Today marked the first day of dissections (thanks to our DonorsChoose grant award!), with students working in teams of three to dissect a cow eye and a pig heart. Student feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Students who were apprehensive at first quickly engaged with the hands-on lab. Many were surprised at how different the organs were compared with the stylized pictures they had seen in textbooks. I was very impressed with how respectfully students treated the organs. The dissections were performed with care and clear attention to detail. Many students were able to trace the flow of blood through the heart. Students who dissected the eye noted the beautiful blue coloration of the cow eye retina, and may students were surprised by the onion-like structure and marble-like consistency of the lens. The hardness of opacity of the lens are due to the dissection materials being stored in a chemical fixative. Exploratorium has a guide available for the dissection of fresh cow eyes for students feeling inspired to connect with their local butcher.
Update: 1/27/16
Students dissected frogs and sheep brains today:
For the final 20 minutes of class, we reviewed critical course content in preparation for the Unit 2 Exam scheduled for tomorrow. White board notes are shown below:
The Art of Science 