STEM Excursions (7-12)
Providing lasting impressions and valuable learning experiences to students through STEM Excursions.
Getting the Word Out About Opportunities in STEM
The Center for Mathematics and Science Education (CMSE) – in partnership with University of Mississippi departments, faculty, staff and students – provides lasting impressions and valuable learning experiences through STEM Excursions
- The purpose of STEM excursions is to generate interest in and expose 7th-12th grade students to STEM opportunities through the University of Mississippi
The CMSE will provide coordination and logistical assistance to teachers by filling the day of the excursion with STEM-focused experiences while getting the most from their visit to the Oxford campus.
About STEM Excursions
Excursions are crafted to be meaningful and relevant to student outcomes and interests while fostering a sense of curiosity about science, technology, engineering and math. These sessions can occur in a classroom, laboratory, design studio, field of study or within any settings that cultivate a nurturing environment.
Teachers will be asked to clarify the goals of the excursion on the Excursion Reservation Request Form. The goals identified by the teacher will be used to plan a beneficial excursion aimed to meet the needs of the students.
A few questions that may be used to define these goals are:
- What would you like students to get out of the trip?
- What would you like for them to be exposed to?
- How can we inspire them on their educational journey in the STEM fields?
- How should/could the trip align with your curriculum?
During an excursion, groups will participate in a variety of activities, demonstrations, tours, and opportunities around the campus of the University of Mississippi. On the Excursion Reservation Request Form, teachers will be asked to identify which specific activities they are interested in.
Possible examples could include:
- Tour of the Center for Manufacturing Excellence (limited to groups of 40 or less)
- Tour of the National Center for Physical Acoustics (limited to groups of 20 or less)
- NanoExcursion
- Tour and Demonstration of the Field Station and The Center for Water and Wetland Resources
- Visit the University of Mississippi Museum
- Visit to the Mobile Planetarium (Additional Cost)
- Chemistry Demonstration
- Engineering Demonstration
- Physics Demonstration
- Robotics Demonstration
*On-campus opportunities are determined by funding and availability of our faculty and staff.
Frequently Asked Questions
The associated cost for each STEM Excursion are as follows:
Reservation Fee – $150
Activity Fee – $5 is assessed per participating student. This covers facility rentals and personnel as needed.
Please keep in mind that groups will need to budget for transportation, lunches, (if applicable), and any planned activity off campus. (i.e., movie, bowling, etc.).
To book your STEM Excursion (field trip), submit a STEM Excursion Reservation Request Form.
Planning
The CMSE staff members appreciate as much advance notice as possible. We recommend booking your visit at least 1 month in advance to organize and plan a successful exploration.
Steps to plan a successful STEM Excursion:
Step One: Determine potential dates, timing, and goals for your day. (You will need this information before step two.)
Step Two: Submit a STEM Excursion Reservation Request Form by completing the form on the tab labeled reservation request. After completing the reservation request, you will receive an email outlining your submission.
Step Three: Allow the CMSE at least two weeks to compile and confirm necessary logistics. During these two weeks, a CMSE staff member may reach out to you to clarify some information – please be attentive to the contact information you provided on the form.
Step Four: After logistics are finalized, you will receive a email confirming your reservation. The email will also request necessary documents, such as: photo release forms, student roster(s), principal agreement (if applicable), etc. Please note: this is not an exhaustive list. These documents are traditionally requested to be submitted at least two weeks prior to the STEM Excursion.
Step Five: After the requested documents are submitted, you will receive a complete and detailed schedule for the day that identifies: parking, schedule, maps, etc.
Step Six: Get excited for an educational, fun-filled day of STEM!
There are many options available for lunch. Here are a list of suggestions of what other groups/schools have done in the past:
on-campus dining services (The CMSE can assist with organizing on-campus lunch through dining services.)
Picnic in the grove with pizza or sack lunches
Local restaurant options
Excursions are typically scheduled on weekdays and usually begin at 9:00AM and conclude by 2:00PM. However, these times can be adjusted to fit the group’s specific scheduling needs.
Sample Schedule:
8:30AM: Arrive at the University of Mississippi
8:30AM-9:30AM: National Center for Physical Acoustics (NCPA) Tour & Demonstration
9:30AM-10:30AM: Center for Manufacturing Excellence (CME) Tour
10:30AM-11:00AM: UM Campus Tour
11:00AM-12:15PM: Lunch at Rebel Market
12:15PM-1:30PM: Physics Demonstration
1:30PM: Depart
Center for Mathematics and Science Education
The Center for Mathematics and Science works to improve mathematics and science education in Mississippi by fostering interaction between academic and K-12 communities, support the implementation of research-based methods in the classroom, and promote interest in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).