CMSE 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.
STEM Excursion Goals
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?
STEM Excursion Opportunities
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
If you still have questions about STEM Excursions for grades 7-12, our FAQ should have the answers.
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:
- Determine potential dates, timing, and goals for your day. (You will need this information before 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- After the requested documents are submitted, you will receive a complete and detailed schedule for the day that identifies: parking, schedule, maps, etc.
- Get excited for an educational, fun-filled day of STEM!
The CMSE staff 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.
Unfortunately, we do not offer STEM Excursions on weekends.
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
Buses may drop students off on-campus but must park off campus in a designated lot. Buses are not required to have parking passes. Vans and vehicles may park on campus, but must obtain a visitor’s parking pass. Daily visitor parking passes ($5/vehicle) may be purchased in advance.
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
Although there are some limitations to STEM Excursions, we try our best to accommodate as many students as possible. Each excursion will bring its own limitations.
Aafter completing the reservation request form, each individual request will be considered and further communication will take place via email.
-
STEM Experts (K-12)
The CMSE can help bring STEM faculty and/or ambassadors to your classroom for engaging lessons, dynamic demonstrations, and intriguing lectures. The CMSE serves as a liaison between the STEM faculty member and the teacher.
Learn how UM STEM Experts can help you level up your classroom. -
STEM Explorations (K-8)
The CMSE offers K-8 teachers an easy and convenient way for students to experience and explore the STEM fields! During a STEM Exploration, students travel to the University of Mississippi and are broken into groups to participate in 3 or 4 station rotations. The stations include hands-on activities designed around current grade-level curriculum and are specifically rich in the elementary-level science content. Students will have the opportunity to learn by asking questions, observing demonstrations, completing experiments, and engaging in exciting group projects.
Learn more about the STEM Explorations and hands-on activities offered.