K-12 schools

• Use the Alliance’s Mindboggling booklet and puzzle series as a classroom activity.
• Hold a coloring contest in your class with the Mindboggling coloring sheets. Consider using the BAW stickers, pencils and brain erasers as prizes.
• Incorporate daily brain facts or brain fitness tips in your school announcements; create a bulletin board display about the brain. Visit the Media Tools page for downloads.
• Develop a brain lesson plan for the week. Get started with ideas from Dana’s Brainy Kids page or these sample lesson plans (PDF) for grades 1-5 from Dr. Bob Jacobs at Colorado College. See also the lesson plans from others collected on Dr. Eric Chudler’s “Neuroscience for Kids” site (at bottom of page).
• Explore the many ideas for in-class experiments and projects at Dr. Eric Chudler’s site, including:

• Organize a brain art, essay, poetry, music, or drama competition at your school.
• If you are a science teacher, incorporate BAW in your curriculum by assigning students a brain-related project. Have students present their projects to their classmates or to younger students in your school.
• High schools: get involved in the International Brain Bee competition. Contact Dr. Norbert Myslinski of the University of Maryland School of Dentistry with any questions. 
• If there is a science fair during March, suggest that projects be neuroscience-focused. Here are some tips from Dana’s Brainy Kids site and Dr. Eric Chudler. 
• Look into Pilot International’s Brain Minders program to teach young children (up to age 8) about brain injury and the importance of injury prevention.
• Invite a local brain expert to visit your classroom to present a lecture, hands-on demonstration, or experiments about the brain. Or coordinate a workshop for school teachers on a brain-related topic. Search for BAW partners in your area on the Partner List.
• Coordinate a shadow program: local high school students can shadow neuroscience faculty and students, and discover what it means to be a neuroscientist and why it is important to study the brain. Search for BAW partners in your area on the Partner List.
• Reach out to a local research facility and suggest they hold an “open lab” for local high school and university audiences or the general public.

Universities/Hospitals

• Visit local schools to present lectures, hands-on demonstrations, and experiments about the brain.
• Create an exhibit on the brain at your hospital, or present it to schools, libraries, community centers, etc. in your community.
• Coordinate a lecture or series of lectures about the brain.
• Host a “Brain Q&A” program: invite the public to ask your in-house experts questions on the brain.
• Consider running on your website or in your newsletter a series of Q&As with your researcher. (See the Q&As from the Dana Foundation for inspiration.)
• Organize a screening of the Staying Sharp DVD Program. Screen the DVD and distribute the Staying Sharp booklets, bookmarks, and puzzles.
• Organize a film festival featuring movies about the brain. Follow each film with a Q&A session with a brain expert on the subject addressed in the film.
• Coordinate a workshop for local school teachers on a brain-related topic.
• Become a brain advocate.
• Coordinate a shadow program: local high school students can shadow neuroscience faculty and students, and discover what it means to be a neuroscientist and why it is important to study the brain.
• If your organization is a research facility, hold an “open lab” for local high school and university audiences or the general public.
• Partner with a science museum to present exhibits, demonstrations, hands-on experiments, and exercises about brain structure, function, and diseases and disorders. Find out what programming they may already have available on the brain.
• Invite local media representatives to a brain-briefing highlighting the research being done at your institution. See our tips on working with the media.

Older adult audiences

• Set up a BAW info table and distribute the Alliance’s materials and puzzles. Registered partners can download flyers and other materials.
• Organize a screening of the Staying Sharp DVD Program and distribute the Staying Sharp booklets, bookmarks, and puzzles. You might invite a local neurologist or gerontologist to answer questions from your group.
• Senior and community centers: create a series of events focused on the “four factors” of healthy aging, as outlined in the Staying Sharp DVD Program: Physical exercise: plan a “brain exercise” program by inviting a local fitness expert to lead your group in some light exercise or stretching; Mental exercise: hold a brain quiz or puzzle contest with prizes, or if your center has a regular games night, reinforce the importance of mental activities like playing bridge and chess on brain health;  Social activity:  host a book club meeting, dance, BINGO or chess game night, trivia game, etc.; Maintenance of vascular health: contact your local hospital, pharmacy, or medical clinic to see if they can help organize a health screening day.
• Encourage the older adults you with to become brain advocates.
• Set up and staff an exhibit table at a local hospital, doctors’ office, community center, or shopping center to distribute materials from the Staying Sharp program. 
• Organize a film festival featuring movies about the brain, especially films with a focus on the aging brain. Follow each film with a Q&A session with a brain expert on the subject addressed in the film.
• Invite your local media representatives for a “brain-briefing” at a local senior center with a local neurologist or gerontologist. See our tips on working with the media.
• Team up with local businesses to sponsor classes and workshops for employees to raise awareness about brain function and fitness, brain diseases and disorders.
• If you work with older adults who like to knit and crochet, download the “Knit a Neuron” patterns.
• Explore the online memory games on Dr. Eric Chudler’s site.
• If you have a music program at your senior center, incorporate these fun brain songs during BAW.

General audiences

• Use social media! Post a daily brain fact or memory tip on Facebook or your blog during BAW, or Tweet about the brain (use #brainweek). You could also link to a brain puzzle. Be sure to connect with BAW’s official Facebook page.
• Coordinate a lecture or series of lectures about the brain.
• Organize a health fair. Invite local organizations to staff exhibit booths, distribute materials, offer free health screenings, and more.
• Partner with a science museum to present exhibits, demonstrations, hands-on experiments, and exercises about brain structure, function, and diseases and disorders. Find out what programming they may already have available on the brain.
• Organize a screening of the Staying Sharp DVD Program. Screen the DVD and distribute the Staying Sharp booklets, bookmarks, and puzzles.
• Become a brain advocate.
• Reach out to a local research facility and suggest they hold an “open lab” for the general public.
• Contact your local radio and television stations to incorporate a brain-related segment into their programming schedule during BAW. Volunteer your organization as a resource for speakers, topics, and content.
• Set up and staff an exhibit table at a local hospital, doctors’ office, community center, or shopping center and distribute brain-related information and materials. 
• Ask your local library to organize a BAW display with books on the brain and reference material about the brain, or offer to set up your own display.
• Organize a film festival featuring movies about the brain.
• Invite your local media representatives for a “brain-briefing” with your organization.
• Team up with local businesses to sponsor classes and workshops for employees to raise awareness about brain function and fitness, brain diseases and disorders.

Ideas for individuals 

• Use social media! Post a daily brain fact or memory tip on Facebook or your blog during BAW, or Tweet about the brain (use #brainweek). You could also link to a brain puzzle. Be sure to connect with BAW’s official Facebook page.
• Start a BAW book club: select a brain-related book to read and discuss.
• If your company has an in-office educational program or a company wellness program, talk to its organizer to plan a brain-related session during BAW. Encourage your company to register as a BAW partner and order free materials for employees.
• Become a brain advocate.
• Contact your local radio and television stations to incorporate a brain-related segment into their programming schedule during BAW. See our tips on working with the media.
• Let your local library, schools, senior and community center, etc. know about BAW so they can celebrate. For printed copies of the BAW brochure to distribute please email BAWinfo@dana.org.
• Ask your local library to organize a BAW display with books and reference material about the brain, or offer to set up your own display. 

“Non-event” BAW celebrations

• Write an article or editorial about BAW and the importance of brain research for your newsletter. Even articles which appear post-campaign will help spread the word about this important effort.
• Blog or write about BAW on your website.
• Use social media! Post a daily brain fact or memory tip on Facebook or your blog during BAW, or Tweet about the brain (use #brainweek). You could also link to a brain puzzle. Be sure to connect with BAW’s official Facebook page.
• Include notices about BAW with employees’ paychecks and newsletters. Use this as a means to promote BAW activities taking place in your community.
• Write letters to the editors of your local newspapers about the importance of brain research to your constituents. Encourage your constituents to do the same.
• Include a notice about BAW in your newsletter.
• Include a brain-related puzzle in your newsletter or on your website, or print and distribute to friends and family. (See Downloadable Materials) 

Celebrate the Brain Year Round: Ten Ways You Can Be a Brain Advocate

• Stay informed on the brain. Read articles and books and watch science programs that discuss new advances in brain research.
• Participate in Brain Awareness Week. Visit the site to search for an event in your area, or find out how to get involved as a partner in the campaign.
• Spread the word: let your friends, neighbors, and co-workers know how important you think brain research is to you and your community. If you are a parent, encourage your children’s schools to incorporate the brain into the classroom. Find resources at www.dana.org/kids.
• Use social media. Connect with like-minded organizations and share brain research updates with your friends and family on social media platforms.
• Contact your representatives to share information on important advances in brain research with them. Don’t assume that they are up to date in their knowledge. If you think an article or piece of information about the brain is interesting, it is likely they will, too. Find your representatives at www.house.gov. 
• Some tips:
  • Ask your local or state representative to issue a BAW proclamation. (See Brain Awareness Week Proclamations for tips)
  • Write or call your local, state, and/or federal government representatives to encourage their support of brain research.
  • Send introductory packets about your organization’s work or your research to your Congressional representatives and especially to new legislators.
  • Invite local government officials to your outreach programs.
  • Download the Dana Alliance’s “Tools for Educating Policymakers” for additional suggestions and links to several organizations offering guidelines and tips for arranging meetings and speaking with policymakers.
• Donate your time and support to the organizations or advocacy groups of your choice.
• Support local colleges and universities that have active teaching and research programs in neuroscience.
• Alert the media: write to newspapers and broadcasters to let them know that you appreciate their coverage of the brain. Or, contact local media outlets to encourage increased coverage on the brain. Letters to the editor and opinion pieces are very effective ways of sharing your views. See our tips on working with the media.
• Participate in a clinical trial; scientists learn from studies about how normal brains function. Search the National Institutes of Health’s listing of trials.
• Be a role model by living a brain-healthy life. Learn more through our Staying Sharp program.