1. in SCI 1123: General Life Science
BIOLOGY
A World in a Gallon Bag: Learning about Life through a Microcosm Activity
in SCI 1123: General Life Science
Tina L. Gumienny, PhD, and Amy Jo Hammett, PhD
What students did
What students accomplished
What are the best aspects of this activity?
What are the worst aspects of this activity (besides the report)?
Students in TWU’s SCI 1123 core curriculum course grew a world in miniature (a microcosm) in a plastic gallon bag. This activity reinforced and integrated concepts they learned in ecology (Module 1), growth (Module 2), and kingdoms of life (Module 3).
Students:
dug their own dirt, filling about 2” (5 cm) of a gallon bag.
added seeds, two red wriggler worms, and old leather (to provide mold).
watered the microcosm.
breathed into their bag and closed it.
recorded observations for about three weeks.
wrote a report.
“Dealing with worms.”
“actually grow a living thing in a bag.”
“Waiting for growth.”
“Watching plants die.”
“the non-ideal weather conditions”
“see change each week.”
“creating life, digging and playing with worms.”
“I had fun playing with my little cousins with dirt.”
“The worst part of this for me would have to be when I had to dig the soil up to put into the bag, because I did it in my pajamas on my front porch while my neighbors were going in and out of their house.”
“Hands-on learning about ecology, photosynthesis, organism interactions.”
What did students gain from this activity (besides a grade)?
Acknowledgements
Representative images from
the first day to last week.
“[I] learned that in our biome, everything around us helps us, it all matters; appreciate the little things.”
“[The microbiome was a] reminder of how important plants are.”
“I would do it again with students in my future classroom.”
“I was … really proud of my microcosm.”
“I have definitely gained a greater appreciation for the ‘little things’ that surround me daily.”
“new perspective for environment and all the roles it plays.”
day one
We gratefully acknowledge Ms. Smiddy Foreman, the TWU Biology lab coordinator who initially conceived this activity. We appreciate the contributions of the TWU Biology graduate teaching assistants who oversaw, graded, and helped refine this activity in previous years. Ms. Aileen Salazar, the Fall 2018 undergraduate assistant, helped prepare and photograph parts of the activity. Ms. Taylor Hickman, the Fall 2018 graduate teaching assistant, helped TLG transform this activity from the lab to a take-home class activity, helped prepare it, graded, and collected feedback. Thank you to the students of SCI 1123 who participated and provided feedback.
week one
week two
week three