Nice Distraction

Today's labs were a nice distraction from what we had to leave and come back to in Scotland. Just a quick update. It is being said that almost every house in town was damaged by the storm. Either by the wind or the hail. It would probably also be accurate to say that about 70% of the crops between Scotland and Lesterville have effectively been wiped out. On the upside, nobody seemed to be hurt. Crops and property can be replaced and repaired, lives cannont.
I thought the predator prey lab and model program were excellent this morning. The computer model was an excellent way of showing how prey numbers can be effected by predator numbers and efficiency. Playing with efficiency of the predator is an excellent method of showing what happens when a predator is introduced into an ecosystem where the prey have no natural defenses against them. This can be seen with the elk herds in west river South Dakota and the mountain lions as well as predators like pythons being introduced into the Everglades down in Florida. The lab was a great way of introducing simple math that students can understand and interpret, showing how predator and prey numbers effect each other. Instead of using beans, you could use beads, or just different objects of varying size like paper clips or rice. You could also use pieces of paper that the dropper could maybe pick up but the others could not. You can also extend this activity and talk about Hardy Weinberg and niches.
The Beer's law lab is one that I remember doing in college, I have also done a version of it with my students when I have been able to get ahold of some Spec 20's. Typically when the Science on the Move truck has been at our school. It is an excellent lab for discussing concentrations and reaction rates. A simple lab in concept, but very useful in understanding some complex topics.