Webinar: Student-Designed Ecosystem Experiments in Middle Grades
Student-designed investigations that use Wisconsin Fast Plants® to study ecosystems are powerful, three-dimensional learning experiences. In this webinar, we share a ready-to-teach, hands-on approach for upper elementary or middle school students to investigate ecosystem interactions. Hedi Baxter Lauffer and Claudia SolÃÂs-Lemus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison demonstrate and discuss how to support learners in identifying […]
Real Data for Explaining Climate Change and Modeling Inheritance Patterns
Workshop Resource Life Science 6-12 Middle / High School  Data analysis provides evidence for posing scientific arguments and generating models. Tree ring and WFP data are collected then used to make arguments about climate change and inheritance patterns during this workshop. Analysis of tree ring data as indirect evidence about how the climate of a […]
Introduction to Wisconsin Fast Plants®
Workshop Resource Life Science K-12 Elementary / High School Experience the versatility of Wisconsin Fast Plants®. These quick-growing plants engage students and are ideal for all grade levels. Easily integrate Disciplinary Core Ideas, Crosscutting Concepts, and Practices in life cycle, heredity & inheritance, variation & evolution, and environmental science lessons. Learn to plant, pollinate, and […]
Plants
Plants have changed our planet. Photosynthesis provides oxygen to the atmosphere, and plants are primary producers for the majority of animals. There is extreme diversity within the plant kingdom, from tiny aquatic plants to giant redwoods to the vegetables and grains that feed the world. This guide breaks down the important information students need to […]
Teaching Genetics for Middle School Learners
Teaching genetics to middle school students? Middle school genetics, aligned with Next Generation Science Standards* (NGSS), focus on the relationship between what can be observed (phenotype) and a general understanding of the underlying genetics. Rather than diving deep into cellular specifics, middle school genetics is taught at the organism level with a focus on phenotypes […]
Mendelian Genetics
Mendelian genetics is the core content for all genetics studies. Concepts of genotypes and phenotypes are established, parental and filial generations are defined, and patterns of inheritance explained. Mendel’s laws guide further, more complex studies in genetics. Carolina offers kits with your choice of 3 different organisms—Wisconsin Fast Plants, genetic corn, and Daphnia—all with a minimum […]
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 […]
Bees, Butterflies, and Flowers
Background Spring’s arrival is marked by days that start to grow longer, temperatures that begin to rise, and the many plants that awake from their winter sleep. Certain species of flowering plants start to develop beautiful blooms and love is in the air. At first look, one might think nature is simply showing off with […]
Five Misconceptions in Genetics
Students may bring a variety of misconceptions with them when they enter a study of genetics. Watch your classroom for the 5 common misconceptions listed below. If you find any of them, just use the simple explanations—also provided below—to dispel your students’ incorrect notions. 1. One set of alleles is responsible for determining each trait, […]
Our Most Popular Life Science Kits Help Students Thrive
Did you know that you can cover your biology course, start to finish, with Carolina’s top-selling kits? These 10 kits will get your students hands-on experiments, model generation, and data analysis, while meeting your course standards. Repeatedly chosen by thousands of teachers, these kits can help your students thrive, too.