1. Biology Core Lab Training
Science Department

2. Accessing Core Labs
Accessing the mps science department website: MPS Website – Departments – curriculum – science
There are 3 ways to access your core labs
Mps science website: core labs – Biology
Mps science website: curriculum pacing guides – Biology
Google drive: Biology – core labs

3. Core Lab: Purpose
The Core Lab program was designed to provide all students with similar grade level laboratory experiences. Core labs in no way represent a comprehensive list of labs, but rather the minimum required laboratory activities specific to each grade level. These labs were developed or suggested by committees comprising of district science teachers and follow both state standards and district curriculum.

4. Are we speaking the same language?
Core Lab Purchases:
Consumables are to Only be used for Core Labs
Averaging will be used at the end of each year to decide if the item was misused
Districts Idea of Consumable vs. Non-consumable:
Washables: Pipettes, cups, spoons, knives
Some sites have considered these disposable in the past
They are only disposable if they were used with a harmful or corrosive chemical
Examples of Harmful or Corrosive: iodine, ammonia, phenolphthalein, etc.…
Examples of Non-Harmful or Non-Corrosive: Cooking Oil, vinegar, food coloring, etc.…
Budget vs. Warehouse:
Many of the items in the core lab were obtained through free items from the k-5 elementary science adoption kits.
Money used to purchase all the start up will not exist in future years (i.e. budget crisis)
Start looking at grants, etc.… to obtain equipment purchases. The district can’t pay for these currently.

5. Inventory? You actually expect me to look at that!
Master list: district only changes
Site page: District, site specific department chair & teachers only changes
Locked Columns: for your protection and my sanity
Columns: a-h, k-t
Hidden Rows: labs with versions – I have hidden the cells for the labs not chosen by your site
Needed per site vs. # of Sections: Some items were to expensive to obtain the large quantity required for individual teachers. This requires sharing within the building
Site items: some items that are site items will need to be added to your school supply list for students to purchase (colored Pencils)

6. Missing or Replacement Items
Replacement Items (Beaker vs. cup)
Some items have been replaced with comparable items.
For example: a lab requiring a 500mL Beaker. The Beaker is only being used to filter water so the student can see what the filter catches. 16oz clear plastic cups accomplish the same thing.
Missing items will be brought to the Department Chair Meeting on may 18th
Biology missing items: None

7. Committees designed 8 core labs:
These labs are considered the 8 big ideas of your grade level standards
Big Idea
Lab Title
Biochemistry
Who Took the _____’s iPod*
Zombie Apocalypse*
Microscope Usage
Microscope Technique Lab*
Microscope Lab – Observing Human Cells*
Microscope Lab – Organelles*
Osmosis
Egg Lab Version 1*
Egg Lab Version 2*
Big Idea
Lab Title
Osmosis
Diffusion of Water with Gummy Bears*
Osmosis in a Model Cell*
DNA & Genes
Protein Puppets
Oh Baby
Classification
Cytochrome C
Energy in a Cell
Leaf Disc Lab
Ecology/Population
The Weasel/Mice Activity
* This is a version lab for Biology. Teachers will choose one of the version labs to use.

8. When will this be ready Roll out schedule
Core lab webpage 1st week of June
Pacing guides update mid-june
Google drive folders updated late June
All completed by August 2016
Questions???????????????