Moebius syndrome Awareness Activity #1:
Cranial Nerve Telephone
Have 4-5 volunteers make a line in front of the class. On one end of the line is the “brain”, on the other end of the line is the “face” and in between are the nerves. *If there is a student with Moebius in the classroom, please have them be the role of the "brain"
Say:
“Our brains work like a game of telephone. Your brain sends a message to your body through a path of nerves. The message gets passed along until it reaches the end and the action is completed. When you are happy, your brain (point to the child acting as the brain) sends a message to the face (point to the child acting as the face) to raise up the corners of your mouth.”
“Brain, whisper a message to the neuron closest to you. It should be something you’d like the face to do (smile, frown, wink, laugh, sing, whistle…)” (Do this a couple of times)
“In Moebius Syndrome, One or more of these nerve paths is either missing or is so weak it can’t send the message.” (Have one of the nerves in the path sit down) When the nerves can’t send the message, the face can’t respond”
Repeat Task:
“Brain, whisper a message to the neuron closest to you. It should be something you’d like the face to do (smile, frown, wink, laugh, sing, whistle…) “Without the nerve to pass along the message, the face can’t move.”
Ask:
“If a person with Moebius Syndrome isn’t moving their face, is it because they aren’t happy? Answer: (Let students respond, but guide their answers if needed)
“Yes, people with Moebius Syndrome can still feel happy, even if the message isn’t making it to their face.”
This lesson provided by Teacher and fellow Moebius Mama, Kat Borba
Say:
“Our brains work like a game of telephone. Your brain sends a message to your body through a path of nerves. The message gets passed along until it reaches the end and the action is completed. When you are happy, your brain (point to the child acting as the brain) sends a message to the face (point to the child acting as the face) to raise up the corners of your mouth.”
“Brain, whisper a message to the neuron closest to you. It should be something you’d like the face to do (smile, frown, wink, laugh, sing, whistle…)” (Do this a couple of times)
“In Moebius Syndrome, One or more of these nerve paths is either missing or is so weak it can’t send the message.” (Have one of the nerves in the path sit down) When the nerves can’t send the message, the face can’t respond”
Repeat Task:
“Brain, whisper a message to the neuron closest to you. It should be something you’d like the face to do (smile, frown, wink, laugh, sing, whistle…) “Without the nerve to pass along the message, the face can’t move.”
Ask:
“If a person with Moebius Syndrome isn’t moving their face, is it because they aren’t happy? Answer: (Let students respond, but guide their answers if needed)
“Yes, people with Moebius Syndrome can still feel happy, even if the message isn’t making it to their face.”
This lesson provided by Teacher and fellow Moebius Mama, Kat Borba
Activity 2:
“If You’re Happy and
You Know It” song
“If You’re Happy and
You Know It” song
Say:
“Since messages from the brain can’t reach their facial muscles (see activity above), often people with Moebius Syndrome use alternative forms of expression to let their emotions be known. Let’s think of some ways people with or without Moebius Syndrome can express feeling happy.”
Brainstorm as a group: (Ideas might include: laughing, singing, jumping, twirling, dancing… Include as many ideas as you can)
“Do you know the song, “If you’re happy and you know it”? When I was young we sang “If you’re happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it” But as we’ve already learned, if you don’t have the nerves in your face to send the message, your face can’t “surely show it”. I would rather us sing, “If you’re happy and you know it, and you really want to show it” Is that ok with everyone? (wait for response).
Great, Let’s use the ideas we brainstormed together to sing the song together.
If you’re happy and you know it (Clap your hands/twirl around/ laugh real loud/…)
If you’re happy and you know it (Clap your hands/twirl around/ laugh real loud/…)
If you’re happy and you know it, and you really want to show it
If you’re happy and you know it (Clap your hands/twirl around/ laugh real loud/…)
This lesson provided by Teacher and fellow Moebius Mama, Kat Borba
“Since messages from the brain can’t reach their facial muscles (see activity above), often people with Moebius Syndrome use alternative forms of expression to let their emotions be known. Let’s think of some ways people with or without Moebius Syndrome can express feeling happy.”
Brainstorm as a group: (Ideas might include: laughing, singing, jumping, twirling, dancing… Include as many ideas as you can)
“Do you know the song, “If you’re happy and you know it”? When I was young we sang “If you’re happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it” But as we’ve already learned, if you don’t have the nerves in your face to send the message, your face can’t “surely show it”. I would rather us sing, “If you’re happy and you know it, and you really want to show it” Is that ok with everyone? (wait for response).
Great, Let’s use the ideas we brainstormed together to sing the song together.
If you’re happy and you know it (Clap your hands/twirl around/ laugh real loud/…)
If you’re happy and you know it (Clap your hands/twirl around/ laugh real loud/…)
If you’re happy and you know it, and you really want to show it
If you’re happy and you know it (Clap your hands/twirl around/ laugh real loud/…)
This lesson provided by Teacher and fellow Moebius Mama, Kat Borba
