Life Science

NEW! Biodiversity 45 Minutes • Laboratory Workshop Online | At LSC Become a naturalist and go into the field virtually to observe the behavior of a unique species discovered by our scientists. Construct an explanation based on evidence, experimentation, and simulations that describe how variations of traits increase some individuals’ probability of surviving and reproducing.

Alignment to NJSLS - Science MS-LS4-4 Construct an explanation based on evidence that describes how genetic variations of traits in a population increase some individuals’ probability of surviving and reproducing in a specific environment. Connections to NJSLS - English Language Arts WHST.6-8.2 Write informative/explanatory texts, including the narration of historical events, scientific procedures/ experiments, or technical processes. Connections to NJSLS - Mathematics 6.RP.A.1 Understand the concept of a ratio and use ratio language to describe a ratio relationship between two quantities.

BRAAINS! You and the Zombie 45-60 Minutes • Laboratory Workshop Online | At LSC | At Your School Join the Zombie Response Team as research scientists to help explain how a mutated strain of the zombie virus is altering zombie behavior. By identifying and explaining differences in behavior and capabilities of zombies and humans, learn to form scientific explanations while gaining a better understanding of how the brain works.

Alignment to NJSLS - Science MS-LS1-5 Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how environmental and genetic factors influence the growth of organisms. Connections to NJSLS - English Language Arts RST.6-8.1 Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts. WHST.6-8.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content. WHST.6-8.9 Draw evidence from informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research. Connections to NJSLS - Mathematics 6.SP.B.4 Summarize numerical data sets in relation to their context. Cow Eye Dissection 45-60 Minutes • Laboratory Workshop Online | At LSC | At Your School Follow light on its journey through the eye. Students will observe (online) or perform (at LSC and at your school) cow eye dissections and gain a deeper understanding of the structure and function of the human eye.

Alignment to NJSLS - Science MS-LS1-8 Gather and synthesize information that sensory receptors respond to stimuli by sending messages to the brain for immediate behavior or storage as memories. MS-LS4-2 Apply scientific ideas to construct an explanation for the anatomical similarities and differences among modern organisms and between modern and fossil organisms to infer evolutionary relationships. Connections to NJSLS - English Language Arts WHST.6-8.2 Write informative/explanatory texts, including the narration of historical events, scientific procedures/experiments, or technical processes. SL.8.1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 6 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

NEW! Disease Transmission 45 Minutes • Laboratory Workshop Online | At LSC | At Your School We are influenced every day by the microbes around us, especially viruses. Take on the role of epidemiologists and use online simulations to investigate the growth and transmission of viruses. Make predictions and manipulate variables to determine what factors speed or slow the rate of infection.

Alignment to NJSLS - Science MS-LS2-4 Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations. Connections to NJSLS - English Language Arts WHST.6-8.9 Draw evidence from informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research. Alignment to NJSLS - Computer Science and Design Thinking 8.1.8.DA.5 Test, analyze, and refine computational models. NEW! Game of Life: Battling Beetles 45 Minutes Tech & Design Studio Workshop Online | At LSC | At Your School You have been hired by a famous naturalist who has observed the behavior of the amazing O. glucosi beetle species. Use a gaming platform to code a biodiversity game that simulates the beetle’s unique behavior.

Alignment to NJSLS - Science MS-LS4-4 Construct an explanation based on evidence that describes how genetic variations of traits in a population increase some individuals’ probability of surviving and reproducing in a specific environment. Connections to NJSLS - English Language Arts RST.6-8.9 Compare and contrast the information gained from experiments, simulations, video, or multimedia sources with that gained from reading a text on the same topic. Connections to NJSLS - Math 7.RP.A.2 Recognize and represent proportional relationships between quantities. Alignment to NJSLS - Computer Science and Design Thinking 8.1.8.DA.5 Test, analyze, and refine computational models.

Live From Kidney Transplant 2.5 hours • Live From Surgery Online | At LSC Witness the gift of life shared between two people as the surgical team removes a donor kidney, prepares it for transplantation, takes it to an adjacent operating room, and sews it into a recipient. When the donated kidney is attached to the patient’s blood supply and becomes pink, many students experience a profound sense of wonder and elation.

Alignment to NJSLS - Science MS-LS1-3 Use argument supported by evidence for how the body is a system of interacting subsystems composed of groups of cells. MS-LS1-5 Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how environmental and genetic factors influence the growth of organisms. Connections to NJSLS - English Language Arts WHST.6-8.1 Write arguments focused on discipline -specific content. WHST.6-8.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.