Cheap and Easy Study Guides

 My Biology Co-op class creates and uses loads of study guides.  Biology is rife with vocabulary.  Let me share a few ideas we use.  Here and here are traditional study guides, questions, key concepts, and vocabulary terms.  Another tool is concept maps.  Often I put key terms on to index cards and have the kids create a map.

You can make free concepts maps with IHMC software, Google Docs, and Google’s Jamboard.  

My kids often make graphics.  Basically, the kids may use any image, sketch, notes, concept map they desire.  Anything on the poster or graphic may be used during the test.  The teens research and study as they make their guides.  It’s been an effective tool to help kids achieve a deeper quality of understanding.

For these graphics, the kids do not earn a grade until I decide they have sufficient details, images, and notes to be successful on the test.  Often, I’ll ask kids to add a concept map with titles or draw the stages of mitosis.  I might ask a student to explain verbally their image and its significance.  BTW this method is slow.  Kids resist revisions or annotations.  By ‘resist’ I mean there is great wailing and gnashing of teeth.  But once a kid can show me they understand DNA transcription and translation, the subsequent test is usually a breeze.  (I insist they revise essay tests, too.  You can imagine how popular that is.)  

Many home-school families use lapbooks  or Cornell Notes as study tools.  The point is to try different study guides to see which tool works for your child.  Start with concept maps; most kids find them useful.

Cheap and Easy DNA Models

 By all means, make a DNA model. My Biology classes make several models.  It really helps kids understand the components in DNA.   Here are step by step instructions to make a DNA model with construction paper and toothpicks.  My kids make Licorice and Marshmallow DNA Models, Origami DNA Models, Paper Models, and work through the Lab-aids DNA & Nucleotide Modeling activity.  (This kit is not cheap.  I invested in a set because I teach Biology regularly.) you will not be short changing your teen if you only do one or two paper models.  Be sure to color them! I completely forgot we made  DNA models with beads and pipe cleaners until I ran across the photo.  The photos below are examples of the DNA models. The first model I bought from Amazon, currently priced at $9, is flimsy.  Just make your own.

Cheap and Easy Mitosis Models

 My Bio classes do a great deal of modeling.  The kids use their models as study tools for tests.  One idea is to use Petri dishes, yarn, and chalk on a dark table.  Kids remember things they do.  If they make a temporary model on the table, take photos.    Below are ideas I do every time I teach mitosis and the cell cycle.

Mitosis Wheel Foldable $5.50  (Here are free instructions for a similar cell cycle model.)

Have your kids draw and label mitosis.

My kids both draw and then use yarn to make a mitosis model.

Biology on a Budget: Molecules

 Okay, I’ve written a few posts about molecules, too.  Several years ago I invested in Lab-aids Molecules of Life and DNA Modeling kit.  I teach Bio regularly for the local Co-op.  You might be teaching Biology only once or twice.  I encourage you to have the kids build their molecules.  Here is the POGIL Biological Molecules (Key) 

Here are instructions for building a glucose molecule with mini-marshmallows.  These instructions use the line drawing (below) and show how to build glucose.

Substitute small balls of clay for the marshmallows.  (Below is an example from Reddit.)  Carbon is usually black and hydrogen is usually white.  Oxygen is usually blue or red.  Hydrogen molecules are much smaller than oxygen and carbon.  Attach the small balls of clay with toothpicks.  

Below is the line drawing for fructose.

Just below is a 3D printed model of fructose.  N.B. the red balls are oxygen.

Once you see who the line drawings correspond to the ‘ball and stick’ model (clay and toothpick), go back to the top for the Biomolecules worksheets to build.  You and your teen can build these molecules.  

Do you like birds? I have a few resources!

 Two of my Biology students love birding!  Yeah!  It’s fun to have naturalists in my class!  I lent them two Identiflyers and several bird song cards to use at their grandparents’ house.  (The identiflyer device is available used on eBay.)  Cornell University’s Ornithology Department has an online, bird watching guide.  Nestwatch has information about Eastern Bluebird nest boxes.  While the site has free plans, they want your email address.  Here are free plans.  Bluebird boxes are available assembled or as kits.  Teens like to build bird houses and paint them.  The birds do not care about the exterior of the nesting box.  Did you know there is an Eagle Cam at the NCTC training center.  Hey, your teen might be a budding ornithologist!

Biology: Nomenclature

 Our first module in Biology has nomenclature.  I introduced nomenclature in terms of the Six Kingdom Model.  Here is a slide deck with a good intro to taxonomy.  (N.B. It includes a bit about phylogeny and clads, both part of an evolutionary approach to taxonomy, which uses three domains.). My emphasis is on six kingdoms and classification: Archaebacteria, Eubacteria, Protista, Fungi,  Plantae, and Animlia.  (N.B. The Kingdom Monera includes both Archaebacteria and Eubacteria, part of a five Kingdom model.)

My mnemonic for Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus Species is ‘Katie Poured Coke On Father’s Good Suit.’  

The Bio class had a quick tutorial about scientific names and conventions.  The kids spent the remainder,of class researching the scientific names for their species list.

Biology on a Budget: Keep the patient alive!

Update: we figured out why we have so many fruit flys: the recycled yogurt containers.  Run the containers through the dish washer first before using them for science.

Keep the Patient Alive is a homeostasis lab.  The Bio Co-op class did the lab today.  We used 200 mL of water.  The kids put the beakers into large yogurt containers.  (Pretend the overflow is excretion and the ice and hot water added are IVs.)  The lab took us about 45 minutes; however, I did a little instruction about properties of water, how to measure liquids with a graduated cylinders, and how to use a digital thermometer.  These thermometers  convert the TI 84 graphing calculator into a digital thermometer.  It’s more responsive than a glass thermometer.  This lab was a terrific, first lab.  Take a look.

Microscopes

 Have you ever seen the caption, ‘You have visited this page many, many times.’ under a Google search?  I’ve written about microscopes, many, many times.  What the heck!  You might be new here!  

I teach Biology regularly to the local Co-op, whenever we need a class.  I have invested in several microscopes because the class size varies.  This year’s class is small; some classes have 18 students.  I have a large box of slides, too.  I’ve even tried toy microscopes—one of the home-school student’s dad like to bid on huge lots and won 60 microscopes.  

What do I recommend?  Have your teen memorize the parts of the microscope.  Here is a sample quiz.  I recommend buying a digital microscope which attaches with a  USB cable to a laptop.  These digital, USB microscopes are available for about $10.  A box of 25 slides are also about $10.  For $20 you have enough slides and sufficient microscopic resolution for high school level biology.  Basically, kids should be able to focus a microscope on a slide, take a screenshot, and label and sketch the image.  My undergrad, biology classes required identifying organisms or tissues on slides; most of the time was spent viewing and sketching.

Buy the USB microscope from Amazon or Walmart.  Plug it into your laptop.  It should connect immediately to the laptop’s camera.  If it doesn’t, it means the microscope is NOT compatible with the laptop.  (I have no idea why this happens.)  Try another brand and return the original to Walmart or Amazon.  I have a box of USB microscopes; my kids just switch to another brand.  

Does your teen want to pursue a science or healthcare career?  Call the local community college or university.  Ask for a tour of the science department.  Ask the science department to give you a demonstration with their microscopes and spectrophotometers.  Check your library, too.  Our local library has Celestron digital microscopes; the librarians show kids how to use them.  Ironically, the library did not have any slides.  I gave them a box.  One more note.  I have a box of the colorful, elementary slides, too.  We use them initially when I introduce the microscope.  I wing or leg is easier to focus.  I also use dollars and foreign currency—much more interesting than the letter ‘e’ slide.

How to Design an Experiment

 My Co-op class spent the entire class period designing the lab for Can Yeast Digest Lactose?  I changed my title to ‘Are yeast lactose intolerant?’  We spent a great deal of time explaining what glucose, sucrose, and lactose are: sugars.  Additionally, the kids took notes as we designed the lab.  I’m going to teach how to write a lab report with this lab, too.  (Here is the slide deck for lab reports, with the scoring sheet.)  The kids are doing three trials with two grams of yeast, three grams of different sugars, and five mL of water or milk.

We discussed confounding variables, such as old yeast.  Each test tube will have its own balloon—from the same bag of balloons.  The lactic tablets were purchased two days ago. Enzymes break down fairly quickly.  We talked about controlled variables, too.  The kids will test yeast and water, yeast, water, and sugar, too.  We’re doing this lab next Monday; student have conflicts.  I want them to do this lab together.    

Try this lab yourself.  We’re using 18 test tubes.  Grab a bunch of soda bottles and a bag of balloons.  Test the yeast with a bit of water and sugar to see if the yeast foams well.  I’ll post photos and sample labs.  Below are the combinations we’re using for the lab.

Chemistry on a Budget: Free VESPR Model for Molecular Geometry

 Here is a ‘flat pack model’ for VESPR or Molecular Geometry.  Here is the slideshow I made about Molecular Structures.  Here is an excellent data table with more examples of molecular structures using VSEPR.  Lastly, here is an entire chapter about VESPR to enrich your study and add to your confusion.  Just remember, VESPR helps create models of molecules which helps explain properties of molecules.  For example, water has many, unique properties, owing to its hydrogen bonds, which are a property of its bent molecular structure.  Really.

Biology on a Budget: Photosynthesis and Chromatography Labs with Spinach Leaves

I’m organizing labs in my lesson plans.  Last year I taught Chemistry and need to see which lessons I taught in Biology two years ago.   First is Plant Chromatography.  These lab instructions use household materials: coffee filter, penny, plastic cups, tape, pencil, and spinach leaves.  The lab instructions say to use nail polish remover.  However, try tap water and rubbing alcohol, too.  FYI filter paper produces better results than thin coffee filter.  If you can find a heavy-duty coffee filter, you’ll get better results.  

You may want to do a few other paper chromatography labs.  Here is Candy Chromatography.  Here is paper chromatography with food dyes.  Here is paper chromatography with wash-able markers.  Here is paper chromatography with pens or sharpies.  When testing pens or sharpies, ethanol or acetone may work better than rubbing alcohol.  

The second lab uses spinach leaves to demonstrate photosynthesis.  This lab requires a hole punch, baking soda, dish detergent, spinach leaves, and a 10 mL syringe.  Any lamp should work.  Don’t panic when you see the incandescent bulb in the lab instructions.  We did this lab in Bio two years ago and we’re able to graph the data in spreadsheets.  This is the type of lab my kids use for a formal lab report.  One of the online schools, MODG, requires four, formal, lab reports.  Here is a post about the data and here, a post about the lab.  I’m filing away these labs in Classroom.