Week 2 Day 2: Animal observations and DNA extractions

Today the younger group were able to experience first had what it means to observe a living, real animal! These scientists will be studying two (2) beta fish (one a male, the other a female), and a community of earth worms throughout the week.  Today they made their first observations of each animal along with determining what types of adaptations these animals have to help them survive in their natural environment.  After observing the fish and worms, campers created illustrations to help them have a deeper understanding as to why fish have fins, scales, etc. and why do worms' bodies are so "skinny" and stretchy.  After lunch campers created a worm habitat and collected more samples of living things that are right outside the school!  It was impressive to see how many critters these scientists caught with their nets!  Do not ever underestimate a young scientist!

Writing down observations about the Beta fish

Writing down observations about the worm

Making more observations about the worms.  What does their body tell us about how it survives in soil/dirt?

Fish illustrations

Looking for critters 

Look how many we have collected!

Another one added to the collection

Making the worm habitats

Worm habitats completed!

The older group continued to explore chemicals found in the kitchen that are also found in a chemistry laboratory.  These scientists conducted a DNA extraction lab using everyday kitchen ingredients such as strawberries, peas, and broccoli.  By the end of the lab the young scientists became experts in the process of DNA extraction and I have high confidence that if given the opportunity they will be extracting DNA in your kitchen :)

Mashing up strawberries after writing down procedures and creating a table to record observations

Waiting for reaction to take place after adding alcohol and meat tenderizer

Writing down procedures and materials

Mashing out broccoli

Collecting data

Materials and kitchen ingredients used for extraction

Mashing up broccoli

Writing down observations

Successful strawberry DNA extraction (the white bubbly stuff is the strawberries' DNA!)

Waiting for the saline solution to break down the cells in the pea mixture

Looking for DNA strands in pea mixture

Removing the solid broken chunks of strawberries in order to mix with saline solution