The Life Sciences program at HEROES Academy is a hands-on laboratory science program for gifted and talented students. We offer two levels of life science: Elementary Life Sciences (for Grades 1 – 3) and Advanced Life Sciences (for grades 4 – 6). Both classes cycle through similar units; however, labs, reading assignments, and math applications differ. This is a quick overview of some of the labs these classes will cover.
Fungi
Elementary Life Science
Sample labs include:
- Yeasts: Using Yeast to “Inflate” Balloons
- Yeasts: Instant Yeast -vs- Active Sourdough
- Growing Mushrooms
- Where does mold come from?
Advanced Life Science
Sample labs include:
- Yeast and Fermentation: Kombucha
- Inoculating Fungus to Grow Mushrooms
- Classifying molds
- Yeast Reproduction in Sugar -vs- Sugar Substitutes
- The Effects of UV exposure on bacteria
Bacteria
Elementary Life Science
Sample labs include:
- Bacteria: How effective is handwashing?
- Bacteria: How well do we brush our teeth?
- Collecting and Culturing Bacteria on Surfaces Before and After Cleaning
- Collecting and Culturing Airborne Bacteria
Advanced Life Science
Sample labs include:
- Bacteria, Sauerkraut, and pH
- Bacteria and Soft Rot
- Analyzing Bacteria Using Gram Stains
- Preparing Agar Petri Dishes
Plants
Elementary Life Science
Sample labs include:
- The Parts of a Plant: How Plants “Drink” (Rainbow Roses)
- Changing the Flavor of Salad Greens (No Dressing Allowed!)
- The Effects of Water and Sunlight on Plant Growth
- pH and plants: Hydrangeas
- Comparing the Effects of Inorganic and Organic Fertilizers
- Plants that Eat Meat
Advanced Life Science
Sample labs include:
- Studying the effects of different soil mediums
- pH, calcium, and blossom-end rot
- Acid Rain and Plant Growth
- The Effects of Water Quality on Plant Growth
- Inside a Plant Cell
- The Effects of Chemicals on Germination Rates
Animals
Elementary Life Science
Sample labs include:
- Hatching Baby Chicks: Studying the Life Cycle of a Chicken from Egg to Hen
- Hatching Ducklings: Studying the Life Cycle of Ducks from Egg to Duck Hen
- Collecting and Identifying Insects
- Dissecting Owl Pellets
Advanced Life Science
Sample labs include:
- Nematodes Under the Microscope
- Nematodes as Pest Control
- Mitosis as observed through chicken eggs
- Identifying Insects by Traces Left Behind
- Dissecting Worms
- Inside an Animal Cell