Brain and senses - activities inspiring neuroscience in pre-school children

Department of Neuroscience from University of Split School of Medicine has put together a series of workshops for pre school children introducing them to basic knowledge of human brain and senses (sight, smell, hearing, touch and taste) through the games and funny activities. The workshops were aimed at age group 3 to 7, and organized into two 45 min periods. Children made their own brain models using a Play-Dough and a string to make a brain curves. This was followed with a presentation of the scientist look. They were dressed to be a scientist. Short introductory game was performed to “break the ice”. Children were given 5 pieces of paper with one picture of eye, nose, ear, hand and tongue on each paper. We were playing the game: when I said “red” they had to raise the right picture in the air (eye) ; if I said “music” they had to raise ear. Children learned that the “sense” travels from our body to the brain which is responsible for the interpretation of what we see, hear or taste. “Magic box” game was performed introducing them to touch and smell senses. Different games were played with younger children. They used band-aid and syringes to treat their sick teddy bears, played hide and seek in the tent we have provided for them. Finally, all children had the opportunity to draw an object (their choice was to draw a house) with their left and right hand on the same piece of paper. They were able to compare their drawings and learn about brain hemisphere controlling their dominant hand. We have organized similar activities during the Brain Awareness Week (BAW) for the last 8 years, and thus it became tradition in our Department. These workshops are a simple way of providing fun public engagement opportunities to children but also to students and staff at the University of Split School of Medicine.