Jumping off the House
So What If I Break An Arm?
Teenagers have a reputation for reckless behavior. Despite what you think, this reputation does not come from adults observing teenagers. Sure, that has something to do with it. But do you want to know a secret? This reputation doesn't come from observing teenagers, it comes from adults remembering what they did as a teenager!
- The Teenage Brain at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpMG7vS9pfw
Use the resources below to answer the following questions:
- How does the teenage brain differ from an "adult" brain? How does this difference influence behavior?
- What are some common misconceptions about teenage brains? Do these misconceptions surprise you? Why or why not?
- What do teenage brains tend to do better than "adult" brains? Does this make sense to you given the life stage of teenagers? Why do you think these abilities change with age?
- How does myelination improve communication between different areas of the brain? How does this affect the thinking process?
- What is the last part of the brain to develop? What are some things with which this area of the brain is involved? Do you agree that this information can explain some aspects of teenage behavior? Why or why not?