Sunday, February 19, 2012

All my occipital lobe can perceive is you, valentine

For Valentine's Day last week the students in my regular psychology class were challenged to make hearts for their sweethearts (real or imagined) that fit three criteria: they had to include a part of the brain, the unit we were studying; they had to include the function of that part; and they had to fit the style of normal valentines. I'm posting some of my favorites here. What do you think? Which one do you love? And how do you tie holidays into your classes?


--posted by Steve

4 comments:

Jennifer Collison said...

I also do brain valentines of sorts, but we tie in all the required brain parts (I assign about 20) and each student writes a longer love story using the terms. Then, we look at a few classroom-appropriate clips from the Discovery Channel's excellent documentary, "The Science of Sex Appeal" and talk a little about attachment via Harlow and his monkey "moms." It's a fun way to spend a class period, and preps my classes for the sociocultural chapter to come later in the year. Thanks for sharing your hearts - I'll have to show my students, too!

Heather Kilgallon said...

Awesome idea, Steve! I am cracking up at the Broca's area & being speechless! I love bringing the holidays into Psych class.

Steve Jones said...

Thanks Jennifer and Heather! I think it's so valuable to tie in what's happening in the culture so that students can talk to their friends and family about what they are learning that day. I love exporting psychology!

Carly said...

Love this idea! I discuss gender and brain differences and evolutionary psychology and try to tie it into the "Psychology of Love" on Valentine's Day.