Can a coral cure cancer? Take seventh and eighth grade science sleuths to the underwater drugstore for an investigation into emerging pharmaceutical research. The fifth installment in a series of six has classmates research the wealth of aquatic organisms that may hold the keys to a healthier human population. Lab groups then conduct an experiment to determine how water quality can help or harm these creatures.

Concepts

drugs, natural resources, oceans, ocean exploration, medicine, the deep sea, invertebrates, toxicity, growth rate, seed germination

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Guide learners as they create an appropriate data table and discuss what type of graph might best suit the results they collect and analyze
• Set aside class time for groups to observe their bioassays, record observations, and discuss how the experiment models what takes place with organisms in the deep ocean

Classroom Considerations

• Pupils should have prior knowledge of calculating the mean and standard deviation of data sets
• Provide Internet access to working groups for research purposes

Pros

• The experiment provides a first-hand look at how water quality impacts organisms
• Provides clearly written student research guide and experimental procedures, the worksheet and answers, plus step-by-step pictures of the lab

Cons

• None

Common Core

6.SP.A.2 6.SP.B.4 RST.6-8.1 RST.6-8.2 WHST.6-8.2.a WHST.6-8.9