Event(s) Summary
Number of Events Organized During Brain Awareness Week:
2
Year:
2015
Type of Events Held:
- Exhibit
- Open House
- Workshop
Target Audiences:
- Elementary school students(1-5)
- General Public
- Middle school students(6-8)
Approximate Number of People Reached:
43 total
Details of Major Brain Awareness Week Events/Activities:
Station Titles/Activities: 1) Build a Neuron: Use common materials to construct a type of neuron 2) Sheep Brain Dissection: Small group instruction, guided sheep brain exploration, anatomy lesson, and dissection activity 3) Build a Brain: Use the common materials to construct a labeled model brain 4) DIY Brain Bag: Use the materials provided to decorate your own canvas bag 5) Puzzle Station: a) Easy: Practice constructing a lateral (side) view of a brain puzzle (5 pieces) b) Hard: Practice constructing a lateral (side) view of a brain puzzle (8 pieces) 6) Synapse Demo Station: Work in groups of 4 to model an action potential using the placemats and kit available 7) Interactive Brain Display Station: Carefully tape your original neuron to the brain board synapsing with another cell 8) Build a Drug Molecule: Use the atom key card and colored gum drops to construct drug molecule 9) DIY Puzzle Station: Use the puzzle template to design your own brain day collage puzzle 10) Literacy Station: Take one of each information booklet 11) Interactive Sensory Station: Work with a partner to test your sensations (Stroop Color Test, Two Point Discrimination Test, Taste-Smell Jelly Bean Test 12) Synthesis Station: Using the materials and new knowledge that you received today, complete the “My Big Bronx Brain Notebook” Workshop Objective: To increase the general knowledge of neuroscience concepts through hands on learning activities Assessment: Completed brain notebooks and models
Event Planning & Publicity
Publicity Methods Used:
- Advertisements
- Emails
- Posters/Flyers
- Social Media
- Other
Other Publicity Methods:
Community Radio Show
Which of These Publicity Methods Was The Most Successful?
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:
- BAW Pencils and Erasers
- The Mindboggling Workbook
- BAW Buttons
What downloadable materials from the Foundation did you use for your events?
- BAW Bookmark
- BAW Certificate of Participation
- Puzzles: K-12
- Puzzles: BAW Favorites
- Mindboggling Coloring Sheets
What other downloadable materials would you like the Foundation to provide?
- Fact Sheets
- Activities/Experiments
Which BAW graphic materials did you use in publicizing your events?
- BAW Logos
- BAW Poster
- BAW Web site banner
Feedback & Keys to Success
How do you feel BAW participation benefited your organization and the local community?
I feel that BAW participation benefited our school and family community because the students are still asking when I will hold another workshop and if I’m going to start a neuroscience club. Parents and students have posted their photos on social media.
Please share any suggestions or lessons learned that may help others plan future events:
Distribute a topic and activity interest survey for students and their parents at least twice before organizing the schedule. Offer a lecturette (mini lecture) for learners age 13 and over on topics most highly valued. Have enough coloring sheets and puzzles for all learners. (Everyone wanted to do the puzzles, drawings and coloring sheets but I only had enough for the younger children.) Have a pre- and post-survey to capture feedback.
Did/do you like our Facebook page?
No
Quotable comments which capture successful aspects of your event(s):
"Mommy, the brain smells funny but this is the corpus callosum." "This is my neuron!" "This is so cool." "Coach Hunter, I didn't know there were so many brain parts." "I wish I could learn about this stuff in class."
