Year in Review: Bess Bugs in Class

Fall 2011
Environmental Science Class

Students in Metro's Environmental Science classes learned basic ecological principles and about the diversity of life on our planet this past fall. Students spent several weeks making observations in the field as well as experimenting in class with several different species of life including our friends, the Bess Bug and several species of Protozoans (fresh water invertibrates that live in pond water).

The students explored the world of the Bess Bug (which is a safe & friendly beetle species) including where they live, what they eat, and basic "bug" anatomy. They also experimented with the bess bug to learn about its super human strength. Like many other insect species the bess bug can lift or pull many times its own weight.

Students lassoud their bess bug with dental floss and created a chariot out of a petri dish. They then added pennies to their "chariots" to test the limits of their beetles strength. This activity was addapted from a publication provided by Carolina Biological Supply Company and the animals were also purchased from this supplier. They are a great supplier of live organisms for investigation.

Students were a bit skeptical of having live insects in the classroom but once they got cofortable with the Bess Bug students starting naming their beetles and calling them things like "cute." Overall it was a great experience for our students and hopefully helped them build an appreciation for nature that they will take with them after graduation.

Year in Review: Student Environmental Conference

Fall 2010
National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
Dubuque, IA

Science teachers Chuck Tonell & Mark Groteluschen took 5 Metro students to this conference which focus' on the Mississippi River Watershed and its impact on the Gulf of Mexico and the world's oceans. The conference brought together students and educators from the midwest, government agencies such as the EPA, DNR, NRCS, & US Fish & Wild Life Service, as well as museum & aquarium staff.

The two day conference featured boat trips on the Mississippi, a land tour of local Best Management Practices (BMP's), museum & aquarium tours, an overnight stay on the William M. Black dredge boat, and a catfish fry.

Metro students that participated were Michelle Brisbine, Jessie Titus, Justin Musil, Dan Goodsen, and Mariah Broadwater. The students did a great job representing their school and learned a lot about our impact on the Mississippi and  the Gulf of Mexico.

New to the Blog: Why Science

I would like to keep record of my classes activities, accomplishments, experiences, and funny moments. Although I have never blogged before I have heard that it is a great format for remembering the past and sharing it with those interested in knowing.

A few warnings to anyone reading my blog:

I an a science teacher; your lucky I am typing this and not writing it.
I am a horrible speller but I don't let that bother me and neither should you.
As noted above, I am a science teacher and may tend to ramble, over-elaborate, and potentially annoy you at times.

Let the fun begin!