Module 2

Physical Development
This module discusses the important concepts pertaining to physical development. The
first lesson tackles the brain, its structure, function, and development. The second lesson
focuses on the influence of genetic outcomes in prenatal development. Followed by lesson
three on motor development, and lesson four on physical development across the
different life stages. Lastly, we discuss the different pedagogical implications in the context
of this domain.
 What is Physical Development?
Physical development includes both growth and the ability to
use muscles and body parts for particular skills.
Both gross (large muscle movements) and fine (small
movements) motor skills contribute to physical development,
and children often learn a set of skills by a certain age.
Motor progresses predictably, from simple to complex,
in a head-to-toe direction.
Children gain control of their bodies in a predictable
sequence as well, from the center of their bodies and
outward to their fingers and toes. Children need many
opportunities to practice their gross-motor skills, e.g.,
pulling, climbing, running, kicking, throwing, and
jumping, and their fine-motor skills, e.g., cutting,
drawing, and writing.
 Physical development affects other areas of
development.
Brain development is supported by early positive
movement experiences. Other research indicates
physical development is linked to children’s emotional
development and their school performance.
Why do Zombies
love brains?
To a zombie, what do you think makes brains so tasty?
Perhaps this is because the brain is responsible for coordinating the
activities of the entire body, storing and interpreting memories, and
interpreting information from the senses.
 Activity 1
Let us brainstorm some facts we know
about the human brain!
The human brain is more
complex than any other known
structure in the universe.
Weighing in at three pounds,
on average, this spongy mass of
fat and protein is made up of
two overarching types of
cells—called glia and
neurons—and it contains many
billions of each.
Neurons are notable for their
branch-like projections called
axons and dendrites, which
gather and transmit
electrochemical signals.
Different types of glial cells
provide physical protection to
neurons and help keep them,
and the brain, healthy.
Together, this complex
network of cells gives
rise to every aspect of
our shared humanity.
We could not breathe,
play, love, or remember
without the brain.
 Activity 2
This exercise is to illustrate the complexity of the connections
of the brain. Draw 10 dots on one side of a piece of paper
and 10 dots on the other side of the paper. Assume these
dots represent neurons and assume that each neuron makes
connections with the 10 dots on the other side of the paper.
Then connect each dot on one side with the 10 dots on the
other side.
The brain is divided into 3 main areas:

• the brain stem, responsible for basic

body functions such as heartbeat
regulation;
• the cerebellum, responsible for
things such as balance and muscular
coordination and
• the cerebrum, is made of two
distinct hemispheres and responsible
for higher brain functions including
thinking and emotions.
• The front parts of the brain (thumb side, if your brain is positioned as
though its owner were looking at you) are called the frontal lobes.
These lobes are responsible for reasoning and higher brain functions.
• The upper middle lobes (around the middle fingers) are the parietal
lobes, responsible for touch.
• The lower middle lobes and the backs of the hands (nearest the ears
in a person) are the temporal lobes, responsible for hearing.
• Finally, the back lobes (pinkie fingers) are the occipital lobes,
responsible for vision.
 Interesting facts
The average adult brain weighs three pounds, contains
around 100 billion neurons, 1 trillion other cells to
support the neurons, 100 thousand miles of blood
vessels, and generates enough electricity to power a
low-wattage light bulb!
 Interesting facts
The brain is more
powerful and complex
than even the most
advanced supercomputer.
 Interesting facts
Sensory neurons send signals
at about 150 miles per hour,
and motor neurons can
transmit at about 200 miles
per hour!
Interesting facts
There are no pain receptors in your
brain, so it doesn’t feel any pain.
Interesting facts
A bigger brain doesn’t mean
a smarter person. Albert
Einstein’s brain was slightly
smaller than average.
Interesting facts
Surgeons say that a living
brain feels a lot like soft tofu.
YUM!
Interesting facts
It’s also a myth that we use only
10% of our brains. Even though
there are still many things we
don’t know about it, we do
know that each part of the brain
has a purpose.
Interesting facts
Your brain only makes up about 2% of your body weight but uses
about 20% of your energy and oxygen.
Interesting facts
It isn’t true that your brain stops
making connections once you
become an adult. The ability to
make new neural connections
has been seen in adults who have
had brain injuries, who form
connections around the injured
area.
 In summary…
The brain receives messages from many, many nerve cells all
through your body. These messages are sparked when you
see, hear, smell, touch, taste, and move in your world.
Nerve fibers across your body are like computer wires,
where information can travel all the way from your little toe
to the nerve cells in your brain.
 In summary…
The brain is split into two hemispheres,
and each hemisphere controls a side of
your body. Interestingly, the left side of
your brain controls the right side of your
body, while the right hemisphere controls
the left side of your body.
The left hemisphere controls speech,
comprehension, arithmetic, and
writing. The right hemisphere controls
creativity, spatial ability, artistic, and
musical skills.
 In summary…
Scientists have sectioned
the brain into different
lobes, based on how they
interact with the
information around you.
 Exit Activity
Read-Think-Pair-Share
Scan the QR code and read the article on
Brain Research: Implications to Diverse
Learners and discuss with your partner the
salient points of the article. Then list three
(3) SPECIFIC TEACHING STRATEGIES that you
can think of to address brain development
among your learners. Write your answers on
¼ sheet of paper.