Some McKnight Middle School students got a hands-on introduction to animal brains in an attempt to better understand how their own brains function in teacher Dave Huff’s technology education classes.

The assignment to dissect sheep brains is part of the new Medical Detectives module students are studying at the school. It is hands-on laboratory practice to gain knowledge of the parts of the brain and how the brain works.

Students said things like “It wasn’t as gross as I thought it would be” and “I learned so much in this unit.”

Medical Detectives is a one-semester course that is part of the Gateway to Technology curriculum, provided by Project Lead the Way, a U.S. non-profit organization that develops  STEM curricula for use by elementary, middle and high schools.

Medical Detectives is very similar to traditional science classes.  Emily Seaman, former PLTW teacher and current sixth-grade science teacher at McKnight, was quoted as saying, “Traditional science classes are lab-based similar to Medial Detectives, although the content in MD appears to  be more challenging.”

Students get to do genetic testing for hereditary diseases and DNA crime-scene analysis, making them real-life medical detectives. There are many hands-on projects and labs that explore the biomedical sciences and allow students to solve a variety of medical mysteries.

“Students investigate medical careers, vital signs, diagnosis and treatment of diseases as well as human body systems such as the nervous system,” said Huff in a email.

The course is being provided at all district middle schools and is an in-depth approach to learning that provides students a fun and unique way to use math and science skills, a district release stated.