L2 Life Orientation Module 5 How your brain works in terms of learning

Life Orientation: Life Skills NQF 2 Downloaded from hlayiso.com Life Orientation NQF Level 2

Explain how the brain works in terms of learning Module 5 Downloaded from hlayiso.com *see terms and conditions

Think about it… • Is studying late into the night & getting too little sleep counterproductive? • Can we sabotage our brain health by eating unhealthily? • Are there different kinds of intelligence? Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Unit 5.1 Your brain, learning & sleep Downloaded from hlayiso.com Life Orientation NQF Level 2

What is the brain? • A large organ that controls the nervous system. • Each part is responsible for different functions. Figure 5.1: Parts of the brain Downloaded from hlayiso.com

How does the brain work? • Nerve cells (neurons) pass messages to each other (through synapses). • Neurotransmitters (chemicals) send message signals from one neuron to the next. • Healthy food enables the brain to make neurotransmitters. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Thinking & learning • If you say, do or think something repeatedly, neuron pathways strengthen & you remember things better. • When you do not recall specific information regularly, it is lost. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Your thoughts influence your mood Certain thoughts trigger the release of neurochemicals that influence your mood: • Positive thoughts release good chemicals. • Negative thoughts release chemicals that increase your heart rate & blood pressure, & make you focus on negative things. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Learning activity 5.1 Module 5 Test your knowledge of this section by completing Learning activity 5.1 in your Student’s Book. Downloaded from hlayiso.com Life Orientation NQF Level 2

What your brain needs: • Fresh water. • Good nutrition. • Mental exercise. • An easy-going attitude. • Fresh air. • Good blood circulation Figure 5.6: Our wellbeing & performance (exercise). are supported by a commonsense balance in the different areas of our lives • Positive thoughts. • Sufficient sleep. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

The importance of sleep Table 5.1: Some benefits of a good night’s sleep Benefits Description Rest and  When you sleep, the processes in your body slow repair down and are given rest.  Your muscles relax and you breathe more deeply.  Your body and cells repair themselves and important hormones are secreted.  After sleeping, you will be healthier and able to perform better. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

The importance of sleep Table 5.1: Some benefits of a good night’s sleep Benefits Description Better  Good sleep increases brain function. brain  Without sufficient sleep, your cognitive performance function and alertness decrease.  You may become clumsier, and battle to focus on your work or a lecture.  You may also find it hard to make decisions, and forget things. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

The importance of sleep Table 5.1: Some benefits of a good night’s sleep Benefits Description Better  While you sleep your mind organises information you recall received via your senses throughout the day.  What you have learnt and your memories are combined.  If you have slept well, you will recall better what you learnt the previous day. Reduced  The levels of the stress hormone, cortisol, are stress reduced during the night. hormones  High levels of cortisol can upset brain function and cause anxiety, irritability and sleeplessness.  These make you feel worse and affect your emotions and performance. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

The importance of sleep Table 5.1: Some benefits of a good night’s sleep Benefits Description Stronger  Your immune system builds up as you sleep. immune  This makes you stronger against colds, flu and other system diseases that could prevent you from learning and working well. Refreshed  You awake refreshed after a good night’s sleep, but when without enough sleep you will be sleepy during the day. awakening  Sleep deprivation will affect your enthusiasm for your work and your ability to concentrate and learn.  It may even lead to costly mistakes or accidents. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

The importance of sleep Table 5.1: Some benefits of a good night’s sleep Benefits Description Better  Leptin is one of the important hormones that are appetite released while you sleep. It regulates your appetite by control telling your body when you have eaten enough.  If you don’t sleep well, your level of leptin will be too low and you will have an appetite that is difficult to control.  If you then snack on unhealthy brain foods (see Unit 5.2), your performance will be hampered. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Learning activity 5.2 Module 5 Test your knowledge of this section by completing Learning activity 5.2 in your Student’s Book. Downloaded from hlayiso.com Life Orientation NQF Level 2

Unit 5.2 Nutrition of the brain Downloaded from hlayiso.com Life Orientation NQF Level 2

How does food affect your brain? • Good food keeps the brain functioning at its best. Remember, the brain uses nutrients to produce neurotransmitters. • Bad food can dull, damage or shut down the brain. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

What are good foods? • Carbohydrates (e.g. good high GI foods like wholewheat bread, beetroot, carrots & fruit) • Good fats (e.g. oily fish & eggs) • Protein (e.g. chicken, beans, fish, meat & dairy). Downloaded from hlayiso.com

What are good foods? • Vitamins (e.g. fruit & vegetables, wholegrains, beans, chicken, fish & meat) • Minerals (e.g. fruit, vegetables & nuts) • Good liquids (e.g. water, fruit juice & milk) Downloaded from hlayiso.com

What are bad foods? • Bad high GI foods (including those made with white flour & sugary carbohydrates). • Fatty or fried foods. • Caffeine. • Alcohol. • Avoid bad foods when Figure 5.10: Junk food often contains flavour enhancers, such studying! as MSG, which are addictive Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Nutrients: functions & sources Refer to Tables 5.2 & 5.3 in your Student’s Book to see the functions of important brain nutrients & more examples of foods that contain them. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Learning activity 5.3 Module 5 Test your knowledge of this section by completing Learning activity 5.3 in your Student’s Book. Downloaded from hlayiso.com Life Orientation NQF Level 2

Unit 5.3 Multiple intelligences Downloaded from hlayiso.com Life Orientation NQF Level 2

Gardner’s multiple intelligences Eight different intelligences (ways of thinking & learning): 1. Visual-spatial (pictures) 2. Bodily-kinaesthetic (body) 3. Musical (music) 4. Interpersonal (others) 5. Intrapersonal (self) 6. Linguistic (words) 7. Logical-mathematical (numbers) 8. Naturalist (nature) Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Preferred learning styles • If you are visual-spatial, you prefer to: Observe & see things. Do hands-on work. Visualise, use graphics & draw. • If you are bodily-kinaesthetic, you prefer to: Touch things. Experience things physically. Move. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Preferred learning styles • If you are musical, you prefer to: Hear things. Experience rhythm. Listen to music. • If you are interpersonal, you prefer to: Talk. Work in groups. Interact with others. • If you are intrapersonal, you prefer to: Reflect. Discover things yourself. Work at your own pace. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Preferred learning styles • If you are linguistic, you prefer to: Use words. Read & write. Discuss & debate. • If you are logical-mathematical, you prefer to: Use numbers & data. Organise. Use reasoning & logic. Solve problems. • If you are a naturalist, you prefer to: Be outdoors. Touch & observe things. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Activities for the 8 intelligences Table 5.5: Activities preferred by the various intelligences Intelligences Games and hobbies 1. Visual-spatial Jigsaw puzzles, 3D-model building, photographs, drawings, doodling, mind maps 2. Bodily- Dancing, craft making, mime, physical kinaesthetic games, athletics, sewing, woodworking, role-play 3. Musical Multimedia, musical instruments, singing, music, whistling, listening to music 4. Interpersonal Text chats, team sports, group activities, socialising with friends Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Activities for the 8 intelligences Table 5.5: Activities preferred by the various intelligences Intelligences Games and hobbies 5. Intrapersonal Books, diaries, creative materials, thinking activities 6. Linguistic Crossword puzzles, poetry, reading, humour, word games, storytelling, writing 7. Logical- Puzzles, logic games, number games, quizzes, mathematical strategy games 8. Naturalist Gardening, pets, hikes, parks, tours, telescopes, binoculars, microscopes Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Learning activity 5.4 Module 5 Test your knowledge of this section by completing Learning activity 5.4 in your Student’s Book. Downloaded from hlayiso.com Life Orientation NQF Level 2

Summative assessment Module 5 Test your knowledge of this module by completing the Summative assessment of Module 5 in your Student’s Book. Downloaded from hlayiso.com Life Orientation NQF Level 2

Mathematics NQF Level 2 Downloaded from hlayiso.com Life Orientation (Life Skills) NQF Level 2