Minnesota State University Mankato

Perceptual Shift Goggles: move museum goers field of view different directions and ask them to try out different activities, throwing squish balls, picking up bean bags. View gelatinous “play” brains and discuss how the brain moves around inside the skull and the protection the skull provides from injury. Match emotion games: ask children to explore similarities and differences in human and animal emotions Create a brain cell: children will build neurons using fun, colorful supplies Animal brains: children will hold and compare 3-D printed animal brain models to notice size, shape, and features of a brain Build your own brain: children will use play-doh to construct a brain! Stroop effect: children will name colors and numbers and see how different information is used in the brain Memory match: children will play with giant stuffed toys to create a human memory board to understand how color, image, and hands-on activity can help memory. EEG: children will watch students demonstrate a machine that measures brain and body activity. Night vision goggles: wearing a variety of lenses, children will see how vision can change in different environments. Goal of Experiencing Psychology Day at CM: To engage the public by offering demonstrations of psychological concepts that foster interactive play among museum visitors. To encourage not “teach” children (and their caregivers) to better understand psychology by experiencing and interacting with student demonstrations.

We involved many of our students and they found it a great experience that really helped them understand the underlying concepts.