ND RET Molecular Biology Workshop Ken Andrzejewski- Marian High School Louann Kensinger- Riley High School Deb Semmler- St. Joseph’s High School Jim Keating- Washington High School
Dec 19, 2015
ND RET Molecular Biology Workshop
Ken Andrzejewski- Marian High SchoolLouann Kensinger- Riley High SchoolDeb Semmler- St. Joseph’s High SchoolJim Keating- Washington High School
Our Goal
To evaluate pre-packaged science kits we might want to use in the classroom– Are they cost effective?– Are they engaging?– Do they work?– How can they be modified?
Our Strategy
To work through the kits as a groupTo evaluate each kitTo determine if it would fit into the
curriculumTo create modifications as neededPost findings for others to use
ND RET Molecular Biology Workshop Resource Wiki
http://retmbw.wikispaces.com
Contains science kit evaluations for 2009/2010/2011 workshops
Has a resource page for additional reference
Kit 1: Understanding the Properties of Matter
Carolina Biological Supply
kit #251200 $149.95
refill #251250 $59.95
Educational Purpose
Students will Investigate intensive and extensive
properties Explore differences between chemical and
physical changes Develop skills to design and perform
experiments
Students will devise and implement a logical system for organizing matter using materials from the kit.
This included Properties of Matter Study Cards that the students could use to help them.
Activity 1
Activity 2
Students will select 5 materials from activity 1 and explore eight properties of matter:
Mass Reactivity w/ acid
Volume Density
Magnetism Appearance
Conductivity
State at room temperature
Activity 3
Students will conduct eight different experiments and document some of the ways matter can interact. Experiments included reactions between:
Yeast and hyrdrogen peroxide
Silver nitrate and copper
Sodium bicarbonate and acetic acid
Iron and copper sulfate
And others
Evaluation
This lab is very engaging- there is plenty to keep students focused.
The worksheets and tables included were of good quality and very usable.
There is also an extension lab that allows students to design and conduct experiments that demonstrate the relationship between the intensive property of density and the extensive properties of matter. A very nice formative assessment addition.
Kit 2: Introduction to Light & Optics
Carolina Scientific$145.95
Many Labs in One Kit
Polarized LightTransmission GratingColor by Addition & SubtractionMirrors (plane, concave, convex)Lenses (convex, concave)Refraction
Refraction
Light changes velocity when it enters a different transparent medium
Light slows when it enters material of a higher refractive index
Light speeds up when it enters material of a lower refractive index
Refraction
When light changes speed it bends; this is refraction
All angles are measured from normal (perpendicular) to interface of surfaces
Snell’s Law
n1sinƟ1=n2sinƟ2
Evaluation
ComprehensiveNice complement to lecture
Kit 3: Amino Acid Starter Kit
3-D Molecular Designs#AASKU-01 (single set)$52#AASKU-06 (6-group set)$286
Educational Purpose
Students learn about amino acid properties and structures
Students explore primary, secondary and tertiary structure of proteins.
Students use “toobers” and plastic “amino acids” to create a 3-dimensional protein model.
Evaluation
The biggest advantage of this kit is its ability to help students visualize the 3-dimensional structure of proteins.
The interactive CD has tutorials that use computer graphics to illustrate amino acids and proteins in three dimensions. Students can rotate views along three planes and even slab through proteins.
The manipulative part of this kit allows students to link a chain of amino acids and then fold the chain according to their hydrophilic or hydrophobic properties, etc.
Recommended for a second-year biology class or for an exceptionally bright group of honors freshmen.
Kit 4 Classifying Animals
LAB-AIDS #550S $59.95
Educational Purpose
Students will Classify animals according to structural
properties Collaborate to develop a classification
system Connect the problems of exotic species to
the need for classification
Part A: Exploring the Animal Kingdom
Each group of 4 students is given a set of 18 Animal Cards (which include a color photo and short description of anatomical structures)
Students collaborate to create their own classification system to place the cards in 4 to 8 groups
Groups present their results and explain their system and reasoning for classification
Part B: A Biologist’s Perspective
After a teacher lecture explaining the actual phyla of the Animal Kingdom (focusing on 6 main phyla), students are instructed to modify their classification system, now using the 6 animal phyla
Groups present their results and share their reasoning
Evaluation
This kit provided a fairly simple and useful activity Positives include the inquiry-based method of
creating their own classification system in Part A, use of uncommon animals to enhance thinking, and the connection to exotic species
Negatives would only be that the kit still references a 5 Kingdom system instead of the current 3 Domain system, and the fact that only 18 animals are shown
Other Activity Kits full explanations and evaluations can be found on the RET wiki
Balancing Chemical Equations- as a balancing equation lab this one was not as advertised. But it did redeem itself as a types of chemical reactions lab.
Reconstructing Atomic Theory- the premise was good- modeling early atomic theory experiments but the demonstrations were juvenile and required too much work from the instructor.
Other Activity Kits (continued)
Investigating Selective Breeding – a genetics lab kit that does a good job illustrating simple dominance with cardboard genetic corn, but makes no real connection to selective breeding
Cellular Evolution: Formation of Coacervates –
this lab creates representations of what may have been the original precursors to living cells. Unfortunately, results were not clear enough to warrant its use
Other Activity Kits (continued)
Preparation of Human Chromosome Spreads-
This lab uses HeLa cells to do a chromosome spread. It provides an excellent teachable moment about Henrietta Lacks and her cell line.
Simulating Methods of Population Estimation
This lab provides a nice introduction to the transect, quadrat, mark/recapture, & removal methods for population estimation
Other Activity kits (continued)
Biochemistry Manipulatives-
This lab uses paper models of atoms that are easily done yourself without spending the money.