End of the Year Biology Projects!

Our high school Co-op won’t conclude until the end of May.  But many of you have completed the coursework.  Now is a good time to assign a science project.  Most of us won’t resume class until after Labor Day.  While many families schedule camps, VBS, and family vacations, there can be a big gap in instruction if you wind down now.  Instead, pick a fun Biology project.  Below are a few ideas from past projects. 

1. Using Guides and Animal Size…. can be adapted for several grades.  Here is the Nature Watching lesson, Fact Sheets, and Data Collection Form.  Do an Owl Pellet Dissection as part of the project.  Read My Side of the Mountain and use this teacher’s guide to help craft a book report.  This is one of those books which appeal to a kid who is a naturalist; teens like the book, too.  (BTW, there is a film, too.)

2. In another life I wrote grants for teams of kids and their projects.  One thing the kids loved best was to plant trees.  Talk to the local forester.  The Forestry Service may have an upcoming project or access to free trees to plant.

3. Paint rain barrels.

4. Install a  green roof with sedum plants.

5.  Plan a watershed and groundwater event for your Co-op.  Ask the local Soil and Water agency or Extension Office if they have education specialists with models.  Let your teen doing the planning and ask about training so he or she can lead the program.  Be sure to ask the specialist about hands-on activities kids can do which relate to watershed or groundwater, such as the Crumpled Paper Watershed or  A Drop in a Bucket.

6. Do a Stream Study.  Here is an excellent background slide deck about streams.  Here is a good overview about the types of activities associated with stream studies. I recommend starting with Save our Streams Macroinvertebrates Study.  See if Soil and Water or the Extension Office has a guide trained to identify macroinvertebrates.  While it’s nice to have a kick seine, all you need is a bucket and ice cube tray to sort critters.

7.  Creat gardens.  Do you have a boggy area?  Plant a  rain garden.   Need a bit of color?  Plant a raised bed.  Sow and grow your own plants.  Do a bit of research about which plants are suitable.  Talk to the Soil and Water specialist for help with your plans.  They may even have a hydroponics unit to lend for you to try.  Really!