germany
What’s In My Brain: Spain vs Germany
One column is an example. The other isn’t. Can your students figure out the hidden rule before the reveal?
Gr 2-8

Geography

What’s In My Brain: Austin vs Los Angeles
What’s In My Brain: Austin vs Los Angeles
We’re looking at capital cities.
Gr 2-8
What’s In My Brain: Italy vs Normandy
What’s In My Brain: Italy vs Normandy
We’re looking at countries vs states (and other smaller regions).
Gr 2-8
What’s In My Brain!? Japan vs Jamaica
What’s In My Brain!? Japan vs Jamaica
Is it an island or an archipelago?
Gr 2-8

Math

Geometry

What’s In My Brain: H vs Arrow
What’s In My Brain: H vs Arrow
Two columns. One is an example, one isn’t. Can you figure out the hidden rule before the big reveal?
Gr MP, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8
What’s In My Brain: Pentagon vs Pentagon
What’s In My Brain: Pentagon vs Pentagon
We’re looking at regular vs irregular polygons.
Gr 2-8
What’s In My Brain: Trapezoids or Not?
What’s In My Brain: Trapezoids or Not?
Which are trapezoids and which are not?
Gr 2-8

Enrichment

Concept Attainment: Art
Concept Attainment: Art
Can your students tell the difference between cubism and abstract art?
Gr 2-8