Ask Max
MPFI’s Ask Max program provides free in-classroom STEM experiences that inspire a love of science and give students the confidence pursue careers in STEM. Learn about our lesson plans and find out how to bring Ask Max to a school near you.
Ask Max!
Why ‘Ask Max’?
Our custom-outfitted van, affectionately known as “Ask Max”, brings vibrant, hands-on neuroscience activities right to YOU. Led by experts, these sessions not only teach but inspire, showing science as a playground of curiosity. “Ask Max” is equipped with high-quality scientific tools like dissection microscopes and gel electrophoresis kits, ensuring a stimulating educational experience right at your doorstep.
Our Impact
In the last year alone, our educational outreach reached more than 9,000 students and community members, with a significant focus on underserved schools. By bringing “Ask Max” to you, we aim to inspire even more young minds, especially those in areas with interest in or limited access to high-quality STEM resources.
As part of the Max Planck Society, the #1 Biomedical Non-profit in the world, the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience brings unparalleled scientific expertise and a history of effective community engagement. Programs are approved by the Palm Beach County School District.
The “Ask Max” Program is generously supported by Don and Penny Pray, the Stiles Nicholson Foundation, and the Mary Durstine McArtor Reynolds Memorial Giving Fund.
Grade Specific Lesson Plans
Grades K-2
We will walk step by step through the brain, while coloring each lobe. The students will then assemble their work into a hat they can wear to show off their cortex!
Grades 3-5
Students will learn about brain structures using an actual sheep brain! Students will have the opportunity to wear gloves and hold a brain, then observe a dissection and compare the sheep brain to a human brain model.
MPFI will bring our mobile microscopes to give students a chance to observe the microscopic world. Students will learn how to use a stereoscope to view different phenotypes in the model organism Drosophila Melanogaster. They will be able to focus, calculate magnification, and accurately convey their observations after the lesson.
Students learn about the molecule of life, DNA! Students take part in an experiment led by a neuroscientist that unlocks the DNA from strawberry cells and makes it visible to the naked eye!
Get ready to spark some brain power! In this hands-on craft, students will explore how the brain works and meet its tiny messengers—neurons. Using colorful pipe cleaners, they’ll build their own neuron models, connect them into a classroom-wide neural network, and send messages zipping from “brain” to “body” in a fun, interactive chain reaction.
Grades 6-8
Students will learn about brain structures using an actual sheep brain! Students will be divided into small groups and have the opportunity to wear gloves and participate in a guided dissection and compare the sheep brain to a human brain model.
Students will learn about the need for model organisms in research. They will learn about the most common research models and then take a deep dive on Drosophila Melanogaster – the Fruit Fly. Students will learn how to use a stereoscope to view different phenotypes in fruit flies. They will use how to use punnet squares to show the pattern of inheritance of the traits viewed. They will also learn how basic research can lead to applied research in the technique of optogenetics.
Students learn about the molecule of life, DNA! Students take part in an experiment led by a neuroscientist that unlocks the DNA from their very own cheek cells and makes it visible to the naked eye!
Students will learn the anatomy of a neuron—a brain cell—the principal player in the nervous system. They will also learn how neurons communicate with one another to send messages throughout the body using electrical signaling. Finally, students will learn the pros and cons of using models in science.
Grades 9-12
Students will learn about brain structures using an actual sheep brain! Students will be divided into small groups and have the opportunity to wear gloves and participate in a guided dissection and compare the sheep brain to a human brain model.
Students will learn about the need for model organisms in research. They will learn about the most common research models and then take a deep dive into Drosophila Melanogaster – the Fruit Fly. Students will learn how to use a stereoscope to view different phenotypes in fruit flies. They will use how to use Punnett squares to show the pattern of inheritance of the traits viewed. They will also learn how basic research can lead to applied research in the technique of optogenetics.
Students will learn the basics of optics and fluorescence. They will learn the different types of microscopes used in research and the different needs they fill. Students will have the chance to observe samples using a stereoscope and a fluorescence microscope. They will be able to focus, calculate magnification, and accurately convey their observations after the lesson.
Students will be introduced to gel electrophoresis and its vital role in biotechnology and biomedical science, with a focus on genotypes and Mendelian genetics. They will learn how this technique is used to genotype parental samples alongside their four offspring. Students will operate a gel electrophoresis system, observe pre-supplied animal DNA fragment movement through the gel matrix, and analyze the gel results to determine parent-offspring relationships. They will also apply Punnett squares to predict offspring phenotypes and compare these predictions to genotypic outcomes derived from the electrophoresis results. This lesson offers a meaningful connection between Mendelian genetics and modern biotechnology, making abstract concepts tangible. It provides students with an engaging, hands-on opportunity to link theoretical knowledge to real-world applications, such as inheritance analysis and forensic science.
We provide up to 2 in-school STEM field trips per school year for no-cost, we also participate in STEM nights, career days, science fairs or community events.
How to Book
Contact us to schedule a visit and be part of this exciting scientific journey.