The differences between the two kinds of lab experiences was made obvious to me this week. Biology practicals tend toward the exploratory and descriptive while Chemistry ones rely upon measurements. Both are useful ways to learn about the world around us.
In biology, the students had the opportunity to look into the structure and function of the mammalian (cow) heart. They followed a procedure that I hope strengthens their understanding of this obviously vital organ. Know that the pictures here might be objectionable to those who do not like to think about animal organs and the butchering process.
In chemistry, we started a new unit about heat flow in reactions and did a station lab to both feel and measure these energy changes. This area of chemistry lends itself to good experimentations, a point I made to students who will need to make preliminary decisions about their independent experiment they will do next year. Here are some pictures of them at work
