KABT BioBlog

Rebuilding this web site along with adding new content for Kansas biology teachers is an ongoing process. I’ve just added the labs that were posted onto the former KABT web site onto this site under the KABT Resource link in the right hand column. Check them out. I’m posting links to pdf files […]

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FRUIT FLY OBSERVATION PROJECT
By Sandy Collins
BACKGROUND
Some time ago I was describing to a colleague, Brad Williamson, a project that I did with my freshmen biology students. It was a laboratory investigation in which the students proposed and tested original hypotheses. Brad’s succinct comment was essentially, fine, but hadn’t I had asked my […]

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Exploring Seed Germination
by Brad Williamson
Background:
Seeds are very remarkable. Laying dormant inside the seed is an embryo plant. Packed with the embryo is enough stored chemical energy to power the young seedling until it can capture its own energy from the sun by the process of photosynthesis. The timing of germination or the […]

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A Simple Method to Explore Enzyme Activity
by Brad Williamson
Enzymes are essential in nearly all life processes. By catalyzing (speeding up a chemical reaction) various chemical reactions in the cell enzymes make energy and nutrients available to living systems. Each enzyme only catalyzes one kind of chemical reaction so there is a lot of enzymes […]

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Ant Lions and Biology
by Brad Williamson
Introduction
Science is driven by questions. For students to really experience the process of science they should work on answering questions that arise from their own natural curiosity. Ant lions (Neuroptera) and their intriguing behaviors naturally generate student questions. Since most students are not familiar with “doodle bugs”, ant […]

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BIOLOGY LAB PRACTICAL - THE SCAVENGER HUNT
by Lisa Volland
A great way to end a semester of studying the different kingdoms is to have a scavenger hunt! This hands-on lab practical exam will allow students to take their knowledge of the various types of plants, fungi, and animals into the field. In my regular […]

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Quiz Card Dissections
by Ernie Brown
Here’s a pdf version for download: Quiz Card Dissections
Do you hate to think about doing classroom dissections in biology because the students tend to get unruly? Does your room resemble a zoo more than a place where learning is taking place? Do you feel that your students really […]

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Clearing and Staining Small Vertebrates
By Ernie Brown
Here’s a pdf copy to download: Clearing and Staining Small Vertebrates
Introduction:
When teaching the skeletal system in anatomy class or comparing the structure of homologous organs, it is useful to be able to make comparisons between skeletal features of different vertebrate organisms. The bones to be studied […]

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KABT folks:
This is a partial reposting from the Teaching Biology Blog…
We had a great time at the KABT Fall meeting at Cowley County College.
Thanks to Michelle, the presenters and others.
Todd, Bill and others should have a report from the meeting. I’m adding some picts that I took:
Getting fueled and ready to go:

One of […]

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This website is built using Wordpress software and brings together three KABT blogs: KABT news–where you are now, KABT Board–where KABT’s Board will work and KABT Resources and Labs–where KABT members will share teaching resources and labs. You’ll find links to the different blogs in the right hand panel.
I (Brad Williamson) will administer […]

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