Sheep Brain Dissection

Dissecting a sheep brain, students gain appreciation for the complexity of the brain.

Students make observations, learning about the structure and function of brain regions, white and gray matter.

Grade Level: 5-12

Lesson Length: 1-2 class periods

NEW! The first video in the How To Teach This Lesson series: Teasing Apart a Sheep's Brain with Dr. Jan Dubinsky. This 12-minute video will give you a materials list, ideas for expanding on the lesson, and a series of questions to ask your students as well as footage of sheep brains being dissected and examined.

Cool Links:

The Sheep Brain Map is an excellent interactive site for sheep brain anatomy. As you move your cursor over a picture of the brain, the area is highlighted on a drawing of the brain. If you click on the image, the name of the brain structure is displayed.

The Sheep Brain Tutor shows the planes of section. A dissection guide points out many of the major nerves.

Sheep Brain Dissection QuickTime Movie    Full Movie (7:25 min - 8.9 MB)

Part 1 (3:12 min - 3.8 MB) Part 3 (1:32 min - 1.6 MB)

Part 2 (1:20 min - 1.8 MB) Part 4 (1:20 min - 1.6 MB)