Going Green: A study on the Swale

The Honors Biology Class wanted to research the type of soil in an area on the side of the school called a Swale.  The students collected dirt from different areas, wet and dry, to calculate the pH, nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus concentration.

Students collect samples from a dry area of the ground that is higher in the Swale. 

Students collect samples from a wet area, on the lower land of the Swale where rain settles. 

The pH of the dry area seems to be around a 7, because it has been less exposed to acid from rain. 

The pH in the wet area is more acidic, at about a 6.5, because rain has been settled there for a longer period of time. 

Cancer Presentations

In Honors Biology students learned about the process of Mitosis, also known as cell division, and also the problems that can arise in the process.  They became interested in how cancer specifically is one issue that affects people so widely.  Students were asked to choose a specific cancer and give a presentation on it in order to inform students of the risks and preventative measures related to cancer.

A pie chart representing who leukemia affects the most. 

A student demonstrates how to perform a skin check on yourself to prevent melanoma. 

A graphical representation of the portion of the body cervical cancer represents and where it can spread. 

Students are informed of the tests utilize to prevent and treat colon cancer. 

A student shows how successful treatment is in glioblastoma. 

A representation of how cells look in hodgkin lymphoma. 

A representation of what portion of the body endometrial or uterine cancer affects and how it can spread. 

Diffusion and Osmosis Lab

The AP Biology students were tasked with a lab on the processes of osmosis and diffusion. 

Science: Students use what they have learned in AP Biology in terms of how cells transport water and solutes through their membranes

Technology:  Students were asked to create a time-lapse video to demonstrate the process of diffusion

Engineering:  Students created their own agar cubes and added an indicator so they could track a color change

M: Students calculated the Surface Area to Volume Ratio of their cubes

Students cut different sizes of agar gel to represent different surface area to volume ratios.  Those that were smaller have a higher surface area to volume ratio than large cubes. 

Students measure their different sized cubes to calculate the surface area to volume ratio, utilizing math skills.  

Students placed the agar cubes that have been treated with an indicator that turns magenta when treated with a base, but white when treated with an acid.  The cubes were first treated with a base to turn the initial magenta color. The solution consists of water and an acid.  The purpose is to see how quickly the acid diffuses through the agar cubes and changes the color.

Students cut potatoes into similar sizes.  The potato presentations a semipermeable membrane which will allow water through.  

5 sugar solutions have been made with different colors to keep them separate.  Each one is a different level of concentration of sugar.  

Students will place each potato in the cup and allow it to sit for a few minutes.  Then they weigh the potatoes afterwards to see how much water it absorbed.  They then decided if the solution was hypertonic, isotonic, or hypotonic.