Event(s) Summary
Number of Events Organized During Brain Awareness Week:
3
Year:
2019
Type of Events Held:
- Exhibit
- School Program
Target Audiences:
- Elementary school students(1-5)
- General Public
- High School students(9-12)
- Middle school students(6-8)
- University students
Approximate Number of People Reached:
300
Details of Major Brain Awareness Week Events/Activities:
Abram Lansing Elementary school. Organized BAW as Family STEAM Night. The objective was to bring awareness about human brain, how complex it is and how it can apply to learning as to elementary schools and how to take care of it. We had in total 10 activity stations that targeted both the children and their parents/family members: build a neuron with pipecleaners, playdough model brain, task repetition, puzzles and coloring station, jelly bean taste testing station, prism goggles (on how sight works and adaptability of brain), stroop test, egg drop demonstration, brain myths and facts, test your blind spot, and perception test. I feel that it was a successful event, as the children and their parents were totally engaged at each of the activity stations (time spent at the stations, did not just browse through and their discussion with the volunteers). Although the event was designed as walk-in, browse around and walk-out event, the families that came in stayed inside the gym throughout the event. The children were very excited and proud sharing about the things they did and learned about the brain.
Event Planning & Publicity
Publicity Methods Used:
- Posters/Flyers
- Social Media
Resources
Of the Dana Foundation publications/resources distributed at your event(s), if any, please indicate the three most popular. Please choose up to three. If "other," please indicate below:
- The Mindboggling Workbook
- Brain-shaped Erasers
- BAW Pencils
What downloadable materials from the Foundation did you use for your events?
- Puzzles: Grades K-2
- Puzzles: Grades 3-5
- Puzzles: Grades 6-8
- Puzzles: Grades 9-12
What other downloadable materials would you like the Foundation to provide?
- Activities/Experiments
- New Puzzles/Games
- New Coloring Sheets
- New Lesson Plans
Feedback & Keys to Success
How do you feel BAW participation benefited your organization and the local community?
The parents and the Abram Lansing PTO has always lobbied for more STEAM activities/opportunities. Organizing this event, and seeing how happy the children and their families were gave the confidence that a high-quality/content STEAM event is possible and well receivable by the community.
Did/do you like our Facebook page?
Yes
Was the information provided on Facebook useful?
The interviews with various BAW partners was very helpful and infused me with the much needed optimistic energy that is needed while organizing such an outreach event, esp. in a school and a school district that seems very STEM education antagonistic.
