Tag: lab

  • Growing Sponge Animals

    Growing Sponge Animals

    This simple activity provides an introduction to laboratory techniques and data collection. Students measure how a sponge animal toy grows when submerged in cold and warm water.

  • Population Biology with Paramecium

    Population Biology with Paramecium

    Activity illustrates the competitive exclusion principle by showing students how each population behaves when grown alone or when mixed together.

  • Lab Safety Cartoon

    Lab Safety Cartoon

    This cartoon depicts students engaging in safe and unsafe activities.  It is a good starting point for a discussion on lab safety.

  • Sheep Brain Dissection Guide

    Sheep Brain Dissection Guide

    The brain is one of the most interesting dissections to perform, mainly because all of the structures are easily found and animal models closely resemble human brains..  In this lab guide, students are given instruction on how to remove the dura mater,  and locate the main structures of the external brain

  • How to Make Group Activities and Grading Fair

    How to Make Group Activities and Grading Fair

    During the cell unit of Advanced Placement biology, students are required to do three investigations (labs):  Diffusion and Osmosis,  Photosynthesis, and Cellular Respiration.  Students work in groups of 3 to 4 to work through these investigations and analyze data.  I often have them only turn in ONE copy of the lab guide because as a…

  • Simple Experiments with Biodegradable Packing Peanuts

    Simple Experiments with Biodegradable Packing Peanuts

    Describes what to do with all those packing peanuts you’ve received with your science orders. How about these cheap and simple student experiments!

  • Encourage Reading and Following Directions with a Square

    Encourage Reading and Following Directions with a Square

    Most biology classes will have at least one dissection in the year, though specimens can range from the commonly used frog, to the less expensive grasshopper.  No matter what you choose to dissect, the biggest challenge most teachers face is getting students to follow directions.  Based on the talk I hear in the teacher’s lounge,…

  • How to View Cheek Cells with a Microscope

    How to View Cheek Cells with a Microscope

    Simple activity for observing cells. Use methylene blue and toothpicks to gently scrape cells from the inside of a cheek and view under a microscope.