A technique to measure the potency of leaf compounds against herbivores with the use of a bioassay is described. Bioassays are useful in classes where students have career plans like medicine in which bioassays can be used as tools for screening plants for possible medicinal potency.

Digital cameras are easy to find, easy to use, and offer great potential for incorporating technology into lessons. Project ideas can range from creating collections of objects to identify (e.g., insects, plants, rocks/minerals, and so on) to documenting the signs of the seasons or recording the progress of an investigation. Even stages of the…

Stomata are the pores on leaves through which carbon dioxide, oxygen, and water vapor are exchanged with the atmosphere. Researchers have found that leaf stomatal densities change in response to several environmental variables, including humidity, light intensity, and atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas (Van Der Burgh, Dilcher,…

Introductory biology students can be overwhelmed by the diversity of life. By focusing on learning characteristics of individual taxa, they often lose and miss the larger perspective--that all taxa are connected through evolution, resulting in the Tree of Life. In this article, the authors present an exercise that helps students develop an…

Presents an interview protocol used to identify and evaluate students' conceptions of plants which is an invitation to participate in the third national study exploring elementary students' science conceptions. (YDS)

Describes a business-school partnership involving gifted students in the design and cultivation of a medicinal garden. Students studied the uses of native plants for medicine, food, shelter, clothing, and landscaping, and developed portfolios and presentations through their work on the community garden site and an outdoor classroom. (PB)

Explains the basics of chromatography which is used to demonstrate the separation of plant photosynthetic pigments. Reports the results of an evaluative study that explored textbook errors in explaining how chromatography works. (Contains 13 references.) (Author/YDS)

In order to promote the understanding of plants, nurture imagination, and provide a place for the enrichment and delight of children, the Michigan 4-H Children's Garden on the campus of Michigan State University has over 50 theme areas for children to experience. History, purpose, and projects are briefly described. (SAS)

Describes an activity that reduces the biosphere to a water-filled jar to simulate the relationship between cellular respiration, photosynthesis, and energy. Allows students in high school biology and related courses to explore quantitatively cellular respiration and photosynthesis in almost any laboratory setting. (ASK)

Suggests activities to elicit and develop children's conceptual understanding of plants. (Author)

In the fall of 2002, teachers at the author's school were expressing interest in finding new ways to teach science as inquiry--and she was looking for an interesting plant inquiry for second-grade students. That November, She attended a Journey North workshop at the Tennessee Science Teachers Association convention and had an "a-ha"…

According to the National Science Education Standards (National Research Council 1996), students in the middle school years should progress in studying life science from examining individual organisms to recognizing patterns in ecosystems and developing an understanding about the cellular dimensions of living systems. Students should broaden the…

The use of plants for healing purposes has been prevalent in all cultures throughout history and continues to play a role in medicine today. While herbal medicine has much to offer, adverse effects can result from lack of quality control and standardization, consuming an inadequate dose, using the wrong herb, and reactions with modern drugs. To…

This article describes a variety of opportunities for educational activities that can be found in the complex, yet easy-to-manipulate, trophic relationships between goldenrod plants, insects that induce gall formation, and the natural enemies of these gallmakers. Gall collection, measurement, and observation (exit holes, larval response,…

The "National Science Education Standards" provide a vision and standard of science instruction that includes not only the factual, content-rich history of science but also an understanding of the processes and skills necessary to "do" science. Moreover, the "Standards" provide the framework for science instruction that embodies the use of…