I. Title of Module:

• Biological Investigations

II. Author:

• Nancy Roman

III. Grade Level:

• High School 9-12

IV. Nature of The Students:

• Urban Minority

V. Purposes (Course Objectives):

1. Students will learn about structure and function of different organs and organ systems using dissecting and analysis techniques.
2. Students will be able to collect, organize, analyze, compare and interpret data obtained.
3. Students will be able to analyze several physiological characteristics that identify the different senses of the human body.
4. Students will be able to learn how their lungs function and what they can do.  Most importantly, students discover that they can make changes in the way their bodies perform.
5. Students will be able to perform routine chemical tests using simulated urine samples

VI. Overview: (Course Description): 

• This course offers high school students the opportunity to investigate biological concepts that apply to the field of anatomy and physiology. The activities include dissecting, performing a urine analysis simulation, learning different techniques to test the well functioning of the five senses, and performing various breathing tests to assess the condition of an individual’s lungs.
• The dissection of a Rat and a Shark is used to analyze structure and function.  The data obtained will be used to compare both organisms in terms of their structural/functional similarities and differences.
• The human Senses experiment enables students to in teams investigate some physiological characteristics of the sensory receptors associated with the chemical senses of taste and smell, the skin senses ( touch, pain, heat, cold, and pressure), the visual senses and human reflexes.
• The breathing fitness activities will teach students how to measure their breathing rate, maximum lung volume and discover how breathing styles, breath holding, and exercise affect those measurements.  Students will discover how exercise affects the amount of air their body uses for respiration by comparing how fast they breathe (breathing rate) and how much air they exhale in a single breath ( breath volume) both while at rest and after exercise.
• A simulated Urine analysis is used by students to test normal and abnormal urine specimens for color, pH, specific gravity, glucose, and protein.  Students test two simulated abnormal urines and determine possible disorders indicated by the results.  Students also learn how diet, drugs, and disease can affect kidney function.

The schedule of activities is outlined below: 

SCHEDULE  

Day #              Activity

1.  Rat dissection part 1
2. Rat dissection part 2
3. Shark dissection part 1
4. Shark dissection part 2
5. Human Senses part 1
6. Human Senses part 2
7. Breathing Fitness 
8. Urinalysis

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Last Updated December 8, 2005 by Roz Krakowsky
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