Ever wonder what the Love Your Brain Now Tour teaches students? Perhaps it will help if we let you, our virtual visitors, and other schools know. We'll use Baldwin School in Alhambra as an example because we taught about 1,100 students there! We were welcomed by a great school nurse and great principal. Those two people are key to getting us in the school door and we are grateful.
Essentially, we teach the messages of the Love Your Brain Now Bus Tour (see ABOUT at LoveYourBrainNow.org). The students are given a short questionnaire on white cardstock and are invited to visit the "Big Brain" exhibit to find the answers. They are asked to identify the four major parts of the brain and the main functions of each part of the brain. Depending on their grade level they can also learn about neurons, neurotransmitters, the cerebellum, and a seizure focus. The questionnaire also asks them to find ways to care for their brain. After visiting the "Big Brain" they gather around a Tour Team Member to review the form together.
The key messages are:
How many brains do you have? 1
How many brains are you going to get? 1
Since you have only 1 brain and it is the only 1 you will ever get, it is important to take care of your brain.
If that isn't reason enough, let's review the major parts of the brain and how each part helps you every day. Now, that should give you more than enough reason to care for your brain.
No matter what age you are there are ways that you can care for your brain.
-Protect your brain (wear a helmet when you ride a bike)
-Feed your brain (eat good food)
-Rest your brain (get good sleep)
-Exercise your brain (learn new things)
-Exercise your body (get oxygen to the brain)
Then we teach how anyone who has a brain can have a seizure at any time, so it is important to know seizure first aid. We teach a simplified version for the students. If someone has a seizure at their school, they should first tell an adult/teacher and then they can assist with the 4 S-words of Seizure First Aid:
-Turn the person on their Side
-Put something Soft under their head
-Stay with them
-Make sure they are Safe
Then we make it personal and ask: What would you want your classmates to do for you if you had a seizure. And hopefully the answer back is: We would want others to care for us and do the 4 S-words.
We close with a reminder about "The Golden Rule" - Treat others they way you want to be treated. We reinforce that there is no bullying in The Golden Rule because no one wants to be bullied. Instead, they should treat a classmate who has a seizure just the way they would want to be treated if they had a seizure.
Finally, in closing: If all you remember from today is 3-4 ways to care for your brain and how to care for each other if any of you has a seizure, then you will have done a good thing for your brain!
Susan, for the Tour Team
Essentially, we teach the messages of the Love Your Brain Now Bus Tour (see ABOUT at LoveYourBrainNow.org). The students are given a short questionnaire on white cardstock and are invited to visit the "Big Brain" exhibit to find the answers. They are asked to identify the four major parts of the brain and the main functions of each part of the brain. Depending on their grade level they can also learn about neurons, neurotransmitters, the cerebellum, and a seizure focus. The questionnaire also asks them to find ways to care for their brain. After visiting the "Big Brain" they gather around a Tour Team Member to review the form together.
The key messages are:
How many brains do you have? 1
How many brains are you going to get? 1
Since you have only 1 brain and it is the only 1 you will ever get, it is important to take care of your brain.
If that isn't reason enough, let's review the major parts of the brain and how each part helps you every day. Now, that should give you more than enough reason to care for your brain.
No matter what age you are there are ways that you can care for your brain.
-Protect your brain (wear a helmet when you ride a bike)
-Feed your brain (eat good food)
-Rest your brain (get good sleep)
-Exercise your brain (learn new things)
-Exercise your body (get oxygen to the brain)
Then we teach how anyone who has a brain can have a seizure at any time, so it is important to know seizure first aid. We teach a simplified version for the students. If someone has a seizure at their school, they should first tell an adult/teacher and then they can assist with the 4 S-words of Seizure First Aid:
-Turn the person on their Side
-Put something Soft under their head
-Stay with them
-Make sure they are Safe
Then we make it personal and ask: What would you want your classmates to do for you if you had a seizure. And hopefully the answer back is: We would want others to care for us and do the 4 S-words.
We close with a reminder about "The Golden Rule" - Treat others they way you want to be treated. We reinforce that there is no bullying in The Golden Rule because no one wants to be bullied. Instead, they should treat a classmate who has a seizure just the way they would want to be treated if they had a seizure.
Finally, in closing: If all you remember from today is 3-4 ways to care for your brain and how to care for each other if any of you has a seizure, then you will have done a good thing for your brain!
Susan, for the Tour Team