Description
Starfish regeneration introduces the investigative phenomenon of regeneration in animals. Over the course of this multi-week lab, students gather evidence as they observe and identify patterns in the regrowth of planarians that have undergone several different controlled injuries. After evidence from the entire class’s observations of planaria regeneration is compiled, student groups revisit their original hypotheses regarding the driving question. Kit includes perishable materials for immediate use.
Time Requirement
270 minutes over 2 to 6 weeks: 1 lab period to set up the experiment; 10 to 20 minutes a lab period to collect data over the next 2 to 6 weeks; and then 2 to 3 lab periods for discussion and assessment.
Digital Resources
Includes 1-year access to digital resources that support 3-dimensional instruction for NGSS. Digital resources may include a teacher manual and student guide, pre-lab activities and setup videos, phenomenon videos, simulations, and post-lab analysis and assessments.
Performance Expectation(s)
HS-LS1-4
HS-LS1-2
Crosscutting Concepts
Patterns
Disciplinary Core Ideas
HS.LS1.B: Growth and Development of Organisms
Science and Engineering Practices
Planning and Carrying Out Investigations
Learning Objectives
- Formulate directional hypotheses regarding planarian regeneration patterns after certain cuts are performed.
- Collect data to document regeneration changes in a planarian.
- Summarize class data by creating a list of regeneration patterns observed.
- Apply observations of regeneration patterns to the prediction of neoblast locations and of cut patterns that are likely to result in no regeneration.
Prerequisite Knowledge and Skills
Students need a knowledge of the process of mitosis and experience performing experiments with living organisms.