Personal Person

 Have you ever seen the Thin Man?  The Young Explorers Human Anatomy Notebooking Journal has these cool overlays called a ‘personal person’—much like the ‘Thin Man’.  (I used the regular notebook—not the Junior notebook. I don’t know if the Junior Notebooking Journal has these same templates or not.).  I just posted about Matthew Simmons’ anatomy templates.  I went looking for similar templates.  These Anatomy Paper Dolls are $8.  Better Lessons suggests using a basic body outline and draw different systems.  There are several books with ‘see through’ humans.  I just like the idea of the kids having their own notebook sized persons to label and study.

Facebook National Biology Teachers Group

 The reason I joined Facebook’s National Biology Teachers group is to stay up to date with new ideas.  However, the main reason I continue is Matthew Simmons.  You should join, too!  He just shared a layered body to use for Anatomy.  If you have used the Young Explorers Human Anatomy’s study guide, you’ll be familiar with the ‘personal person’ templates.  These are similar layers of anatomical systems.  I took screenshots so you can get the idea.  See?  You should join, too.  You won’t always agree with the other members or necessarily appreciate some of the comments.  Matthew Simmons is worth all the aggravation.

Should you get a tattoo?

 Do you want your teens to write volumes?  I do!  Pick debate topics.  The key is to find a topic of interest.  Right now, the government is debating eliminating pennies.  You could consider the composition and cost of metals   My favorite topic is  Tattoos.  Thinking about Tattoos and What Chemicals are in Your Tattoos? are both useful for this discussion.  Below is the format for writing a debate essay.

1.  What is the issue?  Should the government eliminate pennies?  Should you get a tattoo?

2.  Next, write the pros and cons.

3.  Do the pros outweigh the cons or vice versa?

Below are the notes we did in Composition class.  While I do these types of essays in class, I have to tailor my classes to the students.  This year’s Bio class is stream-lined compared to other years.

Blood Tests

 I tried a different brand of blood test cards.  Stick with Eldon cards.  I hadn’t opened the test kits; they are all one time use.  Very disappointing.  None of the instructions were in English.  We got a few results.  We weren’t confident about any of the results  I ordered Eldon cards to try again on Thursday.

Anatomy on a Budget: Lungs

 The number of lung resources is pretty limited.  However, you may want a few ideas anyway.  Here you go!

1. Measure Lung Capacity (soda bottle and straw) or this version (balloons).

2. Make a model of a Human Lung (2 L bottle, straws, and balloons).

3. Here is a comprehensive Respiratory Unit with videos and notes. Here is a very detailed slide deck.  Here is a good overview of gas exchange.

4. Color and Label Heart and Lung is fine for elementary-age kiddos.

5. Flinn’s Exercise, CO, and Respiration is a classic and uses bromothymol blue.

 

Anatomy on a Budget: Nervous System

 Yes, another round-up.  I finished most of my grading and am trying to collect material for Advanced Biology.  If these resources help you, all the better.  Kids really like these experiments.  The nice thing is that many of the labs are suitable for both younger kiddos and teens.  If I see anymore interesting web sites, I’ll update the list.

1. Flinn has The Five Senses, which makes a good introduction to the nervous system.  The lab requires a Snellen Test  eye chart, PTC paper ($5) and a tuning fork ($3).  

2.  Test Reflexes with a percussion hammer ($5).  

3.  Test nerves with paper clips, A Nervous Experiment.  

4. Here are fantastic nervous system graphics to use for instruction.

5. Be sure everyone has a Brain Hemisphere Hat.  Print the template on to card stock and have kids color it.  

6.  Study neurons with this worksheet, mini-project, or these coloring pages. I’m buying used, anatomy coloring books for the kids to save the cost of printing.  However, I like the idea of just studying a diagram, sketching, and labeling it.

7. Models: Nerve Communications, Neuroscience For Kids-Models (clay, pipe cleaners, beads, CDs…), spinal cord, egg carton spinal cord, and Build a Nervous System.

8.  More Neuroscience experiments for kids, including sidedness, memory, and hearing.

9. Neurtorium has free slide decks to use for instruction.   Don’t forget Khan Academy’s resources. 

10. Here is a teacher’s Nervous System collection of notes, worksheets, etc.  I add ‘Weebly’ to a search.  The public schools change LMS frequently.  Teachers make their own Weebly sites in self-defense to reduce the number of times they must copy their lessons to a new LMS.

Gel Electrophoresis

Gel Electrophoresis is really a college-level topic.  First, look at this  online simulation (and worksheet)  or gel electrophoresis which explains how DNA is analyzed with gel electrophoresis.  Here is the article explaining how to use pop beads for the simulation with the template.  If this topic sounds interesting, go to Exploratorium and see instructions for a budget version.  Here is Flinn’s lab to see the materials used for this lab.  If you have a contact in a Biology department at a local college, see if you can arrange a demo.  

Anatomy: Simulated Kits

 I’ve taught private, public, home-school, and Co-op classes.  Rules vary.  One year I taught Co-op Biology and Anatomy in our church’s CCD Confirmation class.  Labs were restricted.  I substituted simulated kits.  They are fine.  I’ve tried a few.  I like Innovating Science and NeoSci kits.  Try to find used kits.  I’ve purchased several kits on eBay and have had good luck.

1. My favorite simulated, blood type,  testing kit is from Innovating Science.  Typically it’s the cheapest.

2.  Urinalysis?  Yes, by all means, let’s use simulated kits.  Do we want kids to pee on urinalysis strips?  I don’t think so.

3. Forensics Drug Test Kit

4. Kidney Filtration Simulation kit

5.Simulated Blood Stain Kit

Anatomy on a Budget: Blood

 One of my favorite units in Anatomy is blood.  I have a few ideas.

1. Test blood.  Use simulated blood for this Blood Typing lab (milk, vinegar, and food dyes).  Investigating Blood Types uses dyes and chemicals, such as hydrochloride acid and silver nitrate.  The ‘clotting’ is a precipitation reaction.  If you teach Chemistry or have a MicroChem Kit, you may have the chemicals on hand. 

2. Years ago, when I taught Anatomy to young kiddos, we did What is Blood made of?  The activity uses red water beads, ping pong balls, and plastic felt pieces for platelets.  The Anatomy class and the Biology class teamed up and delivered fun stations to the Head Start kids meeting at the church’s Knights of Columbus building.  The blood station was a big hit.  What’s in Your Blood? uses sprinkles.  This version uses red gelatin and rice-items you may already have on hand.

3. Do a Forensics lab, Blood Splatter or Presumptive Blood Test (real blood).  You may want to buy a simulated, presumptive blood test.  Science Buddies has a lab, Crime Scene Lab Kastle-Meyer Test.  (I didn’t think about using chicken or beef blood.  I was thinking about pricking a finger.)  Here are the chemicals to make your own Kastle-Meyer solution.  It might be cheaper to buy a vial or just buy a kit.

 4.  Look at blood under the microscope.  Even a basic set of slides has a blood smear slide.  You can make your own blood smear slide.  Here are blood images.  Be sure to sketch and label the images, whether you use a microscope or your laptop.

5. Learn how to take Blood Pressures.  Ask around to see who has a cuff sphygmomanometer with an stethoscope and digital kit.  Ask a nurse to help.  

6.  Here is a blood presentation.  I thought it was extremely useful for a high school anatomy class.  Warning!  There are 112 slides!  

7. The American Society of Hemotology has several activities, including the ‘Mystery of Blood’.  

Anatomy on a Budget: Bones (Skeletal System)

 Let’s do another round-up of basic materials useful to teach the skeletal system.

1.  Arizona State University has this Bone Lab, with a virtual dissection and viewer.  The same site has Bone experiments.  Save the bones from the Chicken Wing Dissection and either bake them or put them in vinegar.

2. Use either this guide or Bone to label a paper skeleton (or this one).  Test yourself with this worksheet.  I bought an inexpensive Halloween skeleton for Anatomy.  The first assignment is to determine if the skeleton is accurate.  This lab compares make and female paper skeletons.

3. Use a diagram is a bone and make a clay model.  When kids make models, they closely observe the structure.

, 

4. Home Science Tools has a nice unit, Skeletal System, with Try This! activities, such as using eggs to represent your brain.  This packet is useful for younger, elementary-aged students. 

5.  Look at slides of bones under the microscope or examine and sketch virtual bone slides.  (BTW in Histology, students learn how to make slides, stain slides, and identify them.  I can tell you from personal experience that making slides with different stains is a dark art.)

6. Make lab fun with this Forensic Remains Lab or The Mystery of Bones.  Take a little inspiration from this blog post about a similar lab. Ask your kids which lab looks more fun.

7.  Here, here, and here are expansive slide decks to help you organize the unit.  Look at this Weebly for ideas and videos to help outline this unit.  Use these materials as part of a lapbook.

Steel wool gets heavier when you burn it.

 Who knew?  Thank you social media!  You should see for yourself.  Here is a video showing how steel wool gains mass as it burns.  Here is a student worksheet.  This demo is terrific when you teach Types of Chemical Reactions.