Brain Brigade
557 Followers
Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, United States
About the store
As an educator for the past 40 years and as Wisconsin’s 2003 Teacher of the Year I have languished over the lack of hands-on learning in our schools. In 2008, my daughter and I started Brain Brigade with the idea of bringing hands-on learning to every child particularly in the area of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).
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Navigating the Night Sky | 16 Constellations flash cards & game STEM, Astronomy
These 16 constellation flash cards are designed to help your students master the constellations, major stars, and more astronomical facts. Explore STEM, STEAM, Astronomy, and Mythology. Play a challenging classroom game and become an interstellar travel guide where students must determine how long it would take to reach neighboring stars using applied math.
Wrap up this constellation unit by awarding Interstellar Navigator certificate where students earn their Master Navigator Award. Finally, h
4th - 9th
Applied Math, Astronomy, Basic Operations
Diaper Dissection Activity | Chemistry, metric measurement, volume, math
Diaper Dissection is a hands-on activity to understanding how sodium polyacrylate works in a diaper. Your students will use scales, measuring and solving equations building upon basic science and math concepts in relation to finding the mass. Students will explore metric measurement, volume, math, and chemistry.
Included in this guide:
-Materials list
-Step-by-step instructions with color photos
-Diaper dissection equation worksheet
-Teachers notes
My students have so much fun doing this exper
3rd - 8th
Basic Operations, General Science, Science
Roller Coaster Challenge | Potential & Kinetic Energy, STEM Activity, Budgeting
Help your students get creative with this STEM activity. Rev up their imaginations by creating classroom roller coasters that demonstrate the concepts of potential energy, kinetic energy, motion, friction and momentum using inexpensive materials. Take it up a notch and give your students a budget to manage when creating their coasters. Strengthen math concepts of addition, subtraction and budgeting. Will your passengers make it off your roller coaster alive?
Included in this activity:
-Material
2nd - 8th
Basic Operations, Engineering, Science
21 Chips | Beginning of the Year Classroom Activity
21 Chips is a fun classroom game where players alternate turns using strategy to be the last to take chips.
I use 21 Chips it at the end of the day or end of the class as a challenge.
I, of course, claim that I’m just lucky when I win every time, but the kids don’t believe it and are motivated to look for the solution.
Play this game with students while waiting in line for the bus or at recess. Your students will be looking for the pattern but it will take some time, days, maybe even weeks
3rd - 8th
Applied Math, Basic Operations, Math
Hamburger Shack | Real Life Classroom Simulation for Math and Change Making
Bring the best burger shop in town to your classroom!
Brain Brigade's Hamburger Shack is a fun way for your students to practice basic math. Teach change-making to your students through this classroom simulation, too!
The customer (one student) completes their order form and adds the items before going to the Hamburger Shack. Once at the Shack, the Cashier (another student) take the order and adds it up. If both students get it right - they earn a point! Make it more complicated by adding an a
4th - 8th
Basic Operations, Business, Math
Makeover My Classroom! Exploring area, measurement, calculation and cost.
Makeover My Classroom! is a great activity to teach area, measurement, calculation, cost, and organization.
For this activity, students will need a pencil and paper, a 25 foot tape measure for each group of 3 students, calculation sheets and lots of time.
This is a great exercise in logical problem solving and will provide many humorous moments in watching children solve these problems. For example, children will attempt to measure the height of the walls with the tape measure and the tape wil
4th - 8th
Basic Operations, Math, Measurement
How Much Does Your Teacher's Car Weigh?|Applied & Practical Math with worksheet
In this math activity: "How Much Does My Car Weigh? ...And How Much Does My Teacher Weigh?" your students will enjoy using simple, but multiple-step equations to solve two challenging dilemmas!
Included in this download:
-Materials list
-Step-by-step instructions and full color photos
-TWO activities (Figuring out how much the car weighs and how much the teacher weighs)
-Calculation worksheet
-Discussion points
This activity will get your students up out of their seats and solving these multi-
4th - 8th
Basic Operations, Math, Measurement
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About the store
Experience
As an educator for the past 40 years and as Wisconsin’s 2003 Teacher of the Year I have languished over the lack of hands-on learning in our schools. In 2008, my daughter and I started Brain Brigade with the idea of bringing hands-on learning to every child particularly in the area of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).
Teaching style
I believe that we need to get children and teachers out of their comfort zones by providing novel learning activities that challenge them and are applicable to real life. As teachers we need to awaken a child’s curiosity by providing dynamic learning experiences. There is nothing more fulfilling than seeing the eyes of a child sparkle after launching a rocket. This is what all learning should be about; children, who having a spark ignite a fire within, seek to discover more on their own.
Awards & shining teacher moments
2003 Wisconsin Teacher of the Year
2002 Herb Kohl Fellowship Recipient
2001 Teacher of the Year, Neosho School, Neosho, WI
1993 Taught a graduate course, Lego® Logo, University of Wisconsin, Madison
1990 Developed and taught a graduate course, Integrating Environmental
Education into the Curriculum, Aurora University
1988 Safari Club International Award Awarded tuition grant for outdoor education seminar,
Jackson Hole, WY
1980 Developed and coordinated Outdoor Education Program-Neosho Middle School, Neosho, WI
My own education history
Master of Education - National College of Education Evanston, IL
B.A. Elementary Education – 1973 Concordia Teacher’s College Seward, NE
A.A. - Concordia College Milwaukee, WI
Additional biographical information
As a newly retired teacher I have been cataloging my classroom resources designed to bring hands-on learning to every student and sharing them here with you. I also lead after school programs, tutoring and summer camps. We blog at BrainBrigade.org.
I spend my spare time with my wonderful wife, four daughters, three sons-in-law, five grandchildren, and even more grand-dogs. I love gardening and traveling. My wife and I are always up for an adventure! Whether walking 70 miles in a weekend or piling our grandkids into our car and taking them for a road trip – we are up for the challenge!
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