Biology Resource: Ellen JM Chenry

 I posted several resources from Ellen JM Chenry, such as this Planarian Craft, a paper dissection.  Her website has an unusual number of free downloads.  Check out her Animals Downloads and Free Homeschool Downloads.  Look at these Virtual Virus models or Pop-up Barnacle.   There are art projects, too!  Yes, add art to your science projects!  Many creative teens learn much more when Art is part of the science curriculum, whether it’s a collage or clay model.  

Family Science: STEM Paper Engineering

 I associate paper engineering with the Paper Tower Challenge or Paper Airplanes.  Science Buddies has 13 Paper STEM Activties, such as paper helicopters, similar to Roto-copters or Frugal Fun’s Toothpick Twirlers.  (Compare copy paper and card stock Roto-copters and Toothpick Twirlers.)  Little Bins has even more Paper Plate Activities for STEM. Easter is Sunday.  The days after a holiday can feel a little flat.  Plan a few fun activities or challenges for your whole family!  Happy Easter!

Science Equipment Bonanza!

 Good Will online has a bonanza of science materials!  N.B.  Please, please, please check the shipping and handling costs before you bid.  Remember bidding online is always a gamble.  However, I have had excellent luck with Good Will online.  I have received an overhead projector in pieces: my costs were fully refunded.  At least twice, I received the wrong item, which was successfully resolved.  Another time, a rug I ‘won’ was accidentally trashed.  These incidents occurred with different Good Will shops in different states.  All of these mistakes were fully refunded.  However, not all of the calculators I bought in lots worked.  Electronic devices are risky bids.

1. Look at the ring stands!

2. This is a portable field microscope. Outdoors, the miniature flashlight isn’t needed.  I have one.  These microscopes operate in the same manner as an ordinary, classroom microscope.  Just be sure to hold the microscope steady in bright light outside.

2. There are two MEL Starter kits available.

3.  There is an egg incubator.  I have several students obsessed with chickens.  

Family Science: Clouds

Okay, there are many more cloud activities for families.   You are going to want some cloud charts.  Here, here, and here are cloud charts.  Here is the Clouds eTraining module, part of the Atmosphere module.  When I teach Physical Science, there is a Weather Module.  I usually do The Layers of the Atmosphere Activity.  This atmosphere version is a collage.  Here is one more version, with clip art. The Cloudscape ‘sky scene’  make an awesome graphic for you home-school classroom. I like open-ended activities.  I show my teens several versions of the activity and provide materials for them to craft their own ‘Layers of the Atmosphere’ mini-project. 

Here is the GLOBE Elementary grades storybook, ‘Do You Know that Clouds Have Names?’  (No, I didn’t know that contrail comes from condensation trail either.) Here is the original Cloud Protocol.  Here is the Elementary GLOBE protocol with ‘To Spread or Not to Spread’ about contrails.  Scroll down this page to see the Cloud Protocol Field Guides: Cloud and Contrail Visible Opacity,  Cloud and Contrail Cover, Cloud Type and Contrail Type, and Sky Color and Sky Visibility.  No, before I took GLOBE training, I had no idea how complicated Clouds were.  Don’t despair!  Start with identifying clouds and see if your family wants to pursue the topic.  Often kids do!

GLOBE Data Challenges

GLOBE hosts annual Data Challenges. This year’s challenge is GLOBE Eclipse Challenge.  The Challenge runs from March 15-April 15th.  You do not have to post data to take advantage of their resources.  Instead, open the links and look at these resources.  Many of the activities pertain to Clouds.  Here is the GLOBE Observer app.  The GLOBE web is notoriously difficult to navigate.  Try the NASA GLOBE Cloud Protocol. Here is the Clouds Resource Library and here is the NASA GLOBE Clouds Family Guide. 

Clay Models Update

 The kids are making polymer clay models for the Animal Kingdom.  Today, two of the teens tried baking their models along with craft sticks.  Most polymer clay bakes at 250-260 F, fairly low temperatures for 20-30 minutes.  Happily, the craft sticks did NOT burst into flame.  The class is pleased with the results.  

Paper Dissections Update

 I ordered overhead transparencies to use with the paper dissections.  I tested them to be sure they worked with our laser printer.  They do not smear. I tried coloring them with colored pencil; these transparencies do not accept colored pencils.  Colored sharpies work, but do smear a little.  Transparencies allow for layers kids can peel back in their paper dissections.  

Kingdom Animalia: Is the process working?

 The Co-op Biology class is studying animals by comparing the nine, main phyla with this chart.  (We’re adding and refining categories.  For example, we added Nutrition,  Ecological Niche, Waste removal, and Unique Features.  It’s likely there will be more categories.)  The kids are making dissections and clay models.  Is this process working?  I decided to do an impromptu test.  I asked the kids to list the main traits for Phyla Porifera and Cnidaria.  They did!  That was my question: Were the kids learning about the animals’ characteristics?  Yes, we are using slideshows initially.  But the kids are using textbooks and diagrams to examine details for their paper dissections and clay models.  I think they’re absorbing information.

Family Science: Watershed Education

In another life, I took considerable professional training.  As an educator, I felt it was important to keep learning.  I took part in a ton of watershed studies.  Why?  Largely, these programs were free for educators, offered professional credit, and included meals and housing, usually at a college campus.  These programs included Remote Sensing, GPS, (usually with eTrex devices), and usually a local stream study.  When I take out a group of teens to do a stream study, I prefer to bring an expert, such as an educator from the local Soil and Water Conservation Group.  Usually, they have both supplies and expertise.  I can learn right along with my group.  Despite tons of training, I’m still no expert.

 Has your family taken part in a stream study?  Stream studies are frequently part of general Watershed Educational programs.  There are loads!  One issue you may encounter when you Google ‘watershed’ is the political nature of the topic.  Many families avoid political topics, understandably.  Take a look at Watershed Dynamics  and GLOBES’s Watershed Dynamics resources.  GLOBE is an international program.  In the U.S., here are GLOBE partners.  Watershed Dynamics is a packet with a comprehensive plan to study watersheds.  Scroll down to see the lesson ideas: build a watershed model, measure stream flow, ‘Just Passing Through’, the ‘Infiltration Protocol’, surface runoff, and more.  This guide is more than enough to carry out a substantial watershed study.  Warning!  GLOBE has some of the most exacting standards I’ve ever encountered.  The standards are universal, intended for student groups who want to share data.  I’ve taken part in the GLOBE program with a school and had GLOBE training.  However, I found it much easier to just use field protocols and topics for my own field studies, not as part of a formal program.  I’ve also used teacher eTraining with students.  Here is the eTraining for Hydrosphere.  (BTW I’ve found the easiest way to navigate GLOBE resources is with Google.)

The second resource,GLOBE Watershed Dynamics Project is more about using data. Look over this lesson, Water Availability.  Yes, the lesson mentions Climate Change.  I usually explain to kids that Climate Change is much more complex than the political term, Global Warming, and move on.  Instead, focus on infiltration, run-off, and new tools, such as IHMC Cmap software to create concept maps.  GLOBE’s Watershed Dynamics includes Fieldscope software.  Charleston SERC has help here  to navigate the software.  Don’t be discouraged if you struggle with the software; I took tons of training and am no expert.  Kids, on the other hand, often like the challenge and make a deep dive.  Trust me, you can have a robust stream study or watershed investigation without GIS or mapping software.  Here is a bit of background about Fieldscope, which is a type of mapping software, designed for high school students to use with Watershed studies.  Several organizations, such as  The Chesapeake Water Watch , NOAA, use Fieldscope.  Here’s hoping these suggestions energize your family’s stream study.

Family Science: Birds

I was thinking about birds.  There is a woodpecker that regularly confuses our roof with a tree.  Many families study birds.  I have taught many students fascinated by birds.  Let me share some resources.  One of the best sources for free information is Cornell Lab’s site, All About Birds, a great guide for bird identification.  Cornell has many free lessons.  There is a free app, called Merlin.  All About Birds is Cornell’s online bird guide.  Try one of their Webinars or browse their videos.  Cornell does offer courses which have a fee; however their free content is phenomenal.

Consider building bird boxes to start a Bluebird Trail.  Audubon has detailed instructions. The birds don’t mind lively painted boxes.

One fun tool to identify bird songs and calls is Birdsong Identiflyer.  These devices and cards are widely available on eBay.  I bought my Identiflyers and cards used from eBay.  

If your family becomes serious about birding.  Consider field guides.  Serious birders keep Life Lists or Check Lists.  See if the park you visit has a bird list.  Here is an example of a bird checklist from the National Parks Service at Guadalupe Mountains National Park.  In fact, many parks offer checklists.  Look here for more checklists.  There are boundless number of resources if your family likes to study birds.

Physics Impulse Momentum

 My husband, Rob, teaches Physics.  He does three egg experiments with Impulse.  First the kids toss raw eggs back and forth.  Next they throw eggs at a sheet. (Kids can hold the sheet instead of constructing a PVC frame.)  Lastly, the kids toss and catch raw eggs with cookie sheets.  Really.  I have no idea where he got the idea to use a cookie sheet.  It works.  The trick is to drop the cookie sheet just as the egg starts to make contact with the cookie sheet.  We buy loads of eggs for these experiments.

Borrow Wildlife Discovery Kits

 Did you know many libraries, colleges, and park systems loan wildlife kits?  Many groups loan Acorn Naturalists Wildlife Discovery Kits, purchased with grant funding, and designed for educational outreach.  Is your Co-op looking for ideas for Science Camp or as enrichment?   Scroll down this webpage to see sample kits on loan from Bull’s Run Nature Sanctuary.  The Delaware County Libraries loan Acorn kits and other STEM kits.  Colorado State University loans the Wonders of Wolves STEM kit.  Ask your local library to consider loaning wildlife or other science STEM kits.  Share these few examples.  Here in Virginia, STEM kits, such as Wildlife backpacks, are part of the Library of Things, often available at larger library systems.  Libraries often have media specialists who write grants.  Go ahead and ask!  Your request might spur the library to boost their STEM program.

MEL Kits

 Good Will online has a large lot of MEL science kits.  These kits are unopened.  I used MEL kits in my Chemistry Co-op class last year, as enrichment.  The kids had a ball.  The kits often have popular demos, such as Tin Denrites.  If you can buy the lot for less than $50, you have a great deal.

Spinach Leaf Photosynthesis Lab

My husband and I were discussing the use of spreadsheets for the science classes.  I explained that I would have the kids make spreadsheets for the  Photosynthetic Flotation lab.  This lab Is the one we’re using. My husband asked me why the disks rise.  Here is an explanation.  Photosynthesis produces oxygen.  These little oxygen bubbles produced are trapped and cause the leaf disk to rise.  This Lab and Mini-lecture explains the process well, too.

Cnidarians Update

 I want to remain accountable to you, the reader.  Do you really do the activities suggested here?  Yes!  Today we went over the slideshows mentioned here in the post.  Then the teens worked on their comparison charts and paper dissections.  As they work, these kids ask questions.  What is the toxin in the nematocyst?  How do jellyfish digest their prey?  Are their gonads specialized or hermaphroditic?  I hedge my answers.  Usually the gonads in jellyfish are either male or female.  Biology was my undergrad major.  There always seem to be exceptions.  The kids started the paper dissections, too.  Yes, there is still a colossal mess.  I am so excited!  The kids are very engaged.  They are working at home to improve their paper dissections.  I’m saving these models to use as examples next year.

 

Alternative Dissections: Food Dissections

 Dissections are fraught with controversy.  Moreover, specimens are expensive.  Consider doing some food dissections.  First is the Pickle Dissection. This dissection teaches dissection terms, such as caudal or distal, or ‘plane or direction’.   You may want to use gummy bears, an apple or celery before you start any sort of dissection, live, virtual, or alternative, to help teens understand the terms.  

Anatomy courses traditionally dissect a rat or a fetal pig.  Both specimens are expensive.  Let me share some alternatives, such as the Chicken Wing Dissection.  This version examines the tissue, muscles, and skeleton in a chicken wing.  Look at the Chicken Leg Dissection, which uses chicken quarters.  The chicken dissections pair well with anatomy lessons.  Here is Snicker Skin to teach the layers of the skin.  I’m planning to pick up some bananas for the Banana Autopsy Lab. Ha!  

Candy Bar Plate Tectonics

 Quick note!  Here is the Candy Bar Plate Activity with a Milky Bar.  If you have ever struggles to teach plate tectonics, try this activity!

Cnidarians, Ctenophora, or Coelenterates?

 The Biology Co-op class is tackling Zoology with extensive comparative morphology by phyla: Porifera, Cnidaria, Arthropoda, Nematoda, Annelida, Mollusca, Platyhelminthes, Echinodermata, and Chordata.  Here is an excellent comparison chart.  The next phylum is Cnidaria.  Cnidarians and Ctenophores are Coelenterates and are now treated as two different phyla rather than part of Phylum Coelenterata.  Here is a good, introductory slideshow.  Here is the coloring worksheet we’re using for paper dissections.  During class, the kids are creating charts, making detailed paper dissections, and crafting clay models.  

Polymer Clay Models

 My Co-op Biology class is making polymer clay models with their Paper Dissections.  Clay is a versatile material for science.  The last time I taught Human Anatomy, I ran across Anatomy in Clay. (Here are free resources from Anatomy in Clay.  They do require registration.)  We made a number of organs with clay.  Additionally, kids can use clay to make Cell Models.  Here and here is a cross curricular lesson between microbiology and art.  Take a look at Scholastic’s Germ Learning lesson.  Make the Layers of Earth or Landforms in clay.  Make your own clay!  This is another science lesson.  Compare the properties of Play-doh with different recipes for homemade clay.  Right now my Co-op Bio class is going to finish Porifera models and start Cnidaria.

Paper Dissections: Porifera

I wrote this  Porifera Post earlier.  Today the Biology Co-op class started paper dissection and polymer clay models.  The kids even did a little sponge painting on their paper dissections.  Yes, it’s a colossal mess.  However, the kids are comparing ideas, asking about functions, and generally learning loads about sponges, simple, sessile filter-feeding animals.  I’m excited!  I’m saving these models for next year to use with my Bio class.  Take a look!

POGIL

 What is POGIL?  These packets have models or charts and questions.  The packets guide the student through a concept with simple models.  One of the earliest POGIL projects was done at the college level.  Students used Chemistry: A Guided Inquiry, 47 activities, to learn chemistry.  Students work in teams of four with the instructor as a guide.  This approach can replace all traditional instruction—no lectures at all.  I like to use POGIL exercises more sparingly. Here is Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration (answer key).  My teens work in pairs to answer questions.  We review all of the answers together as a class.  I do circulate among the students as they work on questions.  Mostly, I answer their questions with, ‘Why don’t we look at the model? What information is provided in the model?’  Let your child struggle a bit.  Adding a few POGIL exercises will elevate your instruction.

Adapt Lessons to Your Students!

 As a home-school family, I’m betting this idea seems obvious to you.  Your teen has a passion, so you tailor as many lessons as possible around his or her area of interest.  This year and last year, two students are passionate about chickens.  Another loves horses.  I tailored a few genetic lessons around their interests.  Wow! Next year, when I teach Biology again, I want to be even more intentional about my instruction.  I usually start with Ecology.  One of next year’s students is an avid fisherman.  I’m adding Trout Time to my lessons.  I want to add some Trout lessons, too, including aquatic ecology.  I might try Trout in the Classroom or Hatching Chicks—whichever one is less work.  I had another idea, superheroes, and found this project about the genetics of superheroes.  One of my goals is to quiz the kids taking Biology next year to see where their interests lie.  I hope to increase their interest in Biology by incorporating their natural interests.  Again, I’m in relatively uncharted territory.  We’ll see how this approach works.

Science Kits at Good Will

 Good Will has a lot of three science kits.  Avyx kits are part of the Sonlight program.  Look at the contents carefully before bidding.  I usually do a quick comparison on eBay and Google Shopping to evaluate prices before placing a bid.  If you use the Sonlight program, these kits may interest you.

Let’s write rubrics!

  Okay, my rubrics are really checklists for the kids’ projects.  Here is a typical scoring rubric for a disease project.  Below is the rubric and point value I’m using for a disease project.  Here’s the difference: the kids in the Biology class wrote the rubric.  I asked them to determine which components should be present in their posters.  I typed the list and added it to Google Classroom.  Rubric done!  If they have all of these components, they earn full credit.  If any component is missing or confusing, I ask them to correct the problem before receiving full credit.  Sit down with your teen and determine the scope, parameters, and components for the next project.  One interesting note: kids tend to make harder rubrics than teachers.

Family Science: STEM and Crafts

Recently, I made a scarf coded in ASCII.  (Here is the post.) Your family could make a  Binary Birthday Coding Necklace. What other crafts are stem-related?  Look at this introductory sewing lesson, which has an emphasis on understanding  metrics and doing metric and English conversions. Here  is an article describing some of the basic mechanics in a sewing machine.  Tennessee 4H has experiments with fabrics and dyes.  Here is a tie-dye guitar pattern from Dick Blick.  (Dharma has this information regarding the underlying chemistry.)  Here is an activity from ACS about dyeing a t-shirt with Koolaid.  Molecular Gastronomy is another avenue for STEM instruction.  Science in School has this article and experiment about using sodium alginate with calcium chloride (or calcium lactate).  If your family likes making sodium alginate beads, take a look at this guide and add fruit juices.   Friday afternoons are a great time to plan family STEM activities—right after lunch, before the kids head outside!

Kingdom Animalia: Phylum Poifera

 The Biology Co-op class just started Kingdom Animalia with Phylum Porifera.  Here is the slideshow we used.  Our representative organism is the sponge.  The kids are going to make Sponge Clay Models with polymer clay.  (I like Sculpey or Fino.  You need to warm up the clay to make it pliable.  Be sure to bake the models when finished.  I have NOT had any problem with fumes baking Sculpey in the oven at home.).   The kids are using this sponge coloring sheet, this coloring worksheet, and this sponge sheet to create paper dissections.  Additionally, I ordered natural sponges to add sponge paint to the background, just for fun.  The kids are crafting origami models, too.  Here are instructions for a sea anemone.  Our goal is to see if we can replace the experience of dissecting—or at least supplement the experience.  I’m in uncharted territory.  

BTW there are excellent paper dissection kits, such as this Sponge from Getting Nerdy or this Fish from Origami Organelles.  I want my kids to make their own paper dissections, perhaps with coloring sheets and colored card stock or construction paper.  

Botany Series: Seed Germination

 Spring is a great time to explore seed germination with your entire family.  Let’s break down different experiments by age.  BTW, radish and maize seeds are frequently used for seed germination.  Rapid Radish seeds (very pricey) are often used by Biology teachers across the country and germinated in one-three days.  Ordinary radish seeds germinate in five—ten days.  Maze seeds can germinate in four days.  

High School: 

1. The College of St.Benedict/ St. John’s University has this Plant Primer, which has quite sophisticated labs, such as Photomorphogenesis.  These experiments are a bit cryptic; however the ideas are excellent!  Use the concepts and design your own labs.  

2. Plant a Plant Seed Germination is from GLOBE.  Like every GLOBE investigation, the lab is exacting, perfect for teens.

3.  Seed Germination Inquiry Lab is a guide for kids to design their own lab.  

Younger Students:

1. Germinate Seeds in a Bag is convenient because the small bags can be taped to the window.  It can be fun to germinate seeds in a CD case, or jewel case, which acts as a greenhouse.

2. Here are several seed activities for early, elementary-aged students, with simple worksheets.  You may want to use this packet as inspiration for a lap-book, perhaps on Botany.

3. What about creating a Seed Library?  I found the idea charming, especially if your family loves to garden.  

 

Botany Series: Exploratorium

 There are several experiments in the textbook we use, Apologia’s Biology textbook.  However, I like to supplement with even more labs.  The Exploratorium has a Botany page: Flower Dissection, Fruit Dissection and Seed Germinator.  Here is See Inside a Seed.  If you’re dissecting flowers and fruit, you may as well cut up seeds, too.

  Look at Photosynthetic Flotation, a Science Snack from the Exploratorium.   My kids like the photos explaining how to make spinach leaf disks float.  This lab has clear instructions.  The teens graph the results in a spreadsheet.  We do the lab, Spinach Leaf Chromatography at the same time.  I use a handful of spinach leaves for the labs and eat the rest as a salad for dinner.