Favorite Labs and Activities - preparing students for their future, not our past!

The biology taught in schools today should not be the same as it was when you went to school! Students need to become problem solvers, able to ask good questions and confident and effective in knowing how to find the answers. They must collaborate, investigate and present their work in a variety of formats and to a variety of audiences. If your course is not doing that for your students, try getting up onto the dunk tank seat!

This page will highlight the ways in which biology students are prepared to successfully handle the challenges that they will face in the future.

Yeast Population Growth Lab

In this simple but elegant lab to start the year, students do it all - they learn experimental design, how to use spectrophotometers and digital microscopy to quantify their data, how to graph, how to do statistical analyses and how to write a conclusion based on background research!

Human Population Webquest

Students look at population growth in their city, state, the US and in a nother country of their choosing (many select a country connected to their ancestry). The analyze environmental, health care and socio-economic factors impacting their country, compare it to the US and then make a prediction about future population growth in their country using fertility rate, population age structure graphs and the other factors mentioned.

Climate Change Podcast Activity

Students analyze graphs, data tables and reading connected to climate change, conducted by scientists from around the world. They make a 3-5 minute webcast using Flip or Loom to describe what changes they would make if "they were in charge" (we usually get to this around election time!). They need to specify whether their recommendations would be mandatory or voluntary, adapting or mitigating and which sectors would be involved. They then watch 3 other students' podcasts and leave RERSPECTFUL comments.

Wissahickon Creek Lab

Students analyze the health of the Wissahickon Creek using both abiotic and biotic facotrs, including fecal coliform testing. Students focus on runoff by looking at the gutters, downspouts and runoff patterns at their own home, consult with a parent/guardian on best possible solutions and propose which alternative is best for their family.

Fast Food Flier - Fast Food & Chain Restaurants & Your Favorite Celebrity / Athlete

Students analyze nutritional requirements for their favorite celebrity or athlete by deciding what would be a good meal for them if they were taking them to a local restaurant. This helps students learn about healthy personalized eating plans without the focus being on their own eating habits, which is triggering for many students.

Cellular Respiration & Exercise Physiology Lab

Students love testing their own physical parameters and get to test heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate before and after exercise, in order to connect body systems and homeostasis with the reactants and products of cellular respiration.

Stomata Structure and Function Lab

Students study factors affecting photosynthesis, especially those connected to human impact and climate change, by measuring the width of plant stomata before and after exposure. They get to use Image J software with digital microscope cameras for amazing pictures and accurate measurements.

Cancer Treatment and Prevention Webquest

Students use the University of Pa Hospitals Cancer Risk survey to look at their own risks, based on lifestyle and family history. They then look for disparities in cancer rates and treatments in the Philadelphia area using maps and datattables, which they then share with the rest of the class.

UV & Sunscreen Lab

Students use UVa and UVB computer probes to test the effectiveness of various sunscreens, make-ups or protective clothing. They then design a 1 page Consumer Reports type flier to display their results. They then post them in the hallway for other students to view.

Human Genetics Lab

Students analyze their own physical and behavioral/personality traits. As part of their analysis, they are asked to take a step back and think about a time when one of their traits was an advantage and whether any of their traits was a disadvantage or led to bias towards them.

Sex Verifcation of Athletes - HHMI

Students complete this HHMI Biointeractive activity with some added on stopping points for RESPECTFUL small group discussions about "sex determination" in athletics, the participation of trans-gender athletes, etc.

Eugenics - Genetics, History & Using Primary Sources pgEd - student

Students use Harvard Medical School's Personal Genetics Education Project's primary source images and documents to discuss the impact of Eugenics.

Human Walking Biomechanics & Evolution Lab Part 1 & Human Walking Biomechanics and Evolution Lab Part 2

Students look at variation in populations by looking at the height and leg length of high school Biology students and look for correlations in average walking speed, cadence and stride length, using linear regression lines. Students then use computer force plates to analyze walking patterns in studying the evolution of bipedalism in humans.

Viral Infectivity Lab

Students test over-the-counter drugs, herbal and home remedies to determine which substances can inhibit viruses from infecting bacterial cells.