Outreach Programs

Guided Dissection of the Bovine Eye

Using fresh material, the dissection demonstrates the structure and functions of the mammalian eye to table groups of about 5 students. The dissection is combined with an explanation and demonstration of the students’ blind spots. We expect that your students would have received instruction on the anatomy and functions of the mammalian/human eye prior to our arrival. We provide trained volunteer instructors, fresh specimens, dissecting trays and tools, and gloves. Hoesly’s Meats in New Glarus (directions available here) sources the eyes and sells them on Thursdays. By scheduling the dissection on a Friday, we would have the fresh material in the best condition. An additional firm, TTJ  Packing Co. (directions available here), can also provide dissection specimens. Those can be purchased on Tuesday or Wednesday for use in classrooms on Wednesday or Thursday.

NOTE: REGARDLESS OF WHICH OF THE ABOVE TWO SUPPLIERS ARE USED, ALL SPECIMEN ORDERS MUST BE PLACED WITH THE SUPPLIER AT LEAST ONE WEEK BEFORE THE INTENDED PICKUP DATE.

Click here to see images of the kit materials, an instruction manual, a video demonstration of the dissection, and a peardeck for use after the dissection.

“In the Dark and In the Light” Comparative Anatomy Lesson

In this comparative ocular anatomy lesson, students are guided through the 45-minute PowerPoint lesson with examples of gross and microscopic structures of vertebrate eyes from animals active during the day (diurnal), the night (nocturnal) and in both conditions (arhythmic). We recommend scheduling this lesson within a week after the students have done the dissection with us or with you. At that time, student interest is high and they often have lots of questions for us. Using images from the Comparative Ocular Pathology Lab of Wisconsin’s extensive eyeball collection, the lesson complies with the Common Core Literacy in Science Standards and the Next Generation Science Standards.

The “In the Dark and In the Light” lesson…

• reinforces student understanding of ocular anatomy and function.
• demonstrates anatomical adaptations for vision in nocturnal and diurnal environments.
• stimulates student interest in vision science.

Exploration Station kits

These “drive-by” lessons each last 15 minutes at most. Designed to appeal to a wide range of ages, we’ve used them successfully at Family Science Nights in MMSD elementary schools and at the UW’s annual spring Science Expeditions. We could present one or more of the kits in a single class period, depending on your schedule. Click the hyperlinks below to see images of each kit, an instruction manual, and a video demonstration of the kit.

• • Different Ways of Seeing: What cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration are and their effects on vision.
  • Be Wise and Shade Your Eyes: What is UV light? With UV-detecting beads, demonstrates how sunglasses do or do not protect against UV damage to eyes.
  • Can You Believe Your Eyes?: Optical and visual illusions
  • How We Perceive Color: Nature of color vision; kinds of and tests for color blindness
  • Seeing Near and Far: How perspective is accomplished with shading, position, color, and more