The MSU Science Festival has opened registration for school groups to sign up for their exploration days.
These classes are free. Additional free events will be open to the public during the weekend and evenings.
These classes are free. Additional free events will be open to the public during the weekend and evenings.
How to Register:
(1) Register your school / homeschool. You will be asked how many students are in your class. Your class size will be used to determine which classes you can enroll in. If your class size exceeds the number of openings remaining for a class then you will not be able to enroll in that class.
Challenge: Because you cannot tell how many openings there are before you sign up this is a bit challenging if you want to sign up a larger group and have people join you. If your class size exceed the number of seats remaining in the session day/time you want you will not be able to register for the class.
Challenge: Once you register your school and the number of students you cannot change the number of students in your class.
There are multiple sessions for most titles, so if you can split up and register as separate groups at different days/times you can likely still sign up for the classes you want.
So at this point it might be easier to register by families rather than in large groups as openings are filling up quickly.
To view classes before registering you can download this spreadsheet that I created. My apologies if there are any errors!:
Challenge: Because you cannot tell how many openings there are before you sign up this is a bit challenging if you want to sign up a larger group and have people join you. If your class size exceed the number of seats remaining in the session day/time you want you will not be able to register for the class.
Challenge: Once you register your school and the number of students you cannot change the number of students in your class.
There are multiple sessions for most titles, so if you can split up and register as separate groups at different days/times you can likely still sign up for the classes you want.
So at this point it might be easier to register by families rather than in large groups as openings are filling up quickly.
To view classes before registering you can download this spreadsheet that I created. My apologies if there are any errors!:
2014_msu_science_festival_school_schedule_-_summary_table.xlsx |
(2) Log in to your account to register for classes. Once you receive your email confirmation you will receive a password to use on the site. You may wish to change your password to something you can remember by clicking on the "dashboard".
Challenge: There does not seem to be a "login" button on their website. So be sure to bookmark the url where you can sign up for and manage your classes.
(3) Keep your classes updated. Because seats are limited for these events it is important to release any reservations you won't be able to use. The last date to make any changes to your reservation is December 31, 2013.
Challenge: They have requested that classrooms limit themselves to 2 presentations, but I'm not sure if that applies to our homeschool groups that have different compositions and smaller groups.
Challenge: There does not seem to be a "login" button on their website. So be sure to bookmark the url where you can sign up for and manage your classes.
(3) Keep your classes updated. Because seats are limited for these events it is important to release any reservations you won't be able to use. The last date to make any changes to your reservation is December 31, 2013.
Challenge: They have requested that classrooms limit themselves to 2 presentations, but I'm not sure if that applies to our homeschool groups that have different compositions and smaller groups.
List of Classes Available
A Giant, Silver Parallelogram: Exploring the Architecture of the Broad Art Museum What kind of science is there in a building devoted to art? This tour will focus on the architecture of the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum and how engineering and math are integrated into the artistic design. 4th-8th Animal Disease Detectives Learn how veterinarians assist in the diagnosis of disease in animals using the latest techniques and technologies. Participants will get the chance to become disease detectives and solve cases on their own. 4th-8th
Biofuels, Emerald Ash Borer and Christmas Trees: The Many Faces of Tree Research! Hands-on demonstrations of the science involved in collecting/ processing tree seed, growing seedlings, and field planting forests in Michigan. Activities will be linked to current MSU Forestry research projects including biofuels, Emerald Ash Borer, and the genetic improvement of Christmas trees. K-3rd, 4th-8th, 9th-12th
Bird Buddies All students will get an opportunity to experience a birding session on the trails using binoculars. Students will gain an appreciation for the basic needs, physical characteristics, and survival strategies of our feathered friends by imitating bird behaviors and examining artifacts. K-3rd, 4th-8th
Build a Bionic Arm with TechXcite For ages 9+ (3 hr. workshop). What would you do if you lost a hand? Explore how engineers design prosthetic arms with the engineering curriculum, TechXcite. Practice designing & building a bionic arm with moving parts & touch sensor! Part of grant evaluations; parental consent forms required. 4th-8th, 9th-12th
Chemistry on the Farm and the Importance of Science in Agriculture 7th-12th grade. Chemistry doesn't usually come to mind when we think about farms, but it's all around us. Students will meet a chemist who can tell them more, tour a LEED certified building, and participate in hands-on demonstrations on the many phases of chemistry and soil science. 9th-12th
Dig the Past! 5th-6th grades. Join Campus Archaeology and Museum staff for hands-on activities in archaeology and biological anthropology. Be an archaeologist, screen the dirt for artifacts, excavate a site, and create a faux artifact. Be an anthropologist and examine casts of early Hominid specimens. 4th-8th
Digging Into the Mitten: Michigan's Archaeological Past This presentation will discuss the archaeology of Michigan. Archaeologists learn about the past using scientific methods and the relationships between soils, features, and artifacts. We also look at how everyday objects can teach us about change over time. 4th-8th, 9th-12th
Evolution in Action: From the Petri Dish to the African Savanna!From the savanna to the laboratory, learn about cutting edge evolution research at MSU. Museum staff and graduate students from BEACON NSF Center for Evolution in Action will lead high school students on an exploration of the latest findings and make connections to the Museum's evolution exhibits. 9th-12th
Exotic Animal Presentation A interactive live animal presentation filled with fun facts and information about the animals' habitats and traits. Allows the attendees to ask questions about the different animals that are presented. K-3rd, 4th-8th, 9th-12th
Explore the Quest for Speed with TechXcite For ages 9+ (3 hr. workshop). Do you have the need for speed? Explore, build, and test K'NEX cars with different propulsion methods in this hands-on workshop from TechXcite. Learn how automotive engineers work to make better cars. Part of grant evaluations; parental consent forms required. 4th-8th, 9th-12th
Fire, Explosions, and Cannons! Oh My! Come see how fire can be both safe and fun! Including the great gummy bear sacrifice, burning money without spending it, and more! K-3rd
Fisheries and Wildlife Fun This is a fun program learning about the wildlife wonders around us! There will be a fun activity as well as learning about ecosystem functioning, composting, wildlife poaching, African Habitats, and more! K-3rd
Forest Forensics Trees live for centuries and thus are difficult to study through short-term experiments. Just like detectives, forest scientists use current evidence to reconstruct what happened in the past. Learn about tree rings, fire scars, bomb carbon and other methods to divulge mysteries of forest dynamics. 4th-8th, 9th-12th
Getting Under Your Skin: Joint and Organ Movements Shown by Medical Imaging (MRI) Video loops of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) will be used to demonstrate normal motions of selected human joints and organs. Explanations of underlying anatomy (structure) and physiology (function), as well as an elementary introduction to the physics of MRI, are included. 4th-8th, 9th-12th
Go Green, Help Keep Our Water Clean! Learn how you can help protect Great Lakes’ waters and discover ways to determine the health of lakes and streams. Participants will evaluate water quality using macroinvertebrates and other water critters. 4th-8th
High Performance Computing Ages 9+. Students will tour the MSU Supercomputing facility and be taken into the High Performance Computing Center to view computers as research is being done. There will be hands-on demonstrations and other high performance computing related activities, such as deconstruction of hard drives. 4th-8th, 9th-12th
Hominid Evolution: What Did Our Ancestors Look Like? This presentation will discuss paleoanthropology—the study of human evolution—and what makes us uniquely human. Many fossils, including Australopithecus afarensis (Lucy) and Homo erectus (Turkana Boy), will be discussed and hominid fossil casts will be available for participants to view and examine. 4th-8th, 9th-12th
Mighty Bugs! Join the experts at the MSU Bug House as they guide students through an introduction to insects, how they develop, and how they relate to other arthropods. Students will have the opportunity to view displays of insects as well as view and handle live insects and arthropods. K-3rd, 4th-8th
People Will Pay You to Learn Things -- and Other Thoughts on Research Science Careers The problem: study nuclei that are impossible to see, don't exist on earth, last for less than a second, and emit radiation. Find out how NSCL does it and explore the incredible variety of careers available (and necessary) in making it work! 4th-8th, 9th-12th
REPTILES! 2nd & 3rd graders - Experience reptiles at the MSU Museum! Hands-on activities will focus on reptiles in the exhibits plus special specimens from our collections. See the new Michigan turtle exhibit, find prehistoric reptiles on display, and meet some live reptiles with the MSU Herpetology Club! K-3rd
Robot Race Club: Build, Code, Race! Have you always wanted to build your own robot? Join us for hands-on learning with circuits, computer code and racing robots as ELPL staff take their popular Code Camp program on the road to the MSU Science Festival. K-3rd, 4th-8th
Science Theatre Presents: Physics! An introduction to many physics topics, including momentum, pressure and more. Learn how ice skaters manage to spin so fast and what happens to objects in a vacuum. Also come see an MSU student lay on a bed of nails! K-3rd, 4th-8th
Sky Tellers Seasons and the Moon: Listen to stories of the stars told by Native American master storytellers. In this show, you will hear two stories. "Spring Defeats Winter," retold by Joseph Bruchac (Abenaki) and "The Girl Who Married the Moon," retold by Gayle Ross (Cherokee). 4th-8th
Stop Slouching! Stand Up Straight! Looking at Muscles, Motion, and Posture Students will be given a tour of an active orthopedic research center. Students will learn how researchers study common medical problems like back pain using specialized equipment to record body motion and muscle activity, and customized robots to assess postural control. 4th-8th
The Giraffe in the Stairway: Behind the Scenes at the MSU MuseumTake a behind-the-scenes tour of the extraordinary collection of vertebrate specimens at the MSU Museum. Learn how these specimens are used across campus and around the world. Students will also examine and compare unusual specimens in a hands-on area and in the Museum's science galleries. 9th-12th
The Joy of Chemistry A chemical demonstration exhibition full of color changes, explosions, liquid nitrogen, and gooey slime! Fun and educational for elementary school students, children, and learners of all ages from 5 to 105! K-3rd, 4th-8th
The Secret Life of Trees Students will build mini-greenhouses while talking with presenters about how trees grow, what a tree is, how trees interact with each other, and why trees are important to climate change. K-3rd, 4th-8th
The Secret of the Cardboard Rocket Two children build a rocket and take an imaginary trip through the solar system with the help of a special guide, a talking astronomy book. A live star talk will follow the recorded portion of the show. K-3rd
Tour of T.B. Simon Power Plant Grades 9-12. Closed-toe shoes required for walking tour in a loud, sometimes dirty environment. Headsets are provided for ear protection and to allow speaker to be heard. The T.B. Simon Power Plant is a modern cogeneration power plant using biofuels as a renewable energy source. 9th-12th
Why Do My Decisions Matter? Introduces students to material use and product life cycles. Examines stories behind everyday items. Students learn basic traits of natural materials and life cycle stages, where materials come from, what it's made into, how it can be used, and choosing what to do when you are done using it. K-3rd, 4th-8th
Biofuels, Emerald Ash Borer and Christmas Trees: The Many Faces of Tree Research! Hands-on demonstrations of the science involved in collecting/ processing tree seed, growing seedlings, and field planting forests in Michigan. Activities will be linked to current MSU Forestry research projects including biofuels, Emerald Ash Borer, and the genetic improvement of Christmas trees. K-3rd, 4th-8th, 9th-12th
Bird Buddies All students will get an opportunity to experience a birding session on the trails using binoculars. Students will gain an appreciation for the basic needs, physical characteristics, and survival strategies of our feathered friends by imitating bird behaviors and examining artifacts. K-3rd, 4th-8th
Build a Bionic Arm with TechXcite For ages 9+ (3 hr. workshop). What would you do if you lost a hand? Explore how engineers design prosthetic arms with the engineering curriculum, TechXcite. Practice designing & building a bionic arm with moving parts & touch sensor! Part of grant evaluations; parental consent forms required. 4th-8th, 9th-12th
Chemistry on the Farm and the Importance of Science in Agriculture 7th-12th grade. Chemistry doesn't usually come to mind when we think about farms, but it's all around us. Students will meet a chemist who can tell them more, tour a LEED certified building, and participate in hands-on demonstrations on the many phases of chemistry and soil science. 9th-12th
Dig the Past! 5th-6th grades. Join Campus Archaeology and Museum staff for hands-on activities in archaeology and biological anthropology. Be an archaeologist, screen the dirt for artifacts, excavate a site, and create a faux artifact. Be an anthropologist and examine casts of early Hominid specimens. 4th-8th
Digging Into the Mitten: Michigan's Archaeological Past This presentation will discuss the archaeology of Michigan. Archaeologists learn about the past using scientific methods and the relationships between soils, features, and artifacts. We also look at how everyday objects can teach us about change over time. 4th-8th, 9th-12th
Evolution in Action: From the Petri Dish to the African Savanna!From the savanna to the laboratory, learn about cutting edge evolution research at MSU. Museum staff and graduate students from BEACON NSF Center for Evolution in Action will lead high school students on an exploration of the latest findings and make connections to the Museum's evolution exhibits. 9th-12th
Exotic Animal Presentation A interactive live animal presentation filled with fun facts and information about the animals' habitats and traits. Allows the attendees to ask questions about the different animals that are presented. K-3rd, 4th-8th, 9th-12th
Explore the Quest for Speed with TechXcite For ages 9+ (3 hr. workshop). Do you have the need for speed? Explore, build, and test K'NEX cars with different propulsion methods in this hands-on workshop from TechXcite. Learn how automotive engineers work to make better cars. Part of grant evaluations; parental consent forms required. 4th-8th, 9th-12th
Fire, Explosions, and Cannons! Oh My! Come see how fire can be both safe and fun! Including the great gummy bear sacrifice, burning money without spending it, and more! K-3rd
Fisheries and Wildlife Fun This is a fun program learning about the wildlife wonders around us! There will be a fun activity as well as learning about ecosystem functioning, composting, wildlife poaching, African Habitats, and more! K-3rd
Forest Forensics Trees live for centuries and thus are difficult to study through short-term experiments. Just like detectives, forest scientists use current evidence to reconstruct what happened in the past. Learn about tree rings, fire scars, bomb carbon and other methods to divulge mysteries of forest dynamics. 4th-8th, 9th-12th
Getting Under Your Skin: Joint and Organ Movements Shown by Medical Imaging (MRI) Video loops of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) will be used to demonstrate normal motions of selected human joints and organs. Explanations of underlying anatomy (structure) and physiology (function), as well as an elementary introduction to the physics of MRI, are included. 4th-8th, 9th-12th
Go Green, Help Keep Our Water Clean! Learn how you can help protect Great Lakes’ waters and discover ways to determine the health of lakes and streams. Participants will evaluate water quality using macroinvertebrates and other water critters. 4th-8th
High Performance Computing Ages 9+. Students will tour the MSU Supercomputing facility and be taken into the High Performance Computing Center to view computers as research is being done. There will be hands-on demonstrations and other high performance computing related activities, such as deconstruction of hard drives. 4th-8th, 9th-12th
Hominid Evolution: What Did Our Ancestors Look Like? This presentation will discuss paleoanthropology—the study of human evolution—and what makes us uniquely human. Many fossils, including Australopithecus afarensis (Lucy) and Homo erectus (Turkana Boy), will be discussed and hominid fossil casts will be available for participants to view and examine. 4th-8th, 9th-12th
Mighty Bugs! Join the experts at the MSU Bug House as they guide students through an introduction to insects, how they develop, and how they relate to other arthropods. Students will have the opportunity to view displays of insects as well as view and handle live insects and arthropods. K-3rd, 4th-8th
People Will Pay You to Learn Things -- and Other Thoughts on Research Science Careers The problem: study nuclei that are impossible to see, don't exist on earth, last for less than a second, and emit radiation. Find out how NSCL does it and explore the incredible variety of careers available (and necessary) in making it work! 4th-8th, 9th-12th
REPTILES! 2nd & 3rd graders - Experience reptiles at the MSU Museum! Hands-on activities will focus on reptiles in the exhibits plus special specimens from our collections. See the new Michigan turtle exhibit, find prehistoric reptiles on display, and meet some live reptiles with the MSU Herpetology Club! K-3rd
Robot Race Club: Build, Code, Race! Have you always wanted to build your own robot? Join us for hands-on learning with circuits, computer code and racing robots as ELPL staff take their popular Code Camp program on the road to the MSU Science Festival. K-3rd, 4th-8th
Science Theatre Presents: Physics! An introduction to many physics topics, including momentum, pressure and more. Learn how ice skaters manage to spin so fast and what happens to objects in a vacuum. Also come see an MSU student lay on a bed of nails! K-3rd, 4th-8th
Sky Tellers Seasons and the Moon: Listen to stories of the stars told by Native American master storytellers. In this show, you will hear two stories. "Spring Defeats Winter," retold by Joseph Bruchac (Abenaki) and "The Girl Who Married the Moon," retold by Gayle Ross (Cherokee). 4th-8th
Stop Slouching! Stand Up Straight! Looking at Muscles, Motion, and Posture Students will be given a tour of an active orthopedic research center. Students will learn how researchers study common medical problems like back pain using specialized equipment to record body motion and muscle activity, and customized robots to assess postural control. 4th-8th
The Giraffe in the Stairway: Behind the Scenes at the MSU MuseumTake a behind-the-scenes tour of the extraordinary collection of vertebrate specimens at the MSU Museum. Learn how these specimens are used across campus and around the world. Students will also examine and compare unusual specimens in a hands-on area and in the Museum's science galleries. 9th-12th
The Joy of Chemistry A chemical demonstration exhibition full of color changes, explosions, liquid nitrogen, and gooey slime! Fun and educational for elementary school students, children, and learners of all ages from 5 to 105! K-3rd, 4th-8th
The Secret Life of Trees Students will build mini-greenhouses while talking with presenters about how trees grow, what a tree is, how trees interact with each other, and why trees are important to climate change. K-3rd, 4th-8th
The Secret of the Cardboard Rocket Two children build a rocket and take an imaginary trip through the solar system with the help of a special guide, a talking astronomy book. A live star talk will follow the recorded portion of the show. K-3rd
Tour of T.B. Simon Power Plant Grades 9-12. Closed-toe shoes required for walking tour in a loud, sometimes dirty environment. Headsets are provided for ear protection and to allow speaker to be heard. The T.B. Simon Power Plant is a modern cogeneration power plant using biofuels as a renewable energy source. 9th-12th
Why Do My Decisions Matter? Introduces students to material use and product life cycles. Examines stories behind everyday items. Students learn basic traits of natural materials and life cycle stages, where materials come from, what it's made into, how it can be used, and choosing what to do when you are done using it. K-3rd, 4th-8th