An Introduction to Your Brain

That relatively small amount of gray and white matter behind your forehead is expensive for your body to support, requiring as much as 25% of your body's resources.  Your brain in so many ways governs and reveals who you are and who you are becoming.  This class will help you become better acquainted with your brain—its structures, chemistry, and functioning.  Neuroscience is a relatively young field, enabled by sophisticated, new medical scanning hardware and software, employed today by some 40,000 researchers worldwide to look inside the brain in real time.  We will consider what this young science can show us about your brain during adolescence as you build the architecture that will support it for the rest of your life.
 
You are literally creating your adult brain as you learn, make decisions, take risks, and relate to others.  This is an exciting and unique time in your personal history and in human history to get to know the brain that you are building every day.  You will find the study of your brain helpful,  informative, inspiring, and amazing!
 
Recommended for: Ages 11+ / Grades 6-7
Instructor: Dr. Greg Richards, Georgia Bonney
Day and Time: Thursdays, 12:45-1:45 PM ET
Duration: 8 classes
Dates: September 14 - November 2, 2023
 
See more thinking series classes: thethinkingkid.org/the-thinking-series

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Dr. Greg is the founder and director of the Middle Grades Ethics Project, helping middle schools, parents, and law enforcement foster positive values and development for students and their communities. He studies and teaches on the character development and ethics education of young teens, including the influence of adolescent brain biology on moral judgment and risk-taking. ​
 
Greg’s interdisciplinary doctoral program examined the role of parents and other significant adults in nurturing core values and risk aversion. His doctoral dissertation, Measuring the Effect of Parent Involvement in a Middle School Ethics Curriculum on Parent-Adolescent Communication, was based on his research in developmental psychology, brain biology, and ethics education. 
 
Earlier, as a school chaplain, Greg developed academic programs in ethics for junior high and high school students and related education for parents. As a pastor in Beverly Hills, he founded a parent education and early childhood center.
 
He is the author of Ethics for Young Adults: A Workbook (Kazanjian Foundation) and When Someone You Know Is Hurting: What You Can Do to Help (Zondervan/Harper Paperbacks).  Greg considers the experience of raising two sons with his wife Debbie the foundational preparation for his work with young people, parents, and educators. 
 
Teaching style: lecture, current events, group discussion, student sharing, engagement with subject material
 
Student Reviews for Dr. Greg:
Dr. Greg is the best teacher I’ve ever had. He was prepared and organized and he presented the subject and story really well. He made it real and pertained to things that exist today and was very relatable. I really really enjoyed his teaching style, and I’m looking forward to next week. —EJ, student
Dr. Greg is an awesome teacher. In every class, he thoughtfully listened to my questions, comments, and opinions. He cares about his students and shows it. His knowledge of psychology always amazed me, and my interest in the subject has grown significantly since taking his classes. I’m excited to sign up for another class with Dr. Greg! —Esther, student
I enjoy Dr. Greg’s classes because he is such a passionate teacher. I can tell he really loves his students and cares about them. He also has lots of knowledge of his subjects and can give very helpful and good advice. I loved how students used his Ethic’s workbook for classes and homework. —Abigail, student