Darwin and the Galápagos Islands
This article was originally published in Carolina Tips® in November 1989. It was updated in August 2025. Mr. West photographed the natural world for Carolina Biological Supply Company. His work garnered many awards.—Ed. History The Galápagos Archipelago consists of 13 major and 6 minor islands, 42 named islets, and numerous rocks, all volcanic in origin. […]
Featured Creatures
Workshop Resources Life Science K-8 Elementary / Middle School Add excitement to your class with live organisms! Explore how organisms find food and interact. Discuss how these two hands-on activities can be applied to younger students: How creatures find food, and to older students: Social behavior and inter-species interactions. Download Presentation Download Handout Shop Living […]
Hydroponic Nutrient Solution
A Carolina EssentialsTM Investigation Total Time: see below Prep: 30 mins | Activity: Experimental Design: 1 class period plus the evening Experiment Setup: 30 min on day 2 Daily Experimental Measurements and Observations: 10 min (duration to be set by teacher) Concluding Results and Class Discussion: 45 min Life Science 9-12 High School Total Time: […]
Introduce Environmental Studies with a River Tank™
Often the most important changes in an aquatic environment are chemical changes. A River Tank is a good model system for students to investigate changes in water chemistry. First, using the tank eliminates the need for parent/guardian permission and problems associated with a field trip to a stream. Second, the tank makes it easy to manipulate factors […]
Observing Plant Cells
CAROLINA LABSHEETS Quick Links Close Quick Links Open Quick Links Overview Materials Procedures & Prep Kit Overview Materials Procedures & Prep Kit Overview In this lab students observe Elodea leaves under magnification. They will see cell walls and chloroplasts. From the movement of chloroplasts they will infer that cyclosis, or protoplasmic streaming, is occurring. They also will […]
Introduction to Photosynthesis Using Coleus Plants
Carolina LabSheets™ Overview The simple exercises that students perform in this lab demonstrate that plants produce glucose through photosynthesis, that plants convert at least some of the glucose to starch, and that sunlight is a critical factor in photosynthesis. Students expose Coleus leaves to varying amounts of light. These sample leaves are then subjected to an iodine […]
Invertebrate Biodiversity and Abiotic Factors
A Carolina EssentialsTM Investigation Total Time: 4+ days Prep: 30 mins | Activity: 4+ days Life Science | Earth Science 9-12 High School Overview Understanding the relationships between biotic diversity and abiotic factors in an ecosystem can be a difficult task. Using soil invertebrates, students can identify both the number of species present in a […]
Water Quality Awareness
A CAROLINA ESSENTIALS ACTIVITY What is the current state of the global water supply? Total Time Prep: 15 mins Activity: 15 mins Life Science, Environmental Science Grade Level 6-12 Middle | High School Quick Links Close Quick Links Open Quick Links Introduction Essential Question NGSS Materials Procedures Analysis Kit Resources Introduction Essential Question NGSS Materials […]
An Inquiry into Seed Germination
A CAROLINA ESSENTIALS INVESTIGATION Total Time Prep: 15-20 mins Activity: 40 mins Life Science | Environmental Science Grade Level 6-10 Middle/High School Quick Links Close Quick Links Open Quick Links Introduction Essential Question NGSS Materials Procedures Analysis Kit Resources Introduction Essential Question NGSS Materials Procedures Analysis Kit Resources Introduction This NGSS-aligned activity is a student […]
Schoolyard Field Study
Introduction It’s the end of the school year. The weather is nice and your students are cranky. Some of the standardized tests are behind you, but you still have a week or so of school left. How can you make the most of this time while allowing your students to enjoy the outdoors? This activity […]