51ºÚÁÏ

This fully editable lesson on Early Brain Development introduces students to the foundational stages of brain development, focusing on the brain stem, cerebellum, thalamus, and cortex. Aligned with the AQA GCSE Psychology Specification, this resource explores how both genetic factors (nature) and environmental influences (nurture) shape brain development. The lesson integrates interactive activities, key terminology matching, and exam practice to consolidate understanding.

• Comprehensive Lesson Slides: The slides provide detailed explanations of brain structures, including their roles in movement, balance, sensory processing, and survival functions. Key topics include the nature-nurture debate, neural tube formation, and the development of the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain. The slides also examine the impact of prenatal experiences like smoking and maternal infections on brain development.

• Interactive Activities: Students are engaged through Do Now tasks and class discussions, such as debating whether genetic or environmental factors play a stronger role in brain development. Activities include summarising the stages of brain development, exploring case studies like DeCasper and Spence (1986), and matching key terms with their definitions to reinforce comprehension.

• Exam Practice and Assessment: Multiple-choice questions assess understanding of brain structures and the influence of nature and nurture. Worksheets scaffold students’ responses for structured evaluation, focusing on how genetic and environmental factors interact in brain development. The plenary encourages students to reflect on and raise questions about brain development.