All Set to Dissect!

School:: South Walton High School
Subject:: STEM Education
Teacher:: April Parmer
Students Impacted:: 123
Grade:: 9-12
Date:: October 2, 2022

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

The St. Joe Community Foundation - $957.76

Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 123

Students had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in STEM activities and to physically see the anatomical similarities and differences in different animal groups. Several learning modalities were used to help teach the concepts of the physical and anatomical features of the different animal groups which helped low-level students and high-achieving students alike. As a direct result of the proposed labs and lab materials, students improved their knowledge of different animal groups by improved grades and increased test scores for each unit. The students enjoyed being able to dissect animals that they have not yet had the opportunity to dissect in previous science classes and it offered a way for students to better understand the process used in step-by-step activities and in following directions.

grant photo

Earthworm Dissection photo

Original Grant Overview

Goal

The goal of this grant is to encourage an interest in science for non-STEM students and to provide students with engaging hands-on labs that further their understanding of the information being taught in class and provide them with the tools necessary to enhance their success in STEM activities.

What will be done with my students

Students will have the ability to dissect representative animals in several groups being taught and to use these dissections to compare and contrast to representatives of other groups based on physical similarities and differences. For example, the sharks (dogfish) and fish (perch) will be used to compare the differences in fish with a skeleton of cartilage to fish with a bony skeleton. This lab will compare the internal and external physical similarities and differences of both types of animals to better understand how each survives in the ocean. The lab will take 2-3 days and will take place in late February or early March. The squid will be used in a lab that will take 2-3 days in January with sea stars to compare the similarities and differences in the group that includes squids to the group that includes the sea stars. This lab will compare the internal and external physical similarities and differences of both types of animals to better understand how each survives in the ocean. Students will be conducting a lab on earthworms in the late 2nd quarter or early 3rd quarter to study the external and internal anatomy of this group of invertebrates which would allow these students to compare and contrast earthworm anatomy to other invertebrates more and less complex than these animals. Students will be conducting a lab on mice in the fourth quarter to study the external and internal anatomy of this group of vertebrates which would allow these students to compare and contrast mouse anatomy to other vertebrates less complex or different than these animals. Students will have the unique opportunity of getting hands-on and real-life experience in understanding the similarities and differences as well as the increasing complexity of the internal and external anatomy of several groups of animals.

Benefits to my students

Students will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in STEM activities and to physically see the anatomical similarities and differences in different animal groups. Several learning modalities will be used to help teach the concepts of the physical and anatomical features of the different animal groups which will help low-level students and high-achieving students alike. As a direct result of the proposed labs and lab materials, students will improve their knowledge of different animal groups by improved grades and increased test scores for each unit. Materials for each lab will be distributed in the following ways:
1.) In the lab that will compare the sharks and fish, 1 shark and 1 fish will be distributed among groups of 3 students
2.) In the lab that will compare squid and sea stars, 1 squid and 1 sea star (which is already purchased) will be distributed among groups of 3 students
3.) In the lab that will include earthworms, 1 earthworm will be distributed among groups of 3 students
4.) In the lab that will include mice, 1 mouse will be distributed among groups of 3 students

Summary of items to be purchased:
1.) Dogfish (Squalus), Preserved - 40 total at $14.15 each
2.) Gray Perch, Preserved, 5–7", Medium, Pkg. of 10 - 4 packages at $13.55 each
3.) Squid, 5–8", Vacuum Packed, Plain, Each - 40 at $6.38 each
4.) Earthworms, Preserved, 8–10", Plain, Pkg. of 10 - 2 packages at $9.14 each
5.) Preserved Mouse, Vacuum Packed, Plain, Pkg. of 10 - 2 packages at $32.04 each

123 students will be impacted by the proposed projects this school year. As these proposed materials are consumables and cannot be reused, these items will not impact students in the future.

Budget Narrative

Summary of items to be purchased:
1.) Dogfish (Squalus), Preserved - 40 total at $14.15 each equaling a total of $566.00
2.) Gray Perch, Preserved, 5–7", Medium, Pkg. of 10 - 4 packages at $13.55 each equaling a total of $54.20
3.) Squid, 5–8", Vacuum Packed, Plain, Each - 40 at $6.38 each equaling a total of $255.20
4.) Earthworms, Preserved, 8–10", Plain, Pkg. of 10 - 2 packages at $9.14 each equaling a total of $18.28
5.) Preserved Mouse, Vacuum Packed, Plain, Pkg. of 10 - 2 packages at $32.04 each equaling a total of $64.08

Total cost of all items to be purchased: $957.76

Items

#	Item	Cost
1	Dogfish (Squalus), Preserved	$566.00
2	Gray Perch, Preserved, 5–7", Medium, Pkg. of 10	$54.20
3	Squid, 5–8", Vacuum Packed, Plain, Each	$255.20
4	Earthworms, Preserved, 8–10", Plain, Pkg. of 10	$18.28
5	Preserved Mouse, Vacuum Packed, Plain, Pkg. of 10	$64.08
	Total:	$957.76

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