Marine Biology Dissection Lab

Today was dissection day. If you missed it, in my last post I shared free virtual dissection websites. We did a Clam, Star Fish, Perch, and a Crayfish. I was kind of disappointed with the Clam. It did not show as much organ detail as any of the images we found in either textbook or online. The Star Fish was cool, and by the time we got to the Perch, I had enough. DJ finished up the Perch and did the Crayfish too.

We laid parchment paper on the table, to protect it. The kit I shared did have gloves, but no mask or goggles. We had those, already. The smell was not that bad, but there was some smell. Everything was cleaned down with bleach after use. DJ was a little freaked out at first, but once he got going, it got a lot easier to do. I do have to say that I think it would be better to dissect something freshly deceased, rather than stored in Formaldehyde for however old they were. I think the organs, and other systems would be easier to see, and find, if it were freshly deceased.

Virtual Dissection Of A Clam and Sea Star High School Marine Biology Science Lab

This week, DJ and I, will be dissecting a Clam, and a Sea Star. He is using the Apologia Marine Biology books this year. I bought the dissection kit shown below. It was a little more affordable than the one on Apologia's website. I do wish I had bought the slides, but hindsight is 20/20, as they say. We have been able to do fine without them, just think they would have been cool. In Florida, all High School Science classes, have to have a lab. Even if you homeschool. Well, not really, but I am trying to be as traditional about the High School years, as I can. Labs are the fun part of Science! I am including links to two free virtual dissecting websites, for the clam and sea star. You can purchase the dissection kit shown below, and then just follow along on the websites. Voila, there is your lab. We will be taking our own images, as we go along, so they will be shared later this week.  Oh you will want some gloves, and a mask if you are sensitive to smell, maybe even goggles.  I am not sure if those come in the kit.  I have not actually opened ours yet. 


http://www.biologyjunction.com/clam_dissection.htm

http://faculty.orangecoastcollege.edu/mperkins/zoo-review/sea-star/index.html