Living Landscape: Writing, Observation, and the Natural World
Description: In this class, students will learn about being engaged observers of the natural world by spending time outside in various natural areas around MSU's campus (weather permitting). Throughout the week, students will draw and write in a field notebook, ultimately turning those notes into a written piece of their choice.
Monday -
- Decorate and learn about keeping a field notebook
- Practice using the field notebook by going outside and observing the Red Cedar River, just outside of Bessey Hall (weather permitting)
- Back inside the classroom, talk reflectively about how observing and writing went
Tuesday -
- Icebreaker activity
- Make a plan for today's observation
- Walk to Beal Botanical Garden (weather permitting) and write/draw in the field notebook
- Back inside the classroom, start drafting/creating
Wednesday -
- Drive to the Horticulture Garden (weather permitting) and write/draw in the field notebook
- Back inside the classroom, continue drafting/creating
Thursday -
- Walk to Benefactors' Plaza (weather permitting) and write/draw in the field notebook
- Back inside the classroom, continue drafting/creating
Friday -
- In the classroom, continue working on drafting/creating
- Share what you have written/created this week
Neuroscience in the Blink of an Eye
How does light become vision—and how does vision shape the brain? In Neuroscience in the Blink of an Eye, students explore the science of sight by tracing the journey of light from the outside world into the eye and through the brain. This course examines the structure and function of the eye, with special emphasis on the retina, neurons, and neural pathways that allow us to see, interpret images, and respond to our environment.
Students investigate how different types of light affect perception, attention, sleep, and circadian rhythm, and how the brain makes meaning from visual information. Through hands-on models, demonstrations, experiments, and collaborative investigations, students develop a deeper understanding of neuroscience, sensory processing, and brain–body connections. The course culminates in a guided eye dissection, allowing students to apply their learning by examining the structures responsible for vision firsthand.
Monday: Light, Vision, and the Eye
- Introduction to vision and why sight is essential for survival and learning
- How light works: reflection, absorption, and wavelengths
- Anatomy of the eye: cornea, lens, iris, pupil, and retina
- Hands-on activities exploring light, lenses, and image formation
- Visual illusions and what they reveal about how we see
Tuesday: Inside the Retina — From Light to Signals
- Structure and function of the retina
- Rods and cones: color, brightness, and motion detection
- How photoreceptors convert light into electrical signals
- Experiments on peripheral vision, color sensitivity, and reaction time
- Building a simplified model of the retina
Wednesday: Neurons, the Brain, and Visual Pathways
- Introduction to neurons and neural communication
- How visual signals travel from the retina to the brain
- The visual cortex and how the brain processes images
- How experience, memory, and expectations shape what we see
- Brain-based challenges exploring perception and interpretation
Thursday: Light, Time, and the Brain
- Circadian rhythm and the brain’s internal clock
- How light affects sleep, mood, focus, and alertness
- Blue light, screens, and modern vision challenges
- Case studies and data exploration
- Preparing for the eye dissection: anatomy review and safety procedures
Friday: Seeing It All — Eye Dissection and Synthesis
- Guided eye dissection to identify structures studied throughout the week
- Connecting anatomy to function: how each part supports vision
- Reflection on how the eye and brain work together
- Synthesis discussion: how sight influences learning and behavior
- Wrap-up activities and scientific observations
A Day in the Life of a Behavioral Ecologist: Hyenas Don’t Laugh for Fun!
Explore the World of Hyenas with MSU Scientists!
Join scientists from the MSU Mara Hyena Project to learn what it’s like to be a behavioral ecologist—a scientist who studies how animals act and live together. Each day, students will explore a new topic and discover what we can learn from studying spotted hyenas.
Monday - Meet Hyenas & Animal Scientists
Students will learn what behavioral ecologists do and why scientists study hyenas. They will start their own research notebook and practice watching animals carefully, just like real scientists, by observing behaviors and recording data.
Tuesday - Being a Field Scientist
Students will learn how scientists study hyenas in the wild. They will discover how researchers tell individual hyenas apart and what clues hyena poop can give us about what hyenas eat and how healthy they are.
Wednesday - Animal Bodies – Shape and Jobs
Students will explore how hyenas’ bodies and skulls help them hunt and eat tough food. We will compare hyenas to other mammals and learn how different animals’ body shapes help them survive.
Thursday - How Hyenas Communicate
Hyenas are very social and use sounds and smells to communicate. Students will learn how hyenas “talk” to each other, find their group, and share food. They will even practice communicating like a hyena.
Friday - Hyenas and Their Environment
On the final day, students will learn why hyenas are important to their ecosystem. They will discover how hyenas help keep the environment clean and healthy by cleaning up leftovers that could make other animals sick.
Cosmic Perspectives: The Science and Legends of the Stars
Ever look up at the night sky and wonder, “What is really up there?” You’re not alone! The sky and the stars have captivated nearly every civilization, and our curiosity has motivated many significant scientific discoveries. This class looks at the science and beliefs of many cultures, including Native American, Greek, Islamic, and Chinese. We will discuss both the physics and the myths of the creation of our universe, our galaxy, and our solar system. We’ll also talk to real astronomers about their jobs! Hands-on activities and fun, interactive storytelling will bring our learning to life.
Monday - The week will begin with a discussion of Supernova 1054, known today as the Crab Nebula. We’ll learn about the Crab Nebula’s historical record, and the students will look at primary sources from around the world. We will talk about observations from China, the Islamic world, Puebloan tribes, and more! The students will then learn about the modern observations of the Crab Nebula and why we believe these observations all correspond to the same event. We will talk about our knowledge of the Supernova and how it is used in different research groups.
Tuesday - Chinese astronomy has a history of over 3000 years. We will look at the different cosmological models, the creation of star catalogues, the instruments developed for looking at the stars, and more. We will talk about the different global influences over time, and the students will bring everything together with a timeline project.
Wednesday - Today the students will learn about Medieval Islamic astronomy. We’ll talk about the observations of the movements of the sun, moon, and planets, and we will discuss how their astronomy both influenced and was influenced by the Greek, Chinese, and European spheres. We will discuss astrolabes, important Islamic astronomers, and the observatories that are still working today. The class will also spend time looking at Celestial globes and will compare them to the modern understanding of the sky.
Thursday - We will focus on Native American astronomy today. The class will look at examples including the Mayan calendars, Cahokia mounds, Petroglyphs, Pawnee constellation classifications, and more. We will spend a lot of time on the spiritual nature of Navajo astronomy and the naked-eye observations of the Mayan people. At the end of the class, we will have a visit from an MSU astronomer, and the students will get to learn about their day-to-day and the questions they’re trying to answer.
Friday - After a brief summary of everything they’ve learned this week, the students will get to develop their own explanations for the current questions in astronomy! We will go over the science that is known and the science that is unknown, and with their own scientific reasoning, the students will build a poster for their personal scientific theories. We’ll talk about what makes a hypothesis probable and what experimental data is required to confirm or contradict their theory.