First Grade Students Grow Strong “Sponge Brains” at Pierce Terrace

Mrs. Jessica Lacey & Dr. Lorraine Emory

Feb 19, 2026

First-grade students react with excitement as a classmate demonstrates the “sponge brain” activity, visually showing how a sponge absorbs water—reinforcing the lesson that strong learners soak up knowledge and keep trying.

In a calming, welcoming first-grade classroom at Pierce Terrace Elementary School, social-emotional learning is intentionally woven into each month of the school year. First-grade teacher Mrs. Jessica Lacey introduces a new character trait every month, previously incorporating lessons on empathy, self-control, integrity, and friendship to help students build confidence, resilience, and self-awareness for both academic and personal success.

This month’s focus is on developing a growth mindset. Through hands-on activities and meaningful read-alouds, students are learning how their brains grow when they challenge themselves. One featured story, The Magical Yet, reinforces the idea that there are things we cannot do yet—and that learning new skills takes time, effort, and positive self-talk.

The highlight of the unit is a hands-on demonstration of “sponge brain” and “potato brain.” Students dip a potato into a clear container of water and compare it with a sponge, observing how the sponge absorbs water while the potato does not. First-grade student J. Hedge explained that it was “pretty cool,” noting that "the potato doesn't take in water, and the sponge takes the water.” Student E. Marts added, “I like how the sponge squeezes out the water.” The concrete, sensory experience helps students visualize the difference between choosing a “sponge brain” that soaks up learning and keeps trying, versus a “potato brain” that resists when learning feels challenging.

The affirmation for this month is, “My brain grows when I try.” Mrs. Lacey pairs each monthly social-emotional focus with a specific affirmation and a chant or song to reinforce the lesson. These routines provide students with tools they can carry beyond the classroom, encouraging positive self-talk and emotional awareness throughout the school day.

Instruction during the unit supports Grade 1 reading, writing, and social-emotional learning standards as students reflect on story messages, share their thinking in writing, and explain their mindset choices. Mrs. Lacey’s instruction is further strengthened by her professional learning in The Heart-Centered Method, which integrates social-emotional development into daily classroom structures and positive classroom management practices.

By intentionally nurturing both hearts and minds, Pierce Terrace’s young learners are developing the confidence to say, “I can’t do this… yet,” and the courage to keep trying. In Mrs. Lacey’s classroom, growing strong “sponge brains” is more than a lesson—it is a foundation for lifelong learning.