Cellular Respiration
Carolina has everything you need to teach photosynthesis. Understanding this concept sets the foundation for many other biological concepts.
Demonstrating Cellular Respiration and Fermentation
Cellular respiration and fermentation are 2 of the most challenging concepts for introductory biology students, who may become so consumed by memorizing steps of the Krebs cycle and glycolysis that they lose sight of the big picture. The following demonstrations place aerobic cell respiration and fermentation firmly in grasp. First, students observe respiration in germinating seeds by detecting the carbon dioxide produced. Next, they observe the carbon dioxide gas produced by yeast fermentation.
The Chemistry of Beer
Many science teachers take their love of chemistry and microbiology out of the classroom and move it to the garage for a home beer brewing adventure. Whether you enjoy brewing your own, or enjoying the fruits of others’ brewing efforts, the art of beer is in the science.
Diffusion and Osmosis
All cells are bound by some type of permeable or semipermeable membrane that governs the ions, small molecules, and large molecules that enter and leave the cell. Diffusion is the general process of movement down a gradient that results in equal concentrations of solutes on both sides of the membrane. When water is the molecule entering or leaving the cell the process is osmosis. This guide breaks down the important information students need to know, provides links to products and free digital resources, and includes suggestions for hands-on-labs that reinforce student learning.
Teaching the Cell Cycle and Mitosis
Mitosis is a process ubiquitous to life, and a foundational topic necessary for the understanding of advanced topics like growth and development, reproduction, and many disease processes. However, students are often completely unfamiliar with mitosis. A comprehensive lesson plan for covering the topic is critical for building a foundation for student success in your biology […]
Photosynthesis Modeling with Pop Beads
While studying photosynthesis, students can have difficulty understanding how the carbon in CO2Â becomes the carbon in glucose (6H2O + 6CO2?C6H12O6Â + 6O2). To clarify this concept, have your students create a basic diagram of the Calvin cycle by drawing a large circle on a piece of white drawing paper and dividing the circle into thirds. Use […]
Teaching the Calvin Cycle
The Calvin cycle of photosynthesis can be difficult to teach and to learn when presented only as a relentless sequence of complex reactions. Two ways to make the abstract subject easier to grasp are to help your students keep the big picture in view throughout the discussion and to have them use models for the […]
Photosynthesis and Floating Leaf Disks
If you have never tried the leaf disk assay, you are missing out on one of the best photosynthesis labs available. Here’s how to do it. The equipment and supplies needed are inexpensive, simple, and readily available. Materials Syringes, 5 cc or Larger Desk Lamps with 18- to 23-W Fluorescent or LED Bulbs Plastic Straws […]
Using Aquatic Plants to Demonstrate Photosynthesis
Introduction Egeria densa, also known as Elodea densa because of its previously incorrect classification in the Elodea genus, is the most popular aquatic plant used to teach photosynthesis in the classroom. Originally from Brazil, E. densa has spread to temperate regions on all of the continents except Antarctica. Known for its bright green color and leafy stems, E. densa is an excellent oxygenating […]
Rat Reproduction
Examining the reproductive system of the rat, students have the opportunity to compare male and female organs, study internal fertilization, and observe gestational changes in the female. The rat is representative of mammalian reproduction where fertilization of ova occurs inside the female, and the fertilized zygotes develop in the mother during a gestation period known […]