A Learning Activity is a strategy a teacher chooses to actively
engage students in learning a concept or skill using a digital tool/resource.
You may save this Learning Activity to your hard drive as an .html file by
selecting “File”,then “Save As” from your browser’s
pull down menu. The file name extension must be .html.
Phase:
After/Explain/Elaborate
Activity:
This learning activity will work best if used after teaching a lesson on bioluminescence.
Visit the website: American Museum of Natural History: Marine Biology - They Glow! and read the information under "They Glow" and "Other Glow-in-the-Dark Creatures" together. Visit each of the Ology FlipCards and read the information together. Place students in pairs and distribute the materials to make glow-in-the-dark slime.
Materials per group of 2 students:
5 oz. of Elmer's glow-in-the-dark glue
½ tbsp. baking soda
1 tbsp. contact lens solution
Bowl
Directions for slime: Pour the entire bottle of Elmer’s Glow in the Dark Glue into the bowl. Add ½ tbsp. of baking soda and mix thoroughly. Then add 1 tbsp. of contact lens solution. Mix until solution gets thick and slime begins to form. Take out the slime and begin kneading it with both hands. If needed, add another ¼ tbsp. of contact lens solution to make the slime less sticky. Once the slime is ready, students may start creating!
Students will design and create a sea animal that uses bioluminescence. The sea animals will be on display for the class to view. Students should be able to explain reasons their animal glows in the dark (to find a mate, for food, or to escape predators).
Assessment Strategies:
Students will be assessed based on the completion of a three-dimensional sea animal displayed for the class. Students will also be assessed based on the ability to describe adequate reasons their animal uses bioluminescence to survive.
Advanced Preparation:
Teachers need to have a projector and a computer connected to the internet to watch the video. It might also be helpful to already have the slime prepared in advance in an effort to save time.