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Cortica

Cortica Incubator

Vol. 2 No. 2 (2023): OPEN SCIENCE : Accès aux savoirs scientifiques auprès des professionnels de santé

What if your brain looked like a ski resort: Creation of neuro-educational teaching support that allows students aged 7 to 10 to understand how the human brain works

  • Amandine Vuille
DOI
https://doi.org/10.26034/cortica.2023.4217
Submitted
September 9, 2023
Published
2023-09-19

Abstract

The present Cortica Incubator demonstrates that it is possible to make young children aware of how the human brain works, using a fun, age-appropriate toolkit. "Et si ton cerveau ressembleait à une station de ski" is a neuro-educational teaching aid that explains brain function through the theme of skiing. The child who discovers it is invited to travel to the heart of the Zinal-VS ski resort. The toolkit contains a brain-shaped cartoon map, with mountain animals illustrating brain regions. Videos accompany the map and explain various brain functions related to ski resort operations, i.e. neural networks, brain synchronization and decision awareness. Finally, ski card passes explain the different brain states (default mode network, salience network and executive network). Game cards and the possibility of winning medals challenge children and allow them to assess their knowledge. The author, a school educator, was able to test the support with three classes of pupils aged 7 to 10 (50 pupils in all). The experience enabled the children to get to grips with the way their brains work, and its playful nature was much appreciated by them.

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