What is "Explain Your Brain?"

"Explain Your Brain" is a program sponsored by the University of Minnesota and the Science Museum of Minnesota. The program:

• provides a series of multimedia and hands-on presentations including–but not limited to–the Assembly Program, Exhibit Stations, and Brain Trunks
• targets students of teacher participants from BrainU (a workshop sponsored by the University of Minnesota and Science Museum of Minnesota)
• targets students of prospective teacher participants of BrainU or from schools within Minnesota or Wisconsin
• provides participant teachers of BrainU the use of Brain Trunks which contain materials and resources for neuroscience classroom instruction

Assembly Program

• involves audience participation through demonstrations and activities that explore regions of the brain and how they work.
• includes but is not limited to the following content:
  • an MS Powerpoint presentation of brain areas and nerve cell parts
  • activities that relate the brain area to what it controls
  • activities explaining how nerve cells communicate and illustrating neural plasticity
  • dynamic interaction with the audience that includes questions and answers
  • optical and auditory illusions to pique students' interest
• is suitable for groups of up to 400 students.
• Click here for examples of assembly program activities.

Exhibit Stations

• are of three types:
  • Real Brains - a hands-on station allowing students to touch and view human brains and to compare brain anatomy of different species;
  • Electroencephalograph (EEG) Demonstration - measurement of brain waves from the occipital lobe; and
  • Perception Gallery - eight mini, hands-on stations that provide activities illustrating concepts of specialized sensory receptors, receptive fields, sensory-motor coordination, recall by grouping, motor and associative integration, and more.
• give students the opportunity to interact one-on-one with scientists and explore various brain-related topics.
• A worksheet is available to guide the students through the stations. Click here for a pdf version of the worksheet.
• Click here for examples of exhibit station activities.

Brain Trunks

• are available to teacher participants from BrainU to assist them in implementing neuroscience classroom activities
• contain general resource materials including CD-ROMs, age-appropriate books about the brain, coloring books for reference pictures and more. Click here for a list of the contents and where to purchase items (if interested).
• are reserved by the teacher for a 2-3 week period and sent to the school via commercial delivery service.
• expedite preparation time, minimize funding issues, and provide content expertise needed to bring neuroscience resources into the classroom.