Developing and Analyzing Urine Samples as a Model of Kidney Function
Abnormal urine composition often indicates disease or infection. Diabetes is often diagnosed after a patient has a positive test for glucose in the urine. Diabetes is the result of an inability to absorb glucose from the blood. The body compensates for these elevated blood glucose levels by filtering the glucose out through the kidneys; the excess glucose exits the body through the urine.
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.
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 […]
Boats and Buoyancy
Investigate physical science and engineering concepts including buoyancy, displacement, and density. Students construct an aluminum foil boat prototype and measure how much weight their boat can carry before taking on water or sinking.
Dollar Store Single Function Signal Generator
In this activity, students use a solar-powered model, such as the dancing flowers often sold at discount variety stores. They carefully disassemble the plastic housing and attach a sensor to the capacitor, then use probe ware to graph the voltage across the capacitor.
Acid-Base Indicators
This introduction to acid-base indicators includes a helpful table of Carolina’s indicator ranges, the pH values of common household acids and bases, plus a fun invisible ink demonstration that you and your students will enjoy.
Signs of Chemical Changes: Testing for CO2, O2, and H2
When chemistry or physical science students initially learn about chemical changes and chemical reactions, they are taught to look for evidence of the change or reaction. Chemical changes, or reactions, are the result of breaking bonds in the starting substances, called reactants, and the rearrangement of those substances and bonds to make new substances, called products. The […]
Fermentation by Yeast
A study of fermentation by yeast is an interesting extension of AP* Biology Lab 5 Cell Respiration. It also offers possible tie-ins to Lab 1 Diffusion and Osmosis and Lab 2 Enzyme Catalysis. In this activity, students measure the rate at which yeast ferments solutions of differing sucrose concentrations and apply the results to common […]
Demonstrations with a Vacuum Pump
Every physics and physical science student will eventually encounter gas laws or equations of state. These are the familiar Charles’s Law, Boyle’s Law, the Ideal Gas Law and others. Understanding these concepts and solving problems based on these laws is a significant part of many physics and physical science courses. There are several activities and […]
Determining Flavor
The Connection Between Taste, Smell, and Flavor The sense of taste and smell are closely related. Humans can distinguish 5 different taste sensations: sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami. However, we can detect thousands of different smells. The sense of smell, or “olfaction,” is actually the sense that allows us to distinguish a wide variety […]