Apple Mummies

Quick Update: The point to Apple Mummies is to teach kids how to set up an experiment and how to write a lab report.  Here is the slideshow I’m using to teach about the lab report.

The Bio class took all class period to prepare their Apple mummies.  Okay, they took a microscope quiz and worked on their Apple mummies.  I did have the kids determine the null and alternative hypotheses for the lab.  One null hypothesis for this lab is “All of the salt combinations Will desiccate the apple samples to the same extent.”  An alternative hypothesis is “Equal parts of Epsom salts and baking soda Will desiccate the apple sample to the greatest extent.”  Actually, most of the kids spent another hour prepping the lab.  The idea is to teach kids about controlled variables, independent variables, and experimental design.  We used 5 g rectangles of apples and 50 g total of salt in each cup.  Take a look.