{"id":3380,"date":"2025-03-04T21:12:19","date_gmt":"2025-03-04T21:12:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/joint-educational-project\/?p=3380"},"modified":"2025-03-25T22:36:50","modified_gmt":"2025-03-25T22:36:50","slug":"engaging-young-minds-the-neuroscience-of-fitness-workshop-at-mack-ave-elementary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/joint-educational-project\/2025\/03\/04\/engaging-young-minds-the-neuroscience-of-fitness-workshop-at-mack-ave-elementary\/","title":{"rendered":"Engaging Young Minds: The Neuroscience of Fitness Workshop at Mack Ave Elementary"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--article-hero \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--article-hero\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n<div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n          \n<div class=\"f--field f--image\">\n\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n              \n      <img\n                            data-src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/joint-educational-project\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/IMG_7965-768x432.jpg\"\n          data-srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/joint-educational-project\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/IMG_7965-1920x1080.jpg 1920w,https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/joint-educational-project\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/IMG_7965-1280x720.jpg 1280w,https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/joint-educational-project\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/IMG_7965-768x432.jpg 768w\"          data-sizes=\"(min-width:1200px) 75vw, (min-width:768px) 83vw, 100vw\"          class=\"lazyload\"\n        \n                  alt=\"Group Photo\"\n        \n        \n                                      \/>\n\n    \n    \n  \n  \n\n<\/div>\n  \n  \n  <div class=\"text-wrapper\">\n    \n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--page-title\">\n\n    \n  <h1>Engaging Young Minds: The Neuroscience of Fitness Workshop at Mack Ave Elementary<\/h1>\n\n\n<\/div>\n    \n    \n          <strong class=\"author-field\"><span >By<\/span>Dr. Dieuwertje &#8220;DJ&#8221; Kast<\/strong>\n    \n          <span class=\"post-date-field\">March 4, 2025<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--social-share \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--social-share\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"content-wrapper\">\n    <span class=\"a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list\" style=\"line-height: 32px;\">\n      <span class=\"title\">\n        Share\n      <\/span>\n                        <a class=\"a2a_button_copy_link\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/#copy_link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"Link\">\n            <span class=\"a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_copy_link\">\n              <svg height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 19\" width=\"19\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m7.43475275 9.52380952-2.17490843 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     >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On February 27th, 2025, 28 fourth and fifth-grade students from John Mack Ave Elementary joined the USC Young Scientists Program (YSP) for an engaging after-school workshop titled &#8220;Neuroscience of Fitness Studio.&#8221; This hands-on event explored the intricate relationship between movement and the brain, delving into how each influences the other. The workshop was based on the research of Daniel Aslan, a PhD student in Integrative and Evolutionary Biology at USC, whose National Science Foundation (NSF) grant focuses on understanding how locomotor transitions in human evolution have impacted cognitive demands during movement.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b>Overview of the Workshop<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The workshop began with a brief presentation on how the brain controls movement and the benefits of physical activity for brain health. Students then rotated through three interactive stations:<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><\/h4>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3381\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3381\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3381 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/joint-educational-project\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-04-at-1.02.28-PM-1024x486.png\" alt=\"Two images of two different children holding a muscle model made from cardboard.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"486\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/joint-educational-project\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-04-at-1.02.28-PM-1024x486.png 1024w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/joint-educational-project\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-04-at-1.02.28-PM-300x142.png 300w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/joint-educational-project\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-04-at-1.02.28-PM-768x364.png 768w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/joint-educational-project\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-04-at-1.02.28-PM-1536x729.png 1536w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/joint-educational-project\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-04-at-1.02.28-PM.png 1728w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3381\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kaylee Segura tests out her muscle model. Carlos Fernandez shows off his muscle model during the workshop. Photos by Dieuwertje Kast<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Station #1: Muscle Model<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Participants learned about the role of the brain in controlling muscles during movement by making their own arm muscle model. At this station, students engaged in a hands-on activity, building a &#8220;Muscle Machine&#8221; to understand how biceps and triceps work together to move the arm. Using materials like cardboard, bobbins, string, and a plastic bottle, they constructed a model demonstrating muscle contractions, resulting in flexion and extension.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><\/h4>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3382\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3382\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-3382\" src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/joint-educational-project\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-04-at-1.05.31-PM-1024x487.png\" alt=\"Different pictures of students doing experiment with wood sticks.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"487\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/joint-educational-project\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-04-at-1.05.31-PM-1024x487.png 1024w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/joint-educational-project\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-04-at-1.05.31-PM-300x143.png 300w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/joint-educational-project\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-04-at-1.05.31-PM-768x365.png 768w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/joint-educational-project\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-04-at-1.05.31-PM-1536x730.png 1536w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/joint-educational-project\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-04-at-1.05.31-PM.png 1582w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3382\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Justin Holt creates a dynamic walker with JEP STEM TA Tracy Wang. Royce Ilaga tests out a walker on an inclined plane. Photos by Dieuwertje Kast<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Station #2: Dynamic Walkers<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This station was inspired by the &#8220;Gravity-Powered Robot Walker&#8221; project. Students explored the principles of balance and movement by constructing their own simple, gravity-powered walkers using cardstock, skewers, beads, and craft foam. This activity demonstrated how even without a motor, strategic design and weight distribution can create locomotion, highlighting the brain&#8217;s role in managing these factors during human walking.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><\/h4>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3383\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3383\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-3383\" src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/joint-educational-project\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-04-at-1.07.41-PM-1024x447.png\" alt=\"Kids going through the different stations.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"447\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/joint-educational-project\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-04-at-1.07.41-PM-1024x447.png 1024w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/joint-educational-project\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-04-at-1.07.41-PM-300x131.png 300w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/joint-educational-project\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-04-at-1.07.41-PM-768x335.png 768w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/joint-educational-project\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-04-at-1.07.41-PM-1536x670.png 1536w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/joint-educational-project\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-04-at-1.07.41-PM.png 1862w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3383\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo 1: Carlos Fernandez walks across an uneven surface designed to challenge balance.<br \/>Photo 2: Researcher Daniel Aslan shows inertial measurement unit sensors to students, which track human movement.<br \/>Photo 3: Lily Lawsin wears a high-tech wearable metabolic system that measures how much energy she is using while moving.<br \/>Photos by Dieuwertje Kast<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Station #3: Movement Science Station<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Students engaged in dual-task (walking while thinking) exercise experiments that challenge both the brain and body, while also getting a glimpse into the equipment used to study human movement. This station examined how cognitive tasks can affect walking patterns and vice versa. Students walked over an uneven surface\/ terrain (in this case, a large plywood square with rock climbing holds and other wooden pieces) with walking sticks while trying to do simple subtraction questions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b>Insights from the Workshop<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Teacher Perspective:\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It felt great to see my kids outside of the normal classroom setting and do more hands-on work one-on-one! My favorite part was when one of my students connected the walker station to our first lesson about kinetic energy\u2014 It was such a rewarding moment to see them apply their learning in a practical way! When I went in to teach the next day, all of my kids raved about the movement science station. They loved the uneven surface and how it challenged their balance, and many mentioned how the cane made the activity feel like an adventure. It was amazing to hear how much they enjoyed the experience!\u00a0 &#8211; Naomi Kassahun, 4th Grade STEM TA at Mack for the USC JEP STEM Education Programs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Student Experience:\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;My favorite thing was the movement station. It was interesting that it can track when you move,&#8221; said Kaylee Segura. This sentiment reflects the excitement and curiosity that many students felt as they explored how movement is monitored and analyzed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Researcher&#8217;s Perspective:<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cOur research explores how walking on two legs and our endurance have shaped the way we think over time\u201d, explained Daniel Aslan. &#8220;Workshops like this help us share that knowledge with the next generation, inspiring them to explore the fascinating world of neuroscience and movement\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;It was really wholesome to see that the kids were generally into science, they told me they learned a lot from the presentation about the brain and movement were able to connect it to the their muscle model activity&#8221; said Anika Seshadri, third year undergraduate in Human Biology and research assistant in the Evolutionary Biology of Physical Activity Lab\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b>Impact and Future Directions<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The USC Young Scientists Program continues to inspire young minds through hands-on science education. By partnering with researchers like Daniel Aslan, the program not only enhances students&#8217; understanding of STEM subjects but also fosters a deeper appreciation for the interconnectedness of human movement and cognition.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b>Acknowledgements<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This workshop was made possible through the support of Daniel Aslan&#8217;s National Science Foundation Biological Anthropology Program \u2013 Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant (BA-DDRIG, Award NSF-BCS 2419169) , which explores the cognitive demands of locomotion in human evolution. We also would like to thank our JEP staff and student leaders, who played a crucial role in organizing and facilitating this event. The researchers that supported Daniel Aslan\u2019s event were: Dylan Luong, Tiladia Markarian, Anika Seshadri, Lily Lawsin, andSarah Hourihan.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additionally, we appreciate the contributions of all the students, teachers, and volunteers who participated in and helped organize this workshop. Special thanks to the John Mack Ave Elementary staff for their hospitality and support throughout the event.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":93,"featured_media":3384,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,16,42],"tags":[18,26],"class_list":["post-3380","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-jep-blog","category-stem","category-whats-new-at-the-jep-house","tag-stem","tag-ysp"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Engaging Young Minds: The Neuroscience of Fitness Workshop at Mack Ave Elementary<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" 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