8_lizard wizard brain

The amygdala in the emotional center sees and hears everything that occurs to us instantaneously and is the trigger point for the fight or flight response. —Daniel Goleman Lizard-Wizard Brain At Home Resources Level: Lower Elementary (K-2) Concepts: • Brain Science • Coping Skills • Thoughts, Emotions, & BehaviorsBig Ideas For This LessonPeople who understand the biological drive behind their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors experiencegreater self-control, self-awareness, and emotion regulation. The limbic system and brainstem are partsof the brain sometimes called the “lizard-brain.”The lizard-brain is responsible for processing threats, emotions, and is known for the ‘fight-or-flight’ re-sponse. This is useful in life-threatening situations, but causes extreme emotional reactions in non-lifethreatening situations. The prefrontal cortex, on the other hand, is a part of the brain sometimes calledthe “wizard-brain.” The wizard-brain is responsible for complex thought, planning, decision-making,impulse-control and self-awareness.We are better able to cope in difficult situations when we know that we have the ability to choosefrom using two brain systems. We can use skills like mindfulness to calm our lizard-brain and get ourwizard-brain back in charge to make wise decisions that require coping-skills, thinking, empathy, andself-awareness. Essential VocabularyLizard-Brain: Limbic system, brain stem, emotional center, ‘fight-or-flight’ response.Wizard-Brain: Prefrontal cortex, complex thought, empathy, self-reflection, planning.© 2017 Empowering Education, Inc. PAGE 1 of 2 All rights reserved.

LIZARD-WIZARD BRAIN | GRADES K-2PracticeThermometer of Emotions: Whenever we encounter a stressful situation and do not use our wizard-brain andcoping skills to release it, we fill up our lizard-brain like heating a thermometer. This may not seem like a bigdeal at first, but throughout the day there may be many stressful situations that fill up our lizard-brain. Identifysituations that cause stress throughout the day, and “heat up the lizard-brain.” Then, identify ways to “cool-down” using coping-skills from your wizard-brain. 1.) “Hot” Situation: Yelling because you did not get what you asked for. Cool-Down Strategy: Use an I-statement in a calm voice. 2.) “Hot” Situation: Cool-Down Strategy: 3.) “Hot” Situation: Cool-Down Strategy: St udent Resources• Anh’s Anger (Picture Book) by Gail Silver• Coping Skills for Kids (Activity Blog) by Brain Works Project• Finn Thows a Fit! (Picture Book) by David Elliott• Little Monkey Calms Down (Picture Book) by Michael Dahl• Mouse Was Mad (Picture Book) by Linda Urban• My First Book About the Brain (Informational Text) by Patricia J. Wayne and Donald M. Silver• When Sophie Gets Angry--Really, Really Angry… (Picture Book) by Molly Bang Adult Resources• How to Hack Your Brain for Peak Performance (Article) by Summer Allen• What Happens in A Child’s Brain When They Learn to Empathize? (Article) by Summer Allen© 2017 Empowering Education, Inc. PAGE 2 of 2 All rights reserved.