Eyes and Skulls - Cool!

We've had some wonderful hands-on Science opportunities in the last few weeks, thanks to Seabury teachers and parents! First our most intrepid future scientists got to dissect a cow's eye to wrap up our study of the sense of sight, and then we began our study of the skeletal system by examining some real human skulls. Not only were the kids fascinated - this teacher was too!

 This lens is a little cloudy, but we can still see how it magnifies images.

The reflective surface on the back of the cow's eye is called the tapetum - this is what reflects light to make their eyes glow blue-green in the dark when you shine light directly into their eyes at night - kind of like a cat's.

 This is the vitreous humor - the clear, gel-like fluid of protein and water that helps the eyeball maintain its shape.

The cow's brown iris. When you looked at this closely, you could see the bicycle spoke-like striations of muscle that pull it wider in the dark and let it close down in bright light.