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Sample
Hands-On Activities
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| This
hands-on activity demonstrates what happens to the brain
during a stroke. Blood vessels are simulated using clear
tubing and red cinnomon candies represent the blood cells.
Kids get a chance to simulate normal blood flow, heemorrage,
embolus, and plaque build-up. |
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Saturday
Night in the ER: |
| Kids
dress up in lab coats and played "junior physcians"
and tried to figure out what was wrong with a patient based
on lab test results. |
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a model, the localization of function in the brain was demonstrated.
When the kids opened up a box and saw an ear, the corresponding
area for hearing lit up on the model brain. |
| This
activity demonstrates how neurologists use a computer program
to learn about different parts of the brain. Kids got to
see different animal brains, such as a dog, sheep, monkey
and rat, and learned how these brains compared to the human
brain. |
| The
Incredible Edible Brain: |
| The
concept of neural tube formation was modeled by using a
crescent roll as the embryonic tissue and a hot dog as the
neural tube. While the roll was baking, students talk about
how spina bifida results when the neural tube doesn't fold
properly. When the developing brian was done baking, the
kids got to color it using condiments to show the different
parts, such as the forebrain and midbrain. |
| Kids
walked the path that a developing nerve takes on its way
to the muscle it innervates. Kids acted as a nerve, starting
at the spinal cord and walked through the maze picking up
puzzle pieces which illustrated the anatomical parts of
the body that a nerve passes through on the way to the hand,
which was at the end of the maze. |
| Modeling
Neurotransmitters: |
| In
this fun activity kids learned about neurotransmitters by
constructing a model capturing how nerve impulses are transferred
from neuron to neuron. Use items such as play-dough, pretzels,
small beans, etc. to construct the models analogous to the
cell membrane, synaptic vesicles, receptors, etc. This activity
has also been done with pipecleaners and beads, or with
cookies and candy. |
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