Fantastic Brains at Work - Showcasing Student Learning at Kells Elementary

If you had the chance to teach a child one thing, and only one, what would it be? Would you choose Music? Sports? Math? Science? Reading? It’s lucky that we don’t have to choose, but if we did, Dr. JoAnn Deak knows what she would pick. She has spent more than thirty years as an educator and psychologist and her wealth of knowledge and experience has led her to an answer. If she could only teach a child one thing, she would teach them about their brain. 

To do this, she uses a metaphor: imagine that your brain is an elastic band. Just like an elastic band, your brain stretches and grows when you try new things, making it bigger and stronger. Making mistakes is an especially great way to stretch your brain because it has to stretch in many different directions as it searches for the right answer. When something is especially difficult or frustrating, that means your brain hasn’t stretched enough yet; it’s a sign to keep trying. Dr. Deak’s book, “Your Fantastic Elastic Brain,” teaches children about brain plasticity and the role they can play in helping their brain develop and grow. You can enjoy a full read-aloud of the book here.

Our Elementary Principal, Ms. Perlman, read this book at the first assembly of the year. The students were fascinated by the elastic metaphor, and they discussed it at great length during the assembly. Since then, the concept of the elastic brain has become a touchpoint for teachers and students at Kells Elementary. Now, when a student is getting frustrated by a new concept, they have the knowledge and language to see this struggle differently. “I can’t do it,” “This is too hard,” or “I give up” are replaced with “I’m stretching my brain.” It’s a powerful shift towards a growth mindset. 

Pictured: After the assembly, the students spent the afternoon doing a variety of activities designed to challenge different parts of their brains.

A growth mindset is crucial during the first ten years of life, which Dr. Deak calls the “magic decade.” Although the brain is malleable throughout life, the first ten years are when your brain is at its stretchiest, allowing you to make the biggest gains by exposing yourself to challenges and learning new skills. By teaching children about this magic decade, they can make the most of their learning. 

Dr. Deak notes that teachers play a crucial role in helping children to reach their full potential; they are the “neurosculptors of the future.” What she means is that they create  opportunities for children to stretch and strengthen their brains, creating new neural pathways that will serve them throughout their lives. At Kells Elementary, these opportunities are created every day in every discipline. 

The Fantastic Elastic Brain Fair, hosted in December, was a celebration of all the ways that our students have stretched their brains so far this year. The students worked tirelessly to come up with creative ways to demonstrate their learning. As members of the Kells community toured the school, they were enchanted by the enthusiasm on display. 

Pictured: Each student set up an original display. Parents and teachers circulated the room as the students presented their work.

The event kicked off with an entertaining musical performance by all the elementary students. Then, the groups dispersed to their homerooms to present their unique projects. The Grade 1-2 class presented a Reader’s Theatre production of “Growth Mindset - A Snowy Day Adventure”. Stretching their performance skills, students learned about the importance of practice as they went through the rehearsal process with Ms. Perlman. This group truly came together, demonstrating tremendous growth and collaborative skills. Students in the grade 3-4 class took a literacy approach for their projects, completing book reports on an independent novel study and challenging themselves to present them in a creative and unique way. The grade 5 students engaged in a remarkable cross-curricular initiative where they designed their own charitable foundations. This project challenged them to identify real-world problems in the local community, develop innovative solutions, think critically about social issues, and practice collaborative problem-solving skills. The grade 6 students chose to either create an artistic piece or apply the scientific method to investigate a burning question. From holograms to volcanoes, the phases of the moon to the amount of iron found in breakfast cereal, the power of trees to brain cells, the students impressed with an array of projects that reflected their unique perspectives and interests.

Pictured: Above are just a few of the exciting projects that Kells students put together for this special event.

I spoke to a Grade 3 student who has read all the “Harry Potter” books. I was impressed not only by the fact that she is reading well beyond her grade level, but also by her creative display, which featured playing cards of her favourite characters. A grade 6 student eagerly explained to me how holograms work, using a DIY hologram that he made using his phone and some sheets of plastic. There were interactive activities, poster boards, scientific demonstrations, puppet shows, costumes, music, and yummy snacks. No two presentations were alike. 

Pictured: One of the students dressed up as Fern, the main character in “Charlotte’s Web,” and used her Drama skills to put on a puppet play inspired by the book.

The students weren’t just eager to share what they learned, though. They were also eager to share how they learned it: what worked, what didn’t, and what they found surprising or challenging along the way. The grade 1’s even performed a song about learning, with lyrics to the tune of Jingle Bells: “Try again, try again, that’s how we will grow.” 

Pictured: The Grade 1 students performed in a holiday themed play. The story and song lyrics reflected what they have learned about learning this year.

There was a highly collaborative atmosphere throughout the fair, with some students presenting in pairs or groups. The students also visited each others’ presentations, encouraging each other, asking questions, and learning from their peers. Collaboration is a key part of the growth mindset, as it instills the confidence to keep trying when things get difficult.

The thing that impressed me the most, though, was the enthusiasm on display. There is something magical about the way a child’s eyes light up when they share something new that they have learned. Judging by the passion these students put into their projects, it’s clear that learning is exciting and fun for them. The parents, friends, and teachers in attendance were filled with pride and excitement, too. When you find the joy in learning, it’s infectious. When you stretch your brain, wonderful things happen!

At Kells, we take the latest educational research to heart and apply it in our practice; sharing Dr. Deak’s research with our students and making it a central part of their learning is just one example. We also regularly invite experts to share their knowledge with our community. Most recently, Dr. Judy Willis visited to speak about her work in neurology and education. Check out our Instagram post about the Fantastic Elastic Brain Fair and be sure to follow us on socials so you never miss the exciting learning opportunities happening at Kells!