Many school programs challenge the mind. Others ignite creativity. But Brain Games at Unity Point manages to do both at once, giving students a place to think deeply, solve problems, and surprise themselves with what they can accomplish. And behind the excitement are three teachers who guide the program with patience, enthusiasm, and a genuine belief in their students: Christina Spain, Amanda Hilt, and Michelle Johnson.

Brain Games may look simple on paper — a competition involving books, puzzles, and timed challenges — but the teachers laugh at the idea of it being simple. In reality, it is fast-paced, unpredictable, and full of moments that push students to rely on teamwork and quick thinking.

Christina Spain leads the third and fourth grade team, and she describes her students as energetic, imaginative, and eager to take ownership of their work. Their theme this year is fantasy fiction, and from the very beginning, her students jumped in with both feet. They created a reading list, made copies for each other, picked practice dates, and even designed team-building activities. Christina doesn’t just allow them to lead — she encourages it. “I just let them take the lead,” she said. It shows. Her classroom is filled with small models inspired by stories like The Wizard of Oz and conversations about characters, settings, and twists in each book.

In fifth and sixth grade, literature teacher Amanda Hilt guides the next level of Brain Games competitors. Her teams are made up of returning students because experience plays a big role in their success. But Amanda isn’t only looking for prior participation. She wants independent thinkers — students who stay focused under pressure, follow complicated instructions, and work well with others. Some of her strongest team members are kids who aren’t always in the spotlight. “Experience matters,” she said, “but so does being able to think on your own.”

The tasks the students face are no small feat. They must complete challenges under strict time limits, follow multi-step directions, and finish with precision. They’re allowed to ask the competition director clarifying questions, but teachers cannot help, not even a little. Amanda sees this independence as key to the program’s value. When students are on their own, they learn to adapt, troubleshoot, and keep moving even when things don’t go as planned.

By seventh and eighth grade, students have grown into confident and strategic competitors. ELA teacher Michelle Johnson leads this group and has the unique experience of seeing students return year after year. She lets them choose their own teams — a system that works better than you might expect. Older students know they need a balance of strengths: someone strong in math, someone artistic, someone detail-oriented, someone creative. They figure out the combinations themselves.

Michelle’s students practice constantly through book talks, quizzing sessions, and strategy discussions. With experience comes intuition; students start recognizing patterns in the types of challenges they face. Even so, Brain Games has a way of surprising them. Part of the thrill is never knowing exactly what’s coming next.

Over the years, Brain Games themes have ranged from Paris to national parks to the Olympics. This year’s fantasy fiction theme has been especially fun because many students were already familiar with the books. They dive into favorites like Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia with enthusiasm and a sense of adventure.

But Brain Games is about far more than books or trivia. All three teachers talk about the deeper lessons woven throughout the experience: leadership, teamwork, time management, compromise, resilience, and the ability to adjust when things go wrong. Amanda sees students practice real-world decision-making every day — prioritizing tasks, identifying what must be done first, and staying calm as the clock counts down. Michelle remembers last year’s teams creating a shared document after the competition to record what went well, what didn’t, and what they wished they had known. Christina sees her young students light up simply because learning feels joyful.

Another benefit is exposure to other schools. Brain Games brings districts from across the region together. For some Unity Point students, these events are their first chance to compete on a bigger stage, meet new peers, and see that learning extends far beyond their own classrooms.

For all three teachers, the best part is watching students realize what they’re capable of. Each year, they see quiet thinkers step into leadership roles, creative minds find new ways to solve problems, and teammates celebrate small victories together.

And that’s the magic of Brain Games. It’s not just the books, the models, or the challenges. It’s the moment a student discovers that curiosity, creativity, and hard work can take them farther than they ever expected.