By DANI BARKEY
Chief Accountability Officer, Warsaw Community Schools

Eisenhower fourth grade students were given a special opportunity to explore the different ways the eye works as they participated in eye dissections guided by an expert in the field, Dr. Rozsa, a research scientist from the University of Michigan.

Throughout the presentation, students had the opportunity to get their gloves dirty. At first, the students were a little nervous and uncomfortable, but as they got used to working with the eyeball, more and more students became intrigued by it. By the end, even the students who vowed not to touch it, ended up getting their hands dirty.

When the students first received their cow’s eye, it was covered in fatty tissue that had to be removed. Later, Rozsa came around with a scalpel to open up the eye so the students could explore inside. The students discarded the aqueous liquid/gel from the eye and were then able to remove the cornea and look through it.

Rozsa had the students find the shiny layer in the back of the cow’s eye called the “tapetum” – which allows cows to see at night. By far the students’ favorite part of the eye was the lens. They discovered that they could remove it, put it on a piece of paper and use it as a magnifying glass. It was truly a “STEMulating” experience for all of them!