Last week, curious young minds at Normandale Elementary got a hands-on introduction to brain science, thanks to a special visit from Dr. Jackie Palmer, one of our MnDRIVE Neuromodulation Scholars. As part of the school’s ongoing career exploration series, Dr. Palmer spoke to a kindergarten class about her work as a scientist studying the brain—and even brought some models along for a fun, interactive activity.
With colorful brain models in hand, Dr. Palmer led the students through a “Build-a-Brain” activity, where they learned about some of the brain’s most important parts and what they do. The budding scientists eagerly assembled their own model brains, learning that different parts are in charge of different jobs—like seeing, thinking, moving, and remembering.
Although the lesson was designed for young learners, the students were anything but simple in their questions. One asked, “Why do the different parts of the brain look so different?” Another wanted to know, “How do you help injured brains to work again?” These thoughtful questions sparked mini-discussions about how the brain changes, heals, and how scientists like Dr. Palmer study those very things.
The visit was not only a chance to share the basics of neuroscience but also a powerful way to show students what a scientist looks like—and that their questions matter.
We’re proud of Dr. Palmer for bringing her expertise and enthusiasm into the classroom, and grateful to Normandale Elementary for making career learning so engaging at an early age. Who knows? Maybe one of these kindergartners will be a future brain scientist!
