Event(s) Summary
Number of Events Organized During Brain Awareness Week:
4
Year:
2017
Type of Events Held:
- Exhibit
- Lecture/ Briefing
Target Audiences:
- High School students(9-12)
- Middle school students(6-8)
Approximate Number of People Reached:
100
Details of Major Brain Awareness Week Events/Activities:
During Brain Awareness Week, the Peak School hosted a number of events. Students participated in a school wide cell phone experiment, where they self reported their observations of how they felt when their phone was in their locker for the class period, turned off, on the table but unable to be used, etc. This generated a lot of discussion and self reflection as to how cell phone use dictates our actions. Colorado State University also came with Dr. Leslie Stone-Roy to present to us some really awesome lab and experiments with some of her lab aids! Another day, students participated in a school wide experiment to see how background noise, music and silence affected their reaction times and short term memories. A debrief with advisors was useful for students to learn how they best can remember and focus under particular conditions. Lastly, to promote Mental Health Awareness, students participated in a gallery walk and observed drawings by Shawn Coss to open up a discussion as to how we can empathize and help those with mental illness, as well as discuss what resources were available in the community. Overall, this last activity was the most impactful and many students have retained their new found empathy for those experiencing mental illness.
Event Planning & Publicity
Publicity Methods Used:
- Emails
- Mailings
- Press Release/Media Advisory
- Website
- Social Media
Other Publicity Methods:
Our School Blog (http://thepeakschool.education/brain-awareness-week/)
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 Stickers
- BAW Pencils and Erasers
What other downloadable materials would you like the Foundation to provide?
- Fact Sheets
- Lesson Plans
- Activities/Experiments
- New Puzzles/Games
- New Coloring Sheets
Which BAW graphic materials did you use in publicizing your events?
- BAW Logos
Feedback & Keys to Success
How do you feel BAW participation benefited your organization and the local community?
It gave many of our students a new awareness and information as to how to best use their brains. It also provided an opportunity to give students materials to local organizations that can help them in case they are in need of mental health services for themselves or a friend.
Did/do you like our Facebook page?
Yes
Was the information provided on Facebook useful?
It would be really great to have more age-appropriate videos posted, produced by BAW or not. It would additionally be helpful if they were labeled in such a way that teachers could easily access what materials would be best for their age group.
