Exercising Our Brains

January is International Brainteaser Month

by Hannah Taylor

Suitable for Whole School (Sec)

Aims

To consider how we can stimulate our minds and improve memory power with brainteasers, games and puzzles.

Preparation and materials

• Have available the YouTube video ‘20 brainteasers to test your logic skills’ and the means to show it during the assembly. It is 8.55 minutes long and is available at: https://youtu.be/pykaJ0xXt3w

Assembly

1. Like the muscles in our bodies, our brains need regular exercise to stay sharp and strong. Brainteasers are an excellent way to exercise the mind: they help us to stay focused, sharpen our memory and prevent us from developing dementia as we get older. They are also great fun!
   
   
2. A brainteaser is a problem for which it is hard to find the answer, especially one that people enjoy trying to solve as a game.
   
   Brainteasers are designed to challenge us and keep our minds active. There are various ways to include brainteasers, puzzles and games in our lives: we can use apps on a smartphone or tablet; fill out puzzle books; play solitaire, sudoku and board games; solve a Rubik’s Cube and crosswords; and complete jigsaw puzzles.
   
   
3. Can you solve these riddles? (If the students don’t know the answer, ask any staff members present.)
   
   - What has a ring but no finger? (A telephone.)
   - What is full of holes, but still holds water? (A sponge.)
   - What has many keys, but can’t open a single lock? (A piano.)
   
   
4. So, how can we introduce brainteasers into our lives?
   
   - We could plan a daily mental challenge.
   - We could get hold of a Rubik’s Cube and try to solve it.
   - We could buy a book of brainteasers.
   - We could invite friends over to play a board game.
   
   Remember to take a few minutes each day to work those brain muscles.
   
   
5. Let’s have a go at a few brainteasers together now!
   
   Show part of the YouTube video ‘20 brainteasers to test your logic skills’.
   
   Work through a few of the brainteasers, pausing the video to get responses from the students.
   
   
   
   
6. If we’re not big fans of word games or maths questions, we can surprise our brains by attempting more of the things that we don’t necessarily enjoy. The idea is to challenge our brains, and for that, we need to move out of our comfort zone.
   
   
7. It’s also great to extend challenges by competing with friends and family. See who can get the top score or solve the riddle the fastest. It’s a great way to socialize and have fun while exercising our brains and keeping healthy.

Time for reflection

Let’s take a moment to be thankful for our bodies. The human body, with all its complexities and wonder, is amazing. Let’s think of how we can look after our bodies and their organs. We can protect our hearts by doing physical exercise and eating healthy food, and we can protect our brains with brainteasers.

Prayer
Dear Lord,
We thank you for the gift of life,
And for our bodies that protect us.
Please guide us so that we may protect our bodies and nourish them,
And love one another.
Amen.