Emily Pivovarnik is a trained music therapist who works with babies in neonatal intensive care to help them eat better, regulate their stress levels and adjust to stimulation. As part of her work, Pivovarnik is starting a research project to look at the long-term effects of a specific music therapy intervention called multimodal neurological enhancement, or MNE. This therapy combines music, gentle touch and rocking to help a baby’s brain develop.

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Teacher Resources for the Video:

NGSS Disciplines Addressed in Standards Referenced Below:
• Engineering, Technology, and Applications of Science

Discussion Questions:
• Have students discuss what they learn in the video in relation to the practice of “Planning and Carrying Out Investigations.” What is their reaction to the research being conducted by Ms. Pivovarnik? What is she looking for? How would they set up such a research project? What do they think might be the results of her research?

Activity Ideas:
• Use the video with a unit focused on the brain. What new information about the brain can students learn in the video?
• Use the video in a flipped learning activity focused on the brain and have students come to class prepared to share two insights gained by watching the video and two questions they’d like answered through their own or class research.

Vocabulary to Consider:
• Longitudianally
• Multi Modal
• Neurological

Resources for Additional Research:
• Learn more about the research study at https://www.muhealth.org/our-stories/mu-researchers-study-long-term-effect-music-therapy-brain-development.
• Learn more about the NGSS Science and Engineering Practices at the NSTA website.

Unique ID for the Video: IinAction-8
• Use the unique ID as a shortcut for students to find this specific video. Click on Search and choose “By Video ID.” Type in the Video ID as it appears above.

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