生物實驗班（彈性課程）

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In this flex class students will complete 20 labs, very similar to my live lab class. students will be able to perform labs and learn the concepts covered in the lab each week.  These labs typically aligned with High School Biology standards.  We will cover the topics of cells, genetics, evolution, ecology and classification.  Students will be able to follow video recorded lessons and perform labs, complete interactive activities, games and review at their convenience.  Parent supervision is suggest for the hands on labs since I will not be present to monitor the students. 

Additionally, students will have the opportunity to have class discussions in a weekly forum on related topics.  This class is a flexible class set up and all post/communication will be made directly in the Outschool Classroom.   Students can submit work via private classroom message. Students will be asked to summarize the labs or practice concepts at the end of each lesson. Additionally,  optional homework will be provided for students who would like to extend on the lesson.  Students will have the option of a midterm assessment and a final assessment for the course.   

Each week the students will have the opportunity to communicate, via the classroom board, to share pictures of their labs, as well as explore the current events topic of the week relating to our concepts covered.  They will be able to express their thoughts on the current events or on the lab with supervision of the discussions.  Students can suggest what they find interesting, dislike, surprised by, what they would do if they had the opportunity, etc.  This allows students to connect with the content on a personal level and to be more creative with understanding scientific thinking. 

The class includes 18 labs and activities.  Each class will have an end of lesson practice options where students write a lab report, answer a few questions, or calculate their results. 
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Lesson 1. Scientific thinking and lab report writing 
description - Heart rate lab.  This lab is used to help students to understand what is important in a lab setup, how to think like a scientist, and how to make charts/ bar graphs in google docs.  Students can also use Microsoft Office if they have it.  The important part is analyzing our data and drawing valid and supported conclusions. 

supplies- clock/ stopwatch (phone is okay), and a ruler.  I will provide a copy of the lab document the week of class to record data virtually or to print as an option.
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Lesson 2. Name that cell
description- learn about light microscopes.  We will discuss the features of a light microscope.  Then we will actually be using a handheld digital microscope.  We will look at different cell samples,  and discuss the characteristics of each cell type.  Then we will explore an interactive lab online together. 


supplies- virtual microscope lab and activities.  
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Lesson 3. DNA Extraction 
description- DNA is in all living things.  In this lab we will extract DNA from a fruit, and discuss the characteristics of DNA.  We will discuss nucleotide,  base pairing principles, hydrogen bonds, replication, semi conservative methods, the scientists involved in the discovery, and a few forms of mutations.

supplies- 2 cups, a coffee filter, a fruit such as 2 or 3 strawberries or half a banana or another fruit of choice, a Ziploc bag sandwich size, stirring utensil such as  a straw, salt, dish soap, water, and 70% or higher rubbing alcohol.  You will need at most a 1/2 a cup of water, and 1/2 a cup of rubbing alcohol.  
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Lesson 4. Name the cell activity and blood typing -- you can choose between a virtual option with me, or you can choose to determine your own blood type with an at home blood type kit.
description -- Humans have various blood types- type A, B, AB, O.  In this lab we will discuss the factors that determine blood types such as antigens, antibodies, RH factor, coagulation, and the characteristics of blood.

supplies- the worksheet I will provide for the virtual lab, OR the blood kit from Amazon link will be provided.  The cost is around 7-9 dollars.  

Lab 2 optional - Crime Scene
the class can use Milk, red food dye, vinegar and water to create fake blood to run blood typing tests with in little cups or small bowls (whatever you have handy at home) 

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Lesson 5. Cell Transport and Lab- Save Gilbert the Grape
description-- We cannot work with human blood cells in class, therefore we will work with grapes instead.  In this lab you will try to save Gilbert the grape by determining which solution is isotonic to him.

Supplies-- 5 grapes , 5 cups,  5 solutions- tap water, bottled water, grape juice, maple syrup, salt, granulated sugar, tape/paper or masking tape, a marker, a ruler, optional-- a kitchen scale or electronic scale (but the lab can be performed without this).

Lab 2 
Osmosis and diffusion lab Gummy Bears and graphic organizer 
description-  we will review and discuss the results of lab 6 analyzing our data and experiment.  As we are going over our experiment and completing our lab sheets.  We will set up an over night lab with gummy bears to model diffusion and osmosis as a comparative. 

supplies- 3 cups, 3 gummy bears, salt, sugar, and water.
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Lesson 6. Cell Transport and Lab- eggs
description- In this lab you will be using an egg with the shell removed, a “naked” egg. The shell-less egg will represent a cell and its selectively permeable membrane. You will remove the shell of the egg by soaking the egg in vinegar. The egg shell is made up of the mineral calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate dissolves in acids such as vinegar. During this process it releases the gas carbon dioxide. After the shell has been dissolved, only the membrane will remain around the egg.  Once our membrane remains we will explore the rate of diffusion in a choice of solutions.  This is a 3 day lab,  day one will be performed together, then we will discuss the characteristics and mechanisms in this lab.  Day 2 and 3 are recorded lab lessons students will follow along with.

supplies- beaker,  raw egg, vinegar, wax paper
 corn syrup, food coloring and water to make colored water, ruler and string,
 spoon, masking tape, and  paper towels . 
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Lesson 7. Mitosis cookies
description-  In this lab we will model the stages of mitosis by making cookie diagrams.  We will use sandwixh cookies that has the cream filling and sprinkles.  Then we will look at onion root type cells and count how many of each stage we see.  We will discuss the characteristics of mitosis including the composition and purpose.

supplies- a form modeling dough or 6 Sandwich cookies,
2 Tablespoons assorted color rod-shaped candy sprinkles,  2 to 3 toothpicks, a butter knife, and 1-2 paper towels. Other options for supplies : 2-3 dough colors, or colored pencils and paper
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Lesson 8. Meiosis cookies and graphic organizer 
description- In this lab we will model meiosis phases using cookies, icing and sprinkles.  We will discuss the importance of each stage, and we will relate the results to the importance of Spermatogenesis and Oogenesis in humans.  We will proceeded to look at a virtual activity/simulation modeling meiosis 

supplies- a form modeling dough or 14 sandwich cookies,	Paper Towels, Container of Sprinkles (rod shaped), Scissors, 2 to 3 tooth picks or a butter knife, and icing. Other options for supplies : 2-3 dough colors, or colored pencils and paper

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Lesson 9 Genetics:  Mutations lab
description- Students “synthesize” a model of DNA using colorful beads and pipe cleaners.  They will then “transcribe” this DNA into messenger RNA and then “translate” this into a protein.  We will model both point mutations and frameshift mutations.  We will then look at a few examples and discuss how to read a codon chart to determine if the mutation had a change on the production of the protein or not. We will build and compare chromosomal mutations.

supplies- 3 different colors of modeling doughs or colored pencils and paper.  We will have interactive activities as well. 
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Lesson 10 Genetics: probability lab
description - In this lab we will determine probability by flipping coins and calculating the Hardy Weinberg Equation.  We will determine the probability of Monohybrid Crosses and Dihybrid Crosses 

supplies- 2 sets of coins that are different, such as 2 pennies, 2 nickels, and the lab document will be provided the week of class will be virtually but students have the option to print it if needed.  
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Lesson 11 Genetics: Modeling Punnett Squares
description- In this lab we will model Punnett Squares and calculate the genotype/phenotype ratios. We will build and analyze complete dominant squares, incomplete dominant squares, codominant squares,  and multiple allele squares  We will look at various types of Punnett Squares.  

supplies- M &M's or skittles (or another food source with various colors)  you will need 4 colors, one color needs to have 16, the rest can have around 8-10.  You will be provided the grid sheet for the lab and problems on the lab sheet.  
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Lesson 12 Genetics: Dihybrids, Sex Linked Traits and Pedigrees 
We will build and analyze dihybrid squares and sex linked squares using candy or colored items. We will explore and analyze pedigrees. Pedigrees are used to show the history of inherited traits through a family.  Students will analyze pedigrees (muggle or magic problem set),  as well as build their own pedigree of choice - family. Pet, famous people, or book characters. Students will describe how the traits are tracked in each pedigree were inherited by way of the law of segregation and the law of independent assortment.  Students will do interactive activities. Vocabulary practice and problem sets. 

supplies-  paper, markers, ruler or protractor to help draw neatly. 
 M &M's or skittles (or another food source with various colors)  you will need 4 colors, one color needs to have 16, the rest can have around 16-32
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Lesson 13. Evolution: Bird Beak Lab 
description- We will learn about the mechanisms of evolution including natural selection, mutations, gene flow, genetic drift, and nonrandom mating.  

We will pretend we are bird beaks in this lab, we will simulate a scramble competition (kind of like in the old kids' game, "Hungry, hungry hippos") between six species of birds in six different environments. Each bird has a different beak type. No two environments are the same and, in our simulation, each one has a different primary food source: stick insects (toothpicks) in the vegetation, water bugs (floating styrofoam peanuts) in the "pond," seeds (popcorn kernels) in the field, worms (cut rubber bands) in the soil, etc. You will choose 6 utensils and 6 items to "try " to eat.  

supplies-  6 items-- such as a spoon, toothpicks, chopsticks, clothes clip, chip clip, ice cream scoop, etc.  and 6 various shaped and sized foods,  a cookie sheet or pan, and 6 cups.  Spreadsheet recording data provided. 
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Lesson 14 Evolution: Carrying Capacity and Population Size Lab
description- We will discuss population characteristics that lead to populations growing, declining and staying in equilibrium.  We will differentiate between density independent and density dependent factors.  We will learn about dispersion types uniform, clumped and random.  We will compare logistic and exponential growth.  Then we will learn about natality, mortality, immigration and emigration effects on populations.  Lastly, we will sample populations.

We will model techniques to calculate population size in this lab.  
We will focus on the “mark and capture” technique, in which scientists capture some animals from the population, mark them, and release them. At a later time, the scientists again capture animals from the same population and observe how many of them are marked. The method assumes that the ratio of the actual population to the sample size is the same as the ratio of the number of marked animals to the number marked in the recapture sample

supplies-  50 beans/beads or paper squares, marking pen, plastic bag or bowl.
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Lesson 15  Evolution: Natural Selection and evidence of evolution activities 
description- identify, describe, and analyze the four major areas of scientific evidence for evolution.   We will be completing an online activity together going thru the various evidences of evolution.  We will record our findings and observations on a lab sheet. 

supplies- lab sheet provided covering various concepts that we will explore virtually.  This class is an interactive lesson.
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Lesson 16:  Ecology:  Biomes Activity, Climatogram analysis, Biome Project 
description-  This exercise provides practice in associating climate (as expressed in monthly averages of precipitation and temperature) with biomes. You will also make predictions about the distribution of a biome via altitude and latitude. You will Learn how to read, analyze, and construct climatograms.  We will complete an interactive activity assessing your skills and exploring biomes.

supplies- climatogram and biome worksheets will be provided. Students will conduct virtual activities as well as graph plotting. 
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Lesson 17 Ecology:  Pollution and Biogeochemical Cycles.
description - In this lesson you will learn about biogeochemical cycles and human impact on them. The cycles we will explore are the water cycle, oxygen cycle, nitrogen cycle, phosphorus cycle, and carbon cycle. Discuss and observe various types of pollution  including, air and water pollution.  We will build models representing the pollution and the difficulty to reverse the effects.  We will discuss the devastation of air, water, soil, plastic pollution and what humans can do to prevent and reduce the effects.  We discuss and explore the biogeochemical cycles in this lesson via interactive activities.

supplies for the air pollution lab -- masking or scotch tape, 7 index cards, Ziploc bags, magnifying glass.  All other activities are virtual.
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Lesson 18. Plant Anatomy Dissection, Classification and Dichotomous Keys
description- we are going to explore characteristics classifying plants and animals.  We will be able to sequence the taxonomic levels: domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species. We will learn how to write and understand what a scientific name is.  In this lesson we will be discussing flower anatomy and pollination.  You will have a diagram and a lab sheet for this lesson.  You will need a full bloom flower to dissect.  We will also discussion animal and plant classification.  We will practice dichotomous keys and scientific naming.

supplies- A flower such as a lily, toothpicks around 8-10, scissors, a magnifying glass or your phone camera, and a diagram of the flower anatomy will be provided.  The lab handout will also be provided.

Lab 2-  students will use a small bag of Jelly Belly Jelly Beans with a dichotomous key to identify unknowns. 
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Additional resources will include various online virtual labs.   All neccessary sheets or resources for labs and documents will be posted the week of class.  You have a complete list of the supplies provided here.