Specifications that use this resource:

Lesson plan: Structures and functions of the brain: Paper 2 Section C Brain and neuropsychology

This is a sample lesson plan to help teachers to structure a one hour lesson on brain structures and the basic function of these structures in the 'Neuropsychology' topic for Paper 2 of our GCSE Psychology specification (8182).

It's a guide only and can be amended to suit teachers and their students’ needs.

  • All students should be able to identify the location of the following brain structures – frontal lobe, temporal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe and cerebellum.
  • All students should be able to identify one or two basic functions for each of the stated brain structures.
  • Some students will be able to identify a greater number of basic functions for each of the stated brain structures.
  • All students should be able to draw on knowledge and understanding of the entire course of study to show a deeper understanding of the structures and function of the brain.

Students need to have prior knowledge from studying early brain development in the 'Development' topic of this specification.

DurationActivityGroup sizeAssessment objective
Up to 5 minutes

Use the worksheets on structures and functions of the brain.

Students label in pencil the areas they believe to be the frontal lobe, temporal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe and cerebellum.

Students work on their ownIdentify the location of stated brain structures.
5–10 minutes

Allocate each student one of the stated brain structures. Try to have a similar number of students allocated to each structure.

Students use resources (textbooks, websites eg Brain Made Simple: cortex and lobes of the brain ) to identify functions for their allocated brain structure.

Students work on their own

Identify basic function for each of the stated brain structures.

5 minutes

Each student creates their section of the brain from playdough or coloured paper.

Provide them with a coloured diagram of the brain structures to use as a guide (as a handout or PowerPoint slide).

Students work on their own

Identify the location of stated brain structures.
10 minutes

Students work together in groups made up of people who worked on each area of the brain.

Each student takes a turn to explain where their structure is located and what its functions are.

Group put together a complete model of brain using each student's playdough or paper sections.

Students to work in small groups

Identify the location of stated brain structures.

Identify basic function for each of the stated brain structures.

5–10 minutes

Watch video clip on structures and functions of the brain. For example:

Whole class

Identify the location of stated brain structures.

Identify basic function for each of the stated brain structures.

10 minutes

Students colour in and correctly label their diagram of the brain on the  worksheets.

Students add functions of each structure to the  worksheets.

Students work on their own

Identify the location of stated brain structures.

Identify basic function for each of the stated brain structures.

5–10 minutes

Students use the worksheets to answer differentiated questions about the cortex, the brain stem and the thalamus.

Students work on their own

Draw on knowledge and understanding of the entire course to show a deeper understanding.
5 minutes

Plenary: Students test each other's knowledge and understanding of the structures and functions of the frontal lobe, temporal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe and cerebellum.

Pair work

Identify the location of stated brain structures.

Identify basic function for each of the stated brain structures.

Preparation for next lesson

Complete homework

Homework

Research either Broca's area or Wernicke's area for next lesson.