Activities and experiments with leaves are given for use with elementary students. Classifying and measuring are ideas which are suggested for involving children in some in-depth projects with leaves. (SA)

Describes the method to use in collecting freshwater algae for study in the classroom. Equipment lists are given as well as several illustrations. (SA)

Describes a simple experimental system whereby the comparative actions of long, medium, and short-acting barbiturates can be demonstrated in a relatively short period of time under optical microscopy using pollen grains as the biological test or assay system. (Author/HM)

Describes how plants can be produced by cloning by using tissue culture methods to mass-produce rare native prairie plants and trying to transfer some of the genetic characteristics of native grasses into cultivated cereals. The experiment was conducted at South Dakota State University. (HM)

Tips are given for collecting and identifying diatoms for use in secondary school biology classes. Collecting sites described vary from freshwater to terrestrial habitats. (SA)

Discusses display gardens and their development by students. Presents guidelines for construction and size consideration and describes details of an outdoor garden, volcanic garden, and shoe box dioramas. (DDR)

Describes several gardening activities that can be kept simple or used as a foundation for more in-depth projects. Activities include setting up an indoor garden spot, making compost which helps students understand the terms "decompose" and "compost", watching plants drink in which students measure water movement in plants, making herb gardens,…

Features of Crassulacean Acid Metabolism plants are presented. Investigations of a complex eco-physiological plant adaptation to the problems of growth in an arid environment are discussed. Materials and procedures for these investigations are described. (CW)

Describes laboratory procedures for observing the progressive change deciduous leaves undergo prior to abscission. Outlines the starch test, sugar test, extraction and chromatography of pigments, and experimental results. States that obtained results enable the events of leaf senescence to be correlated with the carbohydrate economy of a tree in…

Several examples of coevolution which can be used in biology classes are presented. Discussed are evolutionary processes in general, giant cacti, and reptile and cacti association. The effects of human interference are briefly described. (CW)

Explains procedures and activities involved in conducting and using a dig for teaching students about ethnobiological topics and ancient civilizations. Provides guidelines for dealing with the same lesson without taking students on a dig. (RT)

Plant material can be used for classroom investigations of factors influencing infection. Plant responses to infection can be used as teaching models for animal as well as plant diseases. Three activities are discussed. (Author/CW)

Provided are two experiments which deal with the formation of callus and embryos from tissue culture of carrot roots. Outlined are the purpose, materials, procedure, and results for each. (RT)

Several modifications that improve upon the assay of photosynthesis are suggested. Described are the apparatus, materials, light intensity and photosynthesis measurements, and results. A table of the average light intensity values versus the screen number and a sketch of the experimental set-up is included. (RT)

A field-based exercise which illustrates one aspect of how leaves in multilayered trees take advantage of light microenvironments is presented. Procedures, tree selection and data analysis are discussed. (CW)