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Beginner Starfish Dissection
Class experience
Starfish are an amazing part of the marine ecosystem. In fact, they are the most important predator in the shallow water biome. They are known as a keystone species.....meaning their feeding has an effect on the whole ecosystem. They have a fun anatomy to dissect and because of this, they are a good beginning specimen to start with. At the beginning of class, we will review the dissection kit tools and their uses. We will also observe the external anatomy of the preserved starfish before...
Students will be able to name standard dissection tools. Students will be able perfect dissection techniques. Students will be able to observe the internal and external anatomy of a preserved starfish specimen.
I was a middle school science teach for 10 years and in that time, have lead hundreds of students through many dissections including the hot dog, earthworms, clams, crayfish, and sharks. In my college Zoology class, I was the only student to successfully extract the entire spinal nerve of a crayfish that the professor had ever had! I find dissections fascinating and a good stepping stone for any student interested in anatomy, physiology, zoology, or college sciences.
Homework Offered
Assessments Offered
Learn progress is assessed through the dissection technique during class. No tests are given.Grades Offered
3 files available upon enrollmentStudents will need a dissection kit and a preserved starfish specimen. I have included the link to Home Science Tools which has a cheap standard kit for $5.60 (at the time of this writing). Amazon also has a couple for approximately $10. I personally recommend Home Science Tools. Not only is that where I purchase all of my dissection specimens but I have found them to be the most cost effective for these items. I have also included the link to Home Science Tools starfish specimen which is $3.25 at the time of this writing. Students may prefer to have disposable gloves on when dissecting. They also need a clean area to dissect (on a plate, cutting board, paper towels.)
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Dissection tools are sharp and as such, your student must be mature enough to handle them on their own by your estimation. Reproductive organs are also a part of a preserved earthworm and will be part of the organ system that students dissect. Though no in-depth discussion of earthworm reproduction will occur, these organs are named and their uses are defined during dissection. Starfish have reproductive glands....they will either contain sperm or eggs. This will be mentioned though cannot be seen (in order to determine gender, these glands would need to be viewed under a microscope).
I will be on vacation from April 5-20th. I will still be answering messages but may be slower in doing so than usual as some of the time I am gone, I will not have access to wifi/cell phone data. Hello students and parents! I am a former...
Group Class
$15
per classMeets once
40 min
Completed by 82 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 11-16
1-7 learners per class