Rocket builds a little cart out of a shoebox. "It needs a boss to tell it what to do!" he says.
Raven taps the side of her head. "What do you notice? Who is the boss of your body?"
Nova blinks her lights. "Think about what you are using to read this," she says. "It sits up high."
Rocket laughs. "My brain!"
Your brain is the boss of your body.
It controls almost everything you do, even when you are asleep.
It helps you remember, think, move and feel.
It looks a bit like a big gray wrinkly sponge.
The brain has many parts that work together like a team.
The cerebrum (say: suh-REE-brum) is the biggest part. It is the thinking part.
The cerebrum controls the muscles you move on purpose, like when you dance.
Your memory lives in the cerebrum too.
The cerebellum (say: sair-uh-BELL-um) sits at the back, below the cerebrum.
It controls balance, movement and how your muscles work together.
The brain stem connects the rest of the brain to the spinal cord.
It runs jobs you never think about, like breathing and digesting food.
| Brain part | Where it is | Main job |
|---|---|---|
| Cerebrum | The biggest part, on top | Thinking, memory, moving on purpose |
| Cerebellum | At the back, below the cerebrum | Balance and smooth movement |
| Brain stem | At the base, joined to the spinal cord | Breathing, heartbeat, digesting |
| Statement | True or false? |
|---|---|
| The brain only works when you are awake. | ? |
| The cerebrum is the biggest part of the brain. | ? |
| The cerebellum helps you keep your balance. | ? |
| The brain stem connects the brain to the spinal cord. | ? |
Great thinking, brain explorer! Tomorrow we find out how the brain sends its messages.