2014 USTA Conference

This presentation will show how guided inquiry investigations can be performed with brine shrimp cysts and photosynthesizing leaf discs, and how you can incorporate the core writing standards with a lab report.

Teachers will participate in an activity called "Tragedy in the Commons". This integrated activity allows students to participate in a mock "fishing" scenario. The students discover how overfishing creates reduced or vanishing fish populations and learn what sustainability really means.

Explore the ecosystem of the human body. Learn what we’re discovering about the body's microbes and how they influence our health. Free materials at: http://learn.genetics.utah.edu

A presentation of Environmental Laws in general, but specifically those that would affect a production facility. (30-45 minutes)
Group activity/role play using "play-doh's fun factory" to implement environmental laws in the workplace. (60-90 minutes)

Halophiles (microorganisms that live in high salt concentrations) can be a colorful and exciting entrée into the microbial world. These microorganisms can connect students of all ages to their environment and make ideal lab models for classroom studies.  They also provide an edgy hook to engage students as they make great astrobiological models.  Come learn about free online microbiology resources for collecting, culturing and quantifying halophiles using common classroom and other inexpensive and low-tech items.