MST Class Options
Below are the class descriptions for MST@MSU (grades 7-8). Students will select one course track for the week consisting of three academic classes. Students may choose to attend both weeks of MST.
Class Times - 9:00am - 5:00am each day
Drop-off 8:25am - 8:40am
Pick-up 5:00pm - 5:15pm
June 22-26, 2026
| Track | Class 1 | Class 2 | Class 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Track 1 |
3D Animation |
Proteins: Structure, Function, and Experimental Analysis |
Decoding Mathematical Data: An Introduction to Data Science |
3D Animation
Students will learn how to model and create basic shapes in 3D animation software. From there, they can build on this, learning how to sculpt their own characters. They will also learn the principles of animation and how they can use these to create their own short animation by the end of the class. Students can choose to create an animation or a still piece if they would like.
Proteins: Structure, Function, and Experimental Analysis
What do proteins actually do and how do scientists study them in the real world? In this immersive, lab-based course, students step into the role of biological researchers to investigate one of the most essential molecules of life. Understanding of proteins and their structure, function, and measurement and how they are responsible for everything from muscle movement to digestion to immune defense and understanding how they work is a cornerstone of modern biology, medicine, and biotechnology.
Students will understand how to develop real scientific discovery through hands-on experiments and authentic laboratory techniques. Students will extract proteins from plant sources, measure and compare protein concentrations, and analyze why results may differ even when experiments appear similar. Along the way, students will explore how a protein’s structure determines its function and why small changes at the molecular level can have major biological effects.
The class is designed to mirror the real scientific process (question → design → experiment → data → interpretation) used by researchers: asking meaningful questions, designing experiments, collecting and interpreting data, and communicating results. Students will engage in scientific modeling, collaborative lab work, data analysis, and discussion-based reflection, building critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are essential for success in college-level STEM fields.
By the end of the course, students will not only understand proteins—they will understand how scientists think. Students will gain experience designing experiments, identifying limitations, and presenting scientific findings clearly and confidently, just as they would in a university research setting.
This course is ideal for students curious about biology, biochemistry, medicine, biotechnology, or any STEM field where inquiry, precision, and communication matter with Learning Goals:
● Explain what proteins are and why they matter.
● Understand that there is a relationship between protein structure and function.
● Design and carry out a simple protein experiment.
● Analyze data and discuss experimental limitations.
● Communicate scientific results clearly.
Monday - What Are Proteins, and Why Do They Matter? Interactive introductory discussion, structure–function activity: using pipe cleaners and beads to model, case example discussion, scientific thinking/end discussion.
Tuesday - Designing Experiments to Study Proteins. Review and warm-up (discuss the question from Monday), experimental design workshop, introduction to protein extraction, pre-lab planning, and predictions.
Wednesday - Protein Extraction Lab. Safety briefing, protein extraction lab, mid-lab discussion (what could go wrong, why results may vary in groups using the same plant), lab notebook work/discussion, and reflection.
Thursday - Measuring Proteins (Bradford Assay). Bradford assay explanation, assay lab, data analysis, limitations discussion, and reflection.
Friday - Interpreting Results & Communicating Science. Data synthesis, mini-group presentations, real-world connections, and reflection on what could be done to improve a future experiment
Decoding Mathematical Data: An Introduction to Data Science
Data science can be one of the most important classes you take, no matter what you decide to study in school or what job you will wind up having. Who uses data science, you ask? 1) Personal Boards 2) United States Department of Labor 3) Michigan Department of Mental Health 4) Consulting Firms 5) Law Enforcement Agencies 6) United States Defense Manpower Data Center, just to name a few. This list goes on and on!
One of the keys to getting a higher-paying job in both the government and private settings is whether the employee has a solid understanding of data science and research methodology. Indeed, companies and the US government are willing to pay a high price for data scientists and other statisticians to help them analyze their data. Whenever they find an employee who has the skills to do it, they fall all over themselves to hire that person and make them happy. Why? Because it saves them a lot of money!
Monday - What Is Statistical Thinking? Understanding data and asking good questions.
Tuesday - Organizing & Understanding Data (Making sense of large data sets)
Wednesday - Analyzing Data – How to draw meaning from numbers
Thursday - Displaying & Communicating Results (making results easy to understand)
Friday - Interpreting & Presenting Results (focus will be on building confidence for presentations)
July 6-10, 2026
| Track | Class 1 | Class 2 | Class 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Track 2 | Nuclear Astrophysics |
Game Design |
Motion Math: Calculus and Curves |
Nuclear Astrophysics
Where were the elements made? Over the last 14 billion years, nuclear reactions such as fusion, fragmentation, and radioactive decay have created dramatic change. The fundamental nature of the atomic nucleus has driven the chemical evolution of the universe and the energy cycle in stars. This course, sponsored by MSU’s world-class Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB), will pull back the curtain on nuclear research and careers!
Game Design
The Video Game industry is the world’s largest entertainment industry. Many gamers dream of designing their own games but don’t know where to start. In this class, students will learn the basics of game development using Unity: a full-featured game engine capable of making 2D and 3D games for every platform. It’s free-to-use and easier to learn than its competitors, making it the most frequently chosen engine (especially for beginners). This class will task students with building upon an existing template to design their own game.
Monday & Tuesday – Students receive instructions on using the editor, manipulating game objects, and a brief intro to coding and 3D design. Students begin work on game.
Wednesday – Students finish draft of game with continued assistance from instructors.
Thursday and Friday – Students test and fix bugs with game.
Motion Math: Calculus and Curves
A class that blends early calculus concepts with real-world physics, exploring how derivatives help us understand motion, such as using rates of change to calculate velocity, acceleration, and the forces that shape the physical world. Students will learn the basics of limits, slopes, and simple derivatives, then immediately apply these tools to hands-on physics problems, experiments, and real-life scenarios.
Through interactive lessons, labs, and problem-solving challenges, students build a strong foundation for future calculus or physics coursework while discovering how mathematics describes the way objects move. This class is perfect for students who enjoy math, science, curiosity-driven learning, and exploring the why behind the world around them.