In lab today we went over some fundamentals of biochemistry! We started out with some “Duplos chemistry”. We talked about atoms, elements, and molecules (including differentiating between compounds and mixtures), then practiced writing chemical formulas. After going over physical changes vs. chemical changes, we talked about photosynthesis. We worked out the chemical reaction of photosynthesis […]
Tag: Biology
Today we looked at mushrooms and puffballs (thanks to Rosalie, friend of the lab, for contributing samples!). We examined them with the naked eye, with a magnifying glass, and looked at spores and some gills from a mushroom under the microscope (Exp. 4.1). We also observed yeast fermentation and looked at samples under the microscope […]
Binary Fission Video This is a very cool video showing a Protozoa Stylonychia reproducing through binary fission! Prokaryotic Cells vs. Eukaryotic Cells Video This is a good video describing Prokaryotic cells vs. Eukaryotic cells. It starts out talking about ringworm – hang in there, it’s going somewhere! Videos of Protists Eating Here are a some interesting videos […]
Today we looked at prepared slides of protozoans (amoeba, paramecium, euglena, volvox) and algae (spirogyra, diatoms), completing experiment 3.2 and 3.3. The focus was on detailed drawing and identifying and labeling the different organelles. They are all getting more handy with the microscopes, and I had them move through their lab notebooks in a more […]
Today we got out the microscopes and looked at our pond cultures one last time. We found a few different things today. Looking at a sample from the soil jar, we saw a circular specimen that we thought was a volvox. It occured to me later that it could have been a centric diatom. I […]
I made this crossword puzzle to practice vocabulary from Module 2. Note: This is the crossword I handed out at lab. I included the “official” vocabulary list plus some other terms discussed in Module 2 that I thought were important and useful to review. The terms used here are the same ones I included in […]
We had a great lab today! We checked our pond cultures from last week under the microscopes. We didn’t see any bacteria, but we did see at least one amoeba, one diatom, and maybe a paramecium (we’ll learn more about all of these in Module 3!). We also played vocabulary bingo to review Module 2 […]
Vocabulary Games Here is a link to some vocabulary review games for Module 1 to help you study: https://www.quia.com/jg/1708483.html There are three options: flash cards, memory, and concentration. All are great! The memory/concentration games randomly select vocabulary from the list. If you complete a board and choose to start again it will randomly select a […]
Today we started lab with pond specimen collection as preparation for next week’s Module 2 lab. The girls put measured amounts of a different food source (hay, rice, soil, and egg yolk) in each of 4 jars, then headed to the pond to collect. The jars are sitting on my back porch to “culture” until […]
We had a great first lab today! I gave a brief introduction to the course and what’s involved. We went over some lab technique, microscope handling and care, and an introduction to today’s lab. Then we got to try out the microscopes! The girls were up for the challenge and did a great job handling […]