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This book is a compilation of articles from the The American Biology Teacher journal that present biology labs that are safe, simple, dependable, economic, and diverse. Each activity can be used alone or as a starting point for helping students design follow-up experiments for in-depth study on a particular topic. Students must make keen observations, form hypotheses, design experiments, interpret data, and communicate the results and conclusions. The experiments are organized into broad topics: (1) Cell and Molecular Biology; (2) Microbes and Fungi; (3) Plants; (4) Animals; and (5) Evolution and Ecology. There are a total of 34 experiments and activities with teacher background information provided for each. Topics include slime molds, DNA isolation techniques, urine tests, thin layer chromatography, and metal adsorption. (DDR)

Details how a lead safety project funded in the Toyota Tapestry Grant program provided students with the resources to test for and discover lead present in their recently renovated school. Discusses how the lead safety project played out across grade levels within the school. (DDR)

Explains a three week laboratory experiment on the gel separation of peroxidase, which is the most well-known isozyme, from beans. Includes suggestions on the laboratory management. (Contains 13 references.) (YDS)

Explains a thin-layer chromatography (TLC) experiment that allows students to study complex mixtures of lipids using small volumes. Uses a water-soluble dye to stain lipids that is fast and safe. (YDS)

Describes a paternity simulation experiment with two situations. Uses ABO blood group analysis and horizontal agarose electrophoresis to identify the biological fathers. (YDS)

Describes a science activity appropriate for middle and high school students investigating the temperature, pH, and conductivity of a man-made lake. Uses an inquiry-based interdisciplinary approach. Collects and analyzes data to determine whether there is any significant difference among the factors considering the very little variance in lake depth. (Contains 13 references.) (YDS)

Describes a laboratory experiment in which students identify 11 white solids readily available in drugstores and supermarkets. Investigates solubility, pH, copper reduction, evolution of carbon dioxide bubbles, formation of starch-iodine complex, and formation of an insoluble hydroxide. (YDS)

Uses the spectroscopic study by G.G. Stokes of the reversible "oxidation and reduction" of hemoglobin to illustrate how a series of open-ended group assignments and associated classroom demonstrations can be built around a single article in a way that integrates and illuminates basic concepts. (Author/MM)

Introduces a chemical Sherlock Holmes mystery story based on properties of biological substances and qualitative analysis. (YDS)

Describes how and when to teach separation science to chemical engineering students. Separation science is important for industrial businesses involving the manufacture of adsorption systems, distillation columns, extractors, and other separation equipment and techniques. (Contains 13 references.) (YDS)

Introduces the analysis of a river as an excellent way to teach geochemical techniques because of the relative ease of sample collection and speed of sample analysis. Focuses on the potential sources of sample contamination during sampling, filtering, and bottle cleaning processes, and reviews methods to reduce and detect contamination. Includes 15 references. (Author/YDS)

Presents an innovative, inquiry-oriented lesson plan for using biotechnology to teach evolution. Using acrylamide gel electrophoresis, students learn how to isolate and compare different proteins from the muscle tissue of readily available seafood specimens to determine phylogenetic relationships. Uses a 5E (engagement, exploration, explanation, extension, and evaluation) instructional model. (DLH)

Describes a simple laboratory activity illustrating the chemiosmotic principles of active transport in yeast cells. Demonstrates the energy coupling mechanism of active a-glucoside uptake by Saccaromyces cerevisiae cells with a colorimetric transport assay using very simple equipment. (Contains 22 references.) (Author/YDS)

Explains how the internet can be used between institutions for parallel research opportunities. Uses air quality data to examine the relationship between traffic flow and atmospheric particulate matter (PM) values. (Author/YDS)

Introduces a laboratory experiment that investigates and compares the carbon monoxide content of automobile exhaust and cigarette smoke using gas chromatography techniques. (YDS)

Presents a laboratory experiment on determining the molecular weight of an unknown molecule by using gel filtration chromatography. Describes the procedure and lists required materials. (YDS)

Presents a chemistry report on methamphetamine synthesis downloaded from the Internet and asks students to point out errors and answer questions about the text. Discusses the methods of methamphetamine synthesis and major issues in writing a case study. (YDS)

Reports on a community-service project carried out by general chemistry students at the University of Utah. Students research lead poisoning then visit neighborhood homes to teach about lead poisoning, collect exterior paint samples, and analyze them as part of a chemistry experiment. Discusses service-learning and laboratory activities. (WRM)

Describes a series of exercises intended to help students develop a better understanding of chromatography that employ plant pigments. A collaborative approach leads students to a level of competence that permits them to complete an open-ended exercise. (WRM)

This booklet, one of a series developed by the Frederick County Board of Education, Frederick, Maryland, provides an instruction module for an individualized or flexible approach to secondary science teaching. Subjects and activities in this series of booklets are designed to supplement a basic curriculum or to form a total curriculum, and relate to practical process oriented science instruction rather than theory or module building. Included in each booklet is a student section with an introduction, performance objectives, and science activities which can be performed individually or as a class, and a teacher section containing notes on the science activities, resource lists, and references. This booklet presents an investigation of the identification of an unknown chemical. The estimated time for completing the activities in this module is 2-3 weeks. (SL)

This booklet is part of an American Astronomical Society curriculum project designed to provide teaching materials to teachers of secondary school chemistry, physics, and earth science. The following topics are covered: the physical conditions in interstellar space in comparison with those of the earth, particularly in regard to gas density, temperature, and radiation; the concept of quantized molecular motion (electronic, vibrational, rotational), and the corresponding energy ranges of radiation; spectroscopic methods for identifying molecules in space; the organic nature of interstellar chemistry; and application of our knowledge of interstellar molecules to study the birth of stars, the structure and movement of our galaxy, the history of interstellar matter, and the origin of the universe and life. Each section is followed by questions and answers, and an appendix contains suggested student projects. Also included are a glossary of terms and suggested reference materials. (MH)

This booklet is part of an American Astronomical Society curriculum project designed to provide teaching materials to teachers of secondary school chemistry, physics, and earth science. A Basic Topics section discusses atomic structure, emphasizing states of matter at high temperature and spectroscopic analysis of light from the stars. A section on Intermediate and Advanced Topics provides greater detail and more mathematical analysis of spectroscopy theory, including the quantum theory of electromagnetic radiation, electron orbits, and the classification of stellar spectra. Appendices include a glossary of unfamiliar terms, references and teaching aids, suggested class exercises, and questions and answers. (MH)

The course of study represents the fifth of six modules in advanced crop and soil science and introduces the agriculture student to chemical features of the soil. Upon completing the four day lesson, the student will be able to: (1) list macro- and micro-nutrients, (2) define pH and its effect on plants, (3) outline Cation Exchange of the soil, (4) understand fertilizer production, (5) recognize plants exhibiting nutrient deficiencies, (6) interpret information on a fertilizer tag or bag. The course outline suggests teaching procedures, behavioral objectives, teaching aids and references, problems, a summary, and evaluation. Following the lesson plan, pages are coded for use as handouts and overhead transparencies. A materials source list for the complete soil module is included. (MW)

This document is an instructional module package prepared in objective form for use by an instructor familiar with the titrimetric method for determining calcium concentrations in water. Included are objectives, an instructor guide, student handouts, and transparency masters. A videotape is also available from the author. This module considers the chemistry and principles of the determination, preparation of reagents, titration of the sample and calculation and interpretation of results. (Author/RH)

This document is an instructional module package prepared in objective form for use by an instructor familiar with the azide modification of the Winkler dissolved oxygen test and the electronic dissolved oxygen meter test procedures for determining the dissolved oxygen and the biochemical oxygen demand of a wastewater sample. Included are objectives, instructor guides, student handouts, and transparency masters. This module considers sampling, test procedures and graduated cylinder and direct dilution methods. (Author/RH)

This document is an instructional module package prepared in objective form for use by an instructor familiar with the laboratory procedures for determining the complete series of solids analyses on wastewater and wastewater sludge samples. Included are objectives, instructor guides, student handouts and transparency masters. This module considers total solids, total volatile solids, total suspended solids, volatile solids, dissolved solids, settleable solids, percent solids and percent volatile solids. (Author/RH)

This document is an instructional module package prepared in objective form for use by an instructor familiar with the titremetric method and the nomographic method of determining free carbon dioxide concentrations of a water sample. Included are objectives, an instructor guide, student handouts, and transparency masters. A video tape is also available from the author. This module considers chemistry and principles of dissolved carbon dioxide, the preparation of standards and reagents, calculation of free carbon dioxide and the nomographic determination of free carbon dioxide. (Author/RH)

This document is an instructional module package prepared in objective form for use by an instructor familiar with the jar test and its application to the coagulation, floculation and sedimentation processes, and the chemical precipitation process. Included are objectives, an instructor guide, student handouts, and transparency masters. A video tape is also available from the author. This module considers the purpose and principles of the jar test, preparation of reagents, coagulation test, softening test, variation of stir speeds and application of results. (Author/RH)

This document is an instructional module package prepared in objective form for use by an instructor familiar with the procedures for chlorine residual analysis. It includes objectives, an instructor guide, and student handouts. The module addresses the determination of combined and free residual chlorine in water supply samples using three different methods: (1) Amperometric, (2) DPD spectrophotometric, and (3) color comparator kit. (Author/RH)

This document is an instructional module package prepared in objective form for use by an instructor familiar with fluoride analysis procedures. Included are objectives, an instructor guide, student handouts, and a list of reference material. This module considers the determination of fluoride in water supplies using the SPANDS and electrode analytical methods. (Author/RH)

This document is an instructional module package prepared in objective form for use by an instructor familiar with the laboratory procedures for determining the combined chlorine residual of a wastewater sample. Included are objectives, instructor guides, student handouts, and transparency masters. This module considers the amperometric, DPD, electrode and color comparator kit methods. (Author/RH)

This document is an instructional module package prepared in objective form for use by an instructor familiar with standard method procedures for determining the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) of a wastewater sample. Included are objectives, instructor guides, student handouts, and transparency masters. This module considers analytical procedures, preparation of reagents and interpretation of results. (Author/RH)

This document is an instructional module package prepared in objective form for use by an instructor familiar with analytical procedures for determining ammonia nitrogen concentrations in a water or wastewater sample. Included are objectives, instructor guides, student handouts, and transparency masters. This module considers preliminary distillation procedures and nesslerization, titremetric and selective ion electrode analytical methods. (Author/RH)

This manual has two parts: (1) Instructor Manual, and (2) Operator Manual. The Instructor Manual aids instructors who conduct visible emissions training for the new smoke reader trainee and for the smoke reader seeking recertification. It describes the appropriate sequence of lessons for the course, discusses necessary equipment and instrumentation, and calibration and positioning. Testing and evaluation methods for student performance are included. Example lesson plans are provided for 15 lessons. The Operator Manual describes the components, principles, and procedures that are directly applicable to a typical generator. (Author/RE)