Elementary School Programs
How to Sign Up
These programs are best suited to students at the elementary school level. To sign up, reach out to the presenter directly to arrange a date and time. Each presentation has one or multiple presentation formats available, talk to your presenter about which will work best for you and your class.
ABeeC's of Beekeeping with Bees in the D
This is a virtual self-guided program you can explore here
Join Brian Peterson-Roest, founder of the non-profit Bees in the D, for a virtual Honeybee hive tour at the DNR's Outdoor Adventure Center in Detroit. You will explore an active hive and learn about the parts of a Honeybee hive, cast of bees, behaviors of bees, the life cycle of Honeybees, pollination and maybe even see royalty!
Backyard Birds (Virtual)
Lindsay Cain
lcain@michiganaudubon.org
Learn more about the birds in your backyard. This program covers the basics of birding in your backyard and includes tips and tricks for identifying the birds you see. We'll cover the importance of birds and ways to enjoy them in this interactive presentation. This is a great introduction to birds and is suitable for participants of any skill level or background.
Build-a-Fish! (Virtual, Classroom Science)
Jamily Lorena
ramosdel@msu.edu
Have you ever wondered what makes a fish? Fish are made of a head, body, and tail. They have fins, scales, and teeth. They’re made in many shapes, colors and sizes. Explore fish diversity through a presentation where you’ll learn about fish with awesome colors and shapes and fish that live in places you’d never expect! In this activity you’ll design your own fish with any size, shape, or color you want and choose a home for your fish in any place you can imagine!
Explore Lab Science (Classroom Science)
Heather Seymour
seymourh@michigan.gov
The goal of the Explore Lab Science program is to introduce children to lab science. The program has three tiers and activities can be tailored to specific ages and classroom curricula.
How Can Students Play an Effective Societal Role Now and in the Future Related to Plastics? (Virtual, Classroom Science, STEAM Field Trips)
Cimberly Weir
cimberly@msu.edu
We will present to students the importance of recycling and how to sort their waste for recycling. We also show them how recycling works.
Interactive Physical Science Demos/Activities with MSU WaMPS (Virtual)
Bryan Stanley, stanl142@msu.edu
WAMPS (Women and Minorities in the Physical Sciences) is a graduate student organization. Grad students will facilitate various activities/demonstrations, exploring topics such as matter, energy, force, electricity, magnetism, waves, motion, sound, light, and color. Demonstrations and activities can be specifically tailored to relate to the current topics you are learning in class. Our website is https://www.wamps.org/outreach
Pit-stop to Migration Classroom Science (STEAM Field Trips)
Kristy Taylor
taylorks@msu.edu
Learn about bird migration and the importance of stop-over sites. Students will explore the challenges of migration with a variety of migration games and learn about how native fruits and migratory stop-over sites are vital for birds during migration. Students will also learn how we band birds at the Michigan State Bird Observatory and have a chance to study bird diet by creating their own fruit smears.
The Day in the Life of a Veterinary Nurse (Virtual, Classroom Science)
Sarah Machniak
machnisa@msu.edu
What is a veterinary nurse? What do they do? How do they fit into the healthcare team? I am here to talk to you about veterinary nursing, the pathway to get there and so much more!
Think Like an Engineer (STEAM Field Trips)
Geralynn Phelps
geralynn@msu.edu
Learn to problem solve through hands-on activities.
Who Will Solve the Problems? and other thoughts on research science careers (Virtual, Classroom Science, STEAM Field Trips)
Zachary Constan
constan@frib.msu.edu
MSU’s Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) leads the world at making and studying radioactive nuclei. Inside, researchers regularly smash nuclei together at half the speed of light. To make new discoveries, it takes a team of 800+ physicists, chemists, mathematicians, plumbers, welders, machinists, computer scientists, and many more. Find out what kinds of jobs are needed to make cutting-edge science work!
Wildlife Encounters (Virtual)
Kati Adams
kadams@meridian.mi.us
Enjoy a pre-recorded presentation from the Harris Nature Center Naturalists as they introduce your class to some of the Center's resident wildlife! The video presentation is 20 minutes long and includes encounters with a variety of Michigan native birds, reptiles, and amphibians. When signing up to receive the video presentation, you'll also schedule a 15 minute time block with the naturalists for a live virtual Q & A, so please have your class ready with questions after watching the presentation.
You Don't Say! Understanding Ways We Communicate. (Classroom Science)
Zachary Hesse
hessezac@msu.edu
Understanding autism and communication differences. Alternative modes of communication. Read an age-appropriate book, facilitate discussion, hands-on experiences trying out ways to communicate without talking!