Tulsa pupils go to 'mini' medical school at OSU
BY SHANNON MUCHMORE World Staff Writer
Saturday, April 21, 2012
4/21/12 at 7:52 AM
Elementary school students poked and prodded at brains, lungs and hearts Friday as they learned not only about different parts of the body but also about how to keep them healthy.
Eugene Field Elementary School fourth- and fifth-graders attended the Mini Med School at the Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, where OSU medical students taught them about the body, nutrition and exercise.
Kristen Granstaff, the community school coordinator for Eugene Field, said the children learned about science and medicine while also being exposed to higher education.
"It just shows another piece of the world," she said. "Plus, it's just fun and interesting."
The students are getting a break from several days of testing, Granstaff said.
"This is a wonderful way for them to enjoy Friday and learn new things instead of remembering old things," she said.
The students broke into groups to study and feel the brain, heart and lungs - some real, some models - as well as look at a skeleton.
OSU medical students were there to explain how they worked and field the students' numerous questions.
The children wanted to know everything, second-year medical student Sarah Cox said.
"They're like, 'What's this?' and 'What does it do?' " she said.
At every station, the students were told how to keep their organs and bones in good shape. Most of them knew that not smoking was important to staying healthy.
They were also told how to choose healthy foods and the importance of regular exercise.
Ten-year-old Tyler Barnes said he learned that the body has a lot of parts and what each one of them does.
He really enjoyed the brain, but he was also excited about the healthy snack mix the students were preparing.
"What's going to be the most fun is eating," he said.
Original Print Headline: Hands-on science for students
Shannon Muchmore 918-581-8306
shannon.muchmore@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Eugene Field Elementary School student Tyra Yazzie handles a human brain during an educational program Friday at the OSU Center for Health Sciences in Tulsa. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World
Elementary school students examine a human brain during an educational program Friday at the OSU Center for Health Sciences in Tulsa. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World
Medical student Tyler Ellington teaches a group of elementary school students about the human skeleton Friday. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World
Eugene Field Elementary School student Tyler Barnes listens to a presentation about the human heart Friday at the OSU Center for Health Sciences in Tulsa. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World
Eugene Field Elementary School student Shane Mendenhall looks over a model of a human leg bone Friday at the OSU Center for Health Sciences in Tulsa. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World
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