By Connor Ryan and Sebastian Beltran – Advocate Editors

Jonathan Law’s AP Psychology classes recently held its annual activity to kick off the holiday season. Brainsgiving, which took place the day before Thanksgiving, is meant to introduce students to the brain and how different areas of the brain function through brain-themed restaurant menus. Advocate Editors Connor Ryan and Sebastian Beltran interviewed teacher Ms. Healy about Brainsgiving.

Sebastian Beltran: What are students supposed to learn from the activity?

Mrs. Healy: Brainsgiving is meant to serve as a creative wrap-up for their work on the brain. They get to work with any other AP Psych student from any section and put together a kind of pop-up restaurant for zombies. Their menu and samples should be related to the brain and function. Students should be explaining what “zombies” would get from their food and how it impacts their brain, nervous system or endocrine system. So not only is it fun, but it’s informative.

Brady O’Neil: Do you have a personal favorite project that students put together in the past? 

Mrs. Healy: I’ve always loved bringing my classes to Brainsgiving and seeing how creative the students can be with what they put together. 

SB: What is your favorite part of Brainsgiving?

MH: Being in the room while they’re planning now. It’s been great to see all their creativity and hard work come together. The event itself can be stressful, but the group problem-solves and creates really interactive and exciting stations for students and staff to visit. 

BO: What is the hardest part about Brainsgiving? 

MH: The hardest part of Brainsgiving is probably the logistics of actually successfully putting the event on for that Wednesday. I can’t sing the praises of our custodial staff enough for helping with power issues and keeping the lights on.

BO: How do you look to improve on the day from year to year? 

MH: Overall, I was really happy with how it all came together this year and feel like we did (AP Psychology teacher) Ms. Burns proud while she’s recovering. The planning and thought put into each station by the students was really impressive. I would look to be more time-efficient next year, and clean up faster than we did.