| Spring break is usually offered to students about | | | | analysis of these samples. Then the students will |
| the mid point of the year. This break can last | | | | provide hair and saliva samples, which will also be |
| anywhere from four days to a full week. While | | | | chemically analyzed. The results will be compared |
| students are pretty worn out by school by this | | | | to see if people really can be profiled and tied to |
| break, teachers still need to challenge their minds | | | | specific geographical areas based on their chemical |
| up to the last day of school before spring break. | | | | ratios. #4 - Rock Collections Earth science classes |
| One way to do this is to have students complete | | | | can assign a rock collection project to their |
| a mid-year project. #1 - The Science of Me The | | | | students. Students will need to collect rock and |
| first project is "the Science of Me" project. In this | | | | mineral samples from their areas. They will then |
| project the student will examine some element of | | | | need to identify the rock, its formation and its |
| themselves in a science report. It is a good idea | | | | morphology. The rocks will then need to be |
| to link this project with a concept that has been | | | | displayed and labeled. Students will then |
| covered in the textbook during the first half of | | | | supplement the collection with a report that |
| the school year. For example, if your class has | | | | provides details on each sample. #5 - Taxidermy |
| been studying DNA then the student can extract | | | | Projects Advanced biology courses can assign a |
| DNA from tissue or hair samples from their own | | | | taxidermy project to its students. For this project |
| body. They can then write up a report on how | | | | students will need to find a dead bird or other |
| they extracted the DNA and how they | | | | dead animal (road kill) that has not decomposed |
| interpreted the results. #2 - Classmate Profiles | | | | to far. They then need to follow taxidermy |
| Another interesting project is to conduct a survey | | | | procedures to clean, preserve and stuff the |
| science project of the class. This project will | | | | animal. They will then need to complete a report |
| focus on something that has been covered in | | | | on the animal that they found and stuffed. It |
| science class during the first half of the year. For | | | | must be made apparent that the only animals |
| example, if the class has been studying genotypes | | | | that can be used for this project will be ones that |
| then a class genotype project can be completed. | | | | have died of natural causes. #6 - Plant Collections |
| Each student will be asked to create genetic | | | | Science classes that are studying botany can |
| Punnet squares for one trait, such as eye color or | | | | complete plant collections for their mid-year |
| hair color. All of the findings can then be pooled | | | | project. These projects will have students go out |
| together to create a class project. #3 - | | | | into the field and collect leaves, stems and |
| Environmental Chemistry It has been discovered | | | | flowers for their collection. The students will then |
| that the chemical ratios found in local soil and | | | | need to identify the items that they have found |
| water samples are also present in life forms that | | | | and create a labeled display. They will then need |
| live in the area. In this project students will start | | | | to provide a written report on their collection, |
| by taking soil and water samples from their | | | | including a narrative of what they learned as they |
| neighborhoods. They will then conduct a chemical | | | | completed their project. |