Free preview · Senior 4 Biology · Laboratory activities
Senior 4 laboratory activities
12 units · 24 activities. In every unit, activity 1 is improvised (simple local materials) and activity 2 is conventional (school laboratory equipment): two different experiments. Below are 5 free pages; then get the whole level in one PDF.
- Title and aim of every experiment
- Required apparatus and safety notes
- A clear, labelled drawing of the set-up
- Step-by-step procedure and a results table to fill in
- Observation and conclusion
- Three questions per activity, with sample results and answers at the end of the unit
See all 24 activities of this level and what each one is about
- Unit 1: Introduction to Biodiversity
- 1.1 Improvised · A line transect and a diversity index. To sample plant species along a line transect and calculate a diversity index for two areas.
- 1.2 Conventional · Animals in leaf litter: the Tullgren funnel. To extract small animals from leaf litter and compare the variety in two habitats.
- Unit 2: Introduction to Classification
- 2.1 Improvised · A classification hierarchy with everyday objects. To understand hierarchical classification by grouping everyday objects into smaller and smaller groups.
- 2.2 Conventional · Comparing fungi and plants under the microscope. To compare features of bread mould, moss, fern and a flowering plant and place them in kingdoms and divisions.
- Unit 3: Microscopy
- 3.1 Improvised · Measuring cells from micrographs. To calculate magnification and actual size from photographs of cells (micrographs).
- 3.2 Conventional · Calibrating an eyepiece graticule. To calibrate an eyepiece graticule with a stage micrometer and use it to measure cells.
- Unit 4: Cell Structure and Specialisation
- 4.1 Improvised · Root hairs: specialised for absorption. To observe root hairs on germinating seeds and relate their shape to their function.
- 4.2 Conventional · Specialised cells under the microscope. To compare specialised animal and plant cells and relate their structure to function.
- Unit 5: Diversity of Specialised Tissues
- 5.1 Improvised · Vascular bundles in monocot and dicot stems. To compare the arrangement of vascular tissue in a monocot and a dicot stem.
- 5.2 Conventional · Animal tissues: blood, bone, cartilage and nerve. To observe and compare the structure of four animal tissues.
- Unit 6: Chemical Basis of Life
- 6.1 Improvised · Special properties of water. To demonstrate properties of water that are important for life: cohesion, capillarity and the low density of ice.
- 6.2 Conventional · Testing for lipids and non-reducing sugars. To carry out the emulsion test for lipids and the test for non-reducing sugars.
- Unit 7: Enzymes
- 7.1 Improvised · More enzyme, more foam: catalase in potato. To show how the concentration of enzyme affects the rate of reaction using catalase in potato.
- 7.2 Conventional · Effect of pH on catalase activity. To investigate how pH affects the rate of oxygen production by catalase.
- Unit 8: Growth and Development in Plants and Animals
- 8.1 Improvised · The life cycle of the fruit fly. To observe the stages of complete metamorphosis in fruit flies.
- 8.2 Conventional · Measuring growth by dry mass. To measure the growth of seedlings using dry mass and compare it with fresh length.
- Unit 9: Support and Locomotion
- 9.1 Improvised · Turgor keeps plants upright. To show that water in plant cells (turgor) helps to support non-woody plants.
- 9.2 Conventional · Supporting tissues in a stem section. To identify supporting tissues in a transverse section of a dicot stem.
- Unit 10: Classification and Patterns of Disease
- 10.1 Improvised · Rainfall and malaria: reading a pattern. To analyse monthly rainfall and malaria case data and explain the pattern.
- 10.2 Conventional · Conditions for the growth of mould. To investigate the conditions that favour the growth of fungi on bread and observe mould under the microscope.
- Unit 11: Reproduction in Plants
- 11.1 Improvised · Seed dispersal and paper helicopters. To investigate how wing size affects the fall of a wind-dispersed seed model.
- 11.2 Conventional · Conditions needed for germination. To investigate whether seeds need water, oxygen and warmth to germinate.
- Unit 12: Microbiology and Biotechnology
- 12.1 Improvised · Making yoghurt. To use bacteria to make yoghurt and follow the changes in pH and texture.
- 12.2 Conventional · Aseptic technique: a streak plate. To use aseptic technique to grow single colonies of bacteria from yoghurt on nutrient agar.
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