Event(s) Summary
Number of Events Organized During Brain Awareness Week:
3
Year:
2020
Type of Events Held:
- Brain Fair
- School Program
Target Audiences:
- Elementary school students (1-5)
- Middle school students (6-8)
Approximate Number of People Reached:
200
Details of Major Brain Awareness Week Events/Activities:
Within the 4th Grade class of Cedar Hill elementary School and communities of North Brunswick as well as Metuchen in New Jersey, students learned about the brain through a neuroscience outreach session hosted by the Brain Bunch. As part of the program, students had the opportunity to become directly involved in learning about the brain through hands-on activities and demonstrations involving electrical neural circuit construction, brain tissue microscopy, and cartoon distractions. The children were exposed to challenging concepts, ranging from brain anatomy to the effect of virtual distractions on the brain. Each lesson was accompanied by an activity performed in groups of 7-8 students.
Event Planning & Publicity
Publicity Methods Used:
- Advertisements
- Emails
- Posters/Flyers
- Website
- Social Media
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:
- The Mindboggling Workbook
- Brain Awareness Week Pencils
- Brain-shaped Erasers
Which BAW graphic materials did you use in publicizing your events?
- Brain Awareness Week Logos
- Brain Awareness Week Facebook Cover Image
Feedback & Keys to Success
How do you feel BAW participation benefited your organization and the local community?
Students have become more curious about the brain after attending the session. They left with prizes including books that will help them continue to explore the brain even though the session itself concluded. During the sessions, students asked questions about topics in the brain intriguing them including Alzheimer’s disease and artificial intelligence. Moreover, in some sessions that were repeated, students went again curious to learn new things and explore the brain in a novel light.
Please share any suggestions or lessons learned that may help others plan future events:
We had a neural circuit construction activity that allowed students to build an electrical circuit in groups modeling neuronal communication. In addition, we also had an activity that allowed students to explore spinal cord tissue under the microscopes. Students really enjoyed both of these activities.
Did/do you like our Facebook page?
Yes
Was the information provided on Facebook useful?
The content was helpful. I think the Dana Foundation is doing a great job in promotion.
