Brain Cushion Experiment

This year we're studying Apologia's Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and Physiology. I absolutely love this curriculum. Jeannie Fulbright writes in a conversational style that breaks down hard to understand concepts into fun lessons.

Our current area of study is the skeletal system. We're learning that the skeletal system consists of more than just bones. Cartilage, joints and fluids all work together to keep our body moving. The cranium is one of the hardest bones in our bodies, but God designed a layer of fluid between it and the brain to cushion the brain from impact as we jostle around and bump our heads.

To illustrate the concept, we did a brain cushion experiment. It was simple and fun. And best of all, the kids totally got the idea. They loved explaining it to their dad, too!

Here's what we did:

First, we put an egg into an empty plastic container and put on the lid. Mr. Lego ran around the table a couple of times, bouncing the container as he jogged.


This is what the egg looked like when he was done. It's also what our brains would look like without a cushion between them and our craniums. Yuck!!!


So we rinsed out the container and filled it up with water. We put another egg into the container and closed the lid.


Then the Princess took her turn jogging around the table. Look at her go!


The egg survived unbroken!


I don't know about you, but I'm glad God gave my brain a little cushion to protect it!