Summary of Project The BrainLink Project at Baylor College of Medicine teaches students how the brain learns and remembers, how the nervous system works and why the brain makes each individual so special. Developed and created by scientists and educators, each integrated, interdisciplinary BrainLink unit consists of a comprehensive, hands-on Activities Guide for teachers, a colorful Adventures storybook for students, a Reading Link language arts supplement, and a fun and informative Explorations mini-magazine for students to take home. Each unit explores a different aspect of the nervous system in a friendly and completely original format. BrainLink units target upper elementary and middle school students; however, many BrainLink activities are effective and challenging for high school students as well. The following four units are available. Brain Comparisons provides a novel approach to learning about the make-up of the brain and the basics of intelligence. Motor Highways examines the motor system, including reflexes, movement and coordination. Sensory Signals offers a unique approach to learning about how the senses work, including visual illusions, and how the brain processes sensory information. Memory and Learning will help students become more effective by helping them understand how their brains store and retrieve information.

Publications In addition to formal project materials listed below, SEPA project personnel at Baylor College of Medicine have published the following articles related their SEPA-funded activities. In 1999, Nancy P. Moreno, Ph.D. and Barbara Z. Tharp, M.S. published an article-An Interdisciplinary National Program Developed at Baylor to Make Science Exciting for All K-5 Students-in the April edition of Academic Medicine (Volume 74, Number 4, pages 345-347). In 1999, Nancy P. Moreno, Ph.D., Barbara Z. Tharp, M.S. & James P. Denk, M.A. published an article- Parents Count: Opening the Door to Involvement in School Sciences Programs-in the March edition of The Science Teacher (Volume 66, Number 3, pages 28-31). In 1999, Nancy P. Moreno, Ph.D., James P. Denk, M.A., Barbara Z. Tharp, M.S., Bernice Ochoa-Shargey, Ph.D., and William A. Thomson, Ph.D. published an article in School Business Affairs (volume 65, number five, pages 21-25) entitled Shared Responsibility: 26 Years of Medical School-School District Partnerships.

Presentations In addition to hundreds of professional development workshops for teachers, administrators and others, program personnel have given the following formal presentations for Baylor College of Medicine's SEPA-funded activities. On October 22, 1999, Nancy P. Moreno, Ph.D. gave a presentation entitled "Integrating Health into K-6 Science Education in Schools through Curriculum Design and Teacher Enhancement" at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Division of Cancer Prevention Seminar, Houston, Texas. On March 24, 1999, Barbara Z. Tharp, M.A. and Nancy P. Moreno, Ph.D.-with Marsha Lakes Matyas, Ph.D., of the American Physiological Society-conducted two short courses to train National Facilitators in the My Health My World project at the annual meeting of the National Science Teachers Association in Boston, MA. Fifty teachers from across the US participated. On March 15, 1999, Nancy P. Moreno, Ph.D. presented a hands-on workshop for scientists and educators at the annual meeting of the Society of Toxicology in New Orleans, Louisiana. On January 23, 1999, Barbara Z. Tharp, M.S. gave a presentation entitled "Thematic-Based Instruction" at the Texas Council for Elementary Science Leadership Conference in Port Aransas, Texas.

Materials All BrainLink materials are available from WOW! Publications. 1709 Dryden, Suite 554, Houston, Texas, 77030 Telephone: 1-800-969-4996 Fax: 713-383-9321 Email: info@wowpublications.com Brain Comparisons BrainLink Activities Guide for Teachers: Brain Comparisons. 1997, WOW! Publications. Skullduggery: A Case of Cranium Confusion (story book). 1997, WOW! Publications. Explorations for Children and Adults (mini-magazine). 1997, WOW! Publications. The Reading Link (reading activities to use with Skullduggery). 1997, WOW! Publications. Sensory Signals BrainLink Activities Guide for Teachers: Sensory Signals. 1997, WOW! Publications. The Cookie Crumbles: A Case of Sensory Sleuthing (story book). 1997, WOW! Publications. Explorations for Children and Adults (mini-magazine). 1997, WOW! Publications. The Reading Link (reading activities to use with The Cookie Crumbles). 1997, WOW! Publications. Motor Highways BrainLink Activities Guide for Teachers: Motor Highways. 1997, WOW! Publications. Trouble at Tsavo: The Tale of the Black Rhino (story book). 1997, WOW! Publications. Explorations for Children and Adults (mini-magazine). 1997, WOW! Publications. The Reading Link (reading activities to use with Trouble at Tsavo). 1997, WOW! Publications. Memory and Learning BrainLink Activities Guide for Teachers: Memory and Learning. 1997, WOW! Publications. Danger at Rocky River: A Memorable Misadventure (story book). 1997, WOW! Publications. Explorations for Children and Adults (mini-magazine). 1997, WOW! Publications. The Reading Link (reading activities to use with Danger at Rocky River). 1997, WOW! Publications.