Embedded Files
The BioLab officially opened for use by students in 2018. The lab is equipped to support many approaches to the study of biology and other components of the Earth system. The 8th grade aquaponics program is the anchor program of the BioLab, running 8-10 weeks every spring, involving 200+ 8th grade students maintaining 70 systems with a multitude of plants, fish and bacteria.
Current projects in the BioLab:
Plant anthers and pollen at 30x.
Flower Power Under the Microscope
Flower Power Under the Microscope
September 2024
7th graders used dissecting scopes to investigate specialized plant structures that increase the probability of successful reproduction.
7.MS-LS1-4. Construct an explanation based on evidence for how characteristic animal behaviors and specialized plant structures increase the probability of successful reproduction of animals and plants.
Clarification Statements:
• Examples of animal behaviors that affect the probability of animal reproduction
could include nest building to protect young from cold, herding of animals to
protect young from predators, and vocalizations and colorful plumage to attract
mates for breeding.
• Examples of animal behaviors that affect the probability of plant reproduction
could include (a) transferring pollen or seeds and (b) creating conditions for seed
germination and growth.
• Examples of plant structures that affect the probability of plant reproduction
could include bright flowers attracting butterflies that transfer pollen, flower
nectar, and odors that attract insects that transfer pollen, and hard shells on nuts
that squirrels bury.
A cylinder of ice chills the water, Hot water fills the cylinder at the other end of the tank. Food coloring helps show the motion of the water.
Modeling Convection Currents
Modeling Convection Currents
October 2024
8th graders investigating how temperature differences can drive global convection currents, helping transfer energy through the Earth system.
Massachusetts STE Standards:
8.MS-ESS2-6. Describe how interactions involving the ocean affect weather and climate on a regional scale, including the influence of the ocean temperature as mediated by energy input from the Sun and energy loss due to evaporation or redistribution via ocean currents
Modeling the model.
Getting a closer look at the thermometer.
Heating earth's surface
Heating earth's surface
October 2024
How do the heating and cooling rates of sand and water compare? 8th graders use quantitative data to compare the heating and cooling rates of sand and water. Temperature differences, created by differences in heat capacities, create pressure differences in the air above land and water. The lab helps build an understanding of one of the causes of the global circulation of air masses. Students also witness first hand the tremendous heat capacity of water, and gain a better understanding of the ocean's ability to store and distribute energy. On a local level, the unequal heating of Earth's surfaces can explain the land and sea breezes we experience.
Massachusetts STE Standards:
8.MS-ESS2-5. Interpret basic weather data to identify patterns in air mass interactions and the relationship of those patterns to local weather.
8.MS-ESS2-6. Describe how interactions involving the ocean affect weather and climate on a regional scale, including the influence of the ocean temperature as mediated by energy input from the Sun and energy loss due to evaporation or redistribution via ocean currents.
Reading the water and sand temperatures every minute.
Taking the time to observe and draw from nature.
Professional development
Professional development
November 5, 2024
A fabulous day of teacher led professional development organized by Assistant Superintendent Amy Pasquarello. The Science Center offered 4 courses throughout the day:
Drawing Science-A comfortable and approachable investigation with our resident botanist. Drawing life from a variety of perspectives.
Habitats/Nestboxing-Since 2010, O'Maley students have been building and installing Eastern Bluebird nest boxes around Cape Ann as part of a massive habitat restoration project. Join us for an hour and build one to take home yourself.
Sail Cars 101-Learn the basics of how sails work while you and a partner build a 1/4 scale model with fabric, dowels, string and tape to construct a small rig for experiment on our 'wind floor'.
The Case of the Poisoned Dinner-Work in the Science Center chemistry lab to solve a food truck science mystery. (2 sessions)
TEACHING WITH TROUT
December 19, 2024
Kevin Magowan, Assistant Fish Culturist at The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Roger Reed Fish Hatchery, delivered 200 brook trout eggs to the Science Center as Part of Mass Wildlife's Teaching with Trout program. The program is designed to teach Massachusetts students about concepts related to local aquatic resources. Topics of study include ecology, population biology, water quality, and conservation.
The eggs were delivered in the eyed stage, meaning the eye pigment is visible through the shell of the egg. The hatchery water temperature is set at 44 degrees Fahrenheit to control the hatching time of the eggs during the holiday break.
Kevin spent time talking with and answering questions from 6th grade Light House students.
Kevin shows students the eggs.
Eggs are placed on a platform in the hatchery tank.
Eggs, one week after delivery. The trout are clearly visible.
Buck made his second holiday appearance in the Science Center dressed as Beetlejuice.
Earthquake!
Earthquake!
January 27, 2025
A 3.8 magnitude earthquake centered off York Maine gave us a shake at 10:23 am. Our 7th graders were in the midst of trying out the new earthquake tables in the lab, giving the event quite a bit of relevance!
Seismograph data from Standing Stone, Pennsylvania.
Students used this data, along with data from 2 other stations, to locate the epicenter in class.
Massachusetts STE Standards:
7.MS-ESS3-2. Obtain and communicate information on how data from past geologic events are analyzed for patterns and used to forecast the location and likelihood of future catastrophic events.
Clarification Statements:
• Geologic events include earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, and landslides.
• Examples of data typically analyzed can include the locations, magnitudes, and frequencies of the natural hazards
Shake, Rattle and Roll
Shake, Rattle and Roll
January, 2025
7th graders in Jason White's science classes test out the new earthquake tables. Changing frequency and amplitude affected the towers differently.
AQUAPONICS
Aquaponics is the combination of aquaculture and hydroponics. In aquaculture, fish and other aquatic organisms are raised in controlled environments. Hydroponics is the growing of plants in a nutrient solution rather than soil. When the two processes are combined in aquaponics, the dissolved waste produced by the fish provides the nutrient solution for the plants. The plants, in turn, provide a filter for the water in the system by absorbing the waste.
8th grade students are working in groups of 3 to build, populate and maintain functioning aquaponics systems. Aquaponics offers a sustainable farming solution to the challenges of traditional agriculture which include impacts on land, water and resources.
Massachusetts STE Standards:
8.MS-LS1-5. Construct an argument based on evidence for how environmental and genetic factors influence the growth of organisms.
8.MS-PS1-1. Develop a model to describe that (a) atoms combine in a multitude of ways to produce pure substances which make up all of the living and nonliving things that we encounter, (b) atoms form molecules and compounds that range in size from two to thousands of atoms, and (c) mixtures are composed of different proportions of pure substances.
Aquaponics-Planting
Aquaponics-Planting
February, 2025
8th graders spent the week before vacation starting seeds for the upcoming aquaponics unit. Students prepared the net pots using expanded clay pellets and coconut husk, then selected seeds to plant. Once their systems are built, the potted seedlings can move directly into their grow beds and be replaced as needed.
Aquaponics-System building
Aquaponics-System building
February, 2025
Students set up their grow beds for planting, using the recycled lumber tarps from their sail cars. The light blocking tarp is intended to keep the growth of algae at bay. An algal bloom will quickly deplete the nutrients and oxygen in the aquaponics systems.
Using a triple beam balance to measure the starting plant mass.
Loading the alkalinity titration reagent into the pipette is not as easy as it looks.
AQUAPONICS-WATER CHEMISTRY
March, 2025
This year's aquaponics program is starting strong. Frames are built, plants are in and the systems are running in the BioLab.
Before adding fish to the systems, a check on pH and alkalinity is in order. The pH is a measure of how acidic or basic the water is. The goldfish will adjust to many pH levels, but do best in a pH level between 6.5-8. Alkalinity measures the ability of the water to buffer or neutralize changes in pH. Although goldfish can adapt to many different pH levels, they are less able to tolerate changing pH levels. Keeping the alkalinity of the water in the 60-100ppm range will help keep the pH of the system stable.
Adding buffer will help boost the alkalinity.
Aquaponics-adding fish
Aquaponics-adding fish
March, 2025
After a quick review of the transmission of sound through different mediums, students quietly measure and add fish to their systems. Fish produce nitrogen in the form of ammonia, which will be taken up by the plants in the system once it is converted into nitrate by bacteria.As the weeks go on, students will monitor the levels of ammonia, nitrite and nitrate in their systems to ensure the health of their fish. Any spikes in ammonia or nitrite will require troubleshooting by the team.
The starting mass and length of each fish is measured and recorded.
Thumbs up for fresh lettuce from the grow beds.
Aquaponics-Salad Days
Aquaponics-Salad Days
April 2025
The systems have been up and running for 8 weeks. It is time to do a final biomass measurement and enjoy the harvest. One surprise was the amount of root mass produced by the lettuce plants!
stream tables
stream tables
April-May 2025
Science Central has a fleet of 8, 7' x 2' continuous flow stream tables.
Watching a river take its course and experimenting with earthen controls provides insight into larger questions about engineering outcomes.
And it's way fun.
Massachusetts STE Standards:
7.MS-ESS2-2. Construct an explanation based on evidence for how Earth’s surface has changed over scales that range from local to global in size.
7.MS-ESS3-2. Obtain and communicate information on how data from past geologic events are analyzed for patterns and used to forecast the location and likelihood of future catastrophic events.
7.MS-ESS3-4. Construct an argument supported by evidence that human activities and technologies can mitigate the impact of increases in human population and per capita consumption of natural resources on the environment.
Report abuse