Brainy Briny's in a Beaker Bag: Algae and Brine Shrimp Growing Kit. (K-12, HS, AP-Bio, AP-ES)
The Brainy Briny Beaker Bag sets are designed to be a super sneaky way to make studying photosynthesis and respiration fun and engaging!!!
- Photosynthesis
- Respiration
- Algae culture
- Zooplankton culture
- Energy exchange across trophic levels
- Population dynamics
BBBB: Brainy Briny Beaker Bag
- Written instructions, grade level neutral
- Beaker Bag, 500mL
- Algae Culture, Nannochloropsis, 15mL
- Nutrients for algae culture, 1.7mL
- Salts and Cysts in separate bags
- Secchi Stick
- Pipette, PE, 3mL graduated
- Love
BBBB+2:
Brainy Briny Beaker Bag with Separated Salts and Cysts Plus two sets of Ready-To-Go Algae Beads
- Everything from the BBBB above
- Two sets of Ready-To-Go Algae Beads
Microplastics Add on Kit:
The full microplastics kit is located here. This kit assumes you already have brine shrimp to use for the project.
- Includes fluorescent microplastics (acrylic)
- Tissue Culture Flasks, 50mL x2 (treatment and control)
- LED Keychain Lights, x3
- Petri Dishes, x3 (for three stations of treatment and control)
- Pipette, 3mL
Setup-and-How-to video on microplastics is HERE.
Refill Kit:
- 15mL algae culture
- Salts for beaker bag
- Cysts for brine shrimp
Lessons, always free!
- AP Biology Lab #10- Energy Dynamics with Algae and Brine Shrimp (PDF) (word)
- General Brainy Briny Instructions
- Brainy Briny Algae Biomass Measuring
- Estimating Brine Shrimp Populations
- Carrying Capacity, Oxygen (video on this on You Tube)
- Carrying Capacity, Food Limited
- Nitrogen Removal by Algae over Time
- Making a Photosynthesis vs Irradiance Curve (PvsI Curve)
- Toxicology in Brine Shrimp, LD-50
- AP Bio Lesson: Population Dynamics with Algae and Brine Shrimp, David Dillard- Glacier High School
- AP Bio Lesson: Photosynthesis with Algae Beads, David Dillard- Glacier High School
PLOT: Nannochloropsis: Dry Weight and Cell count as a Function of Secchi Stick Depth.
Full Educational Modules for teaching Algae Beads!!!!!
Master hand out for "Let me prove it" sections. aka worksheets
Experiments:
- Variable Light Intensity and Algal Photosynthesis
- Spectral Tuning and Algal Photosynthesis
- Temperature and Algal Photosynthesis
- Surface area and Volume in Algae Photosynthesis
- Photopigment Extraction and Analysis of Algae
Module Contents:
- Introduction to Photosynthesis and Respiration
- Introduction to Algae and Microalgae
- Algae beads as a model organism
- What is light and how do plants use it?
- Gas Solubility in Water. Thinking about atomic theory
- Introduction to pH and CO2 in water- yes they are related!
- pH indicators and photosynthesis
For Elementary School:
Elementary lessons and worksheets: Brine Shrimp Science Journal.
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Video:
Pairs well with
Brainy Briny's in a Beaker Bag: Algae and Brine Shrimp Growing Kit. (K-12, HS, AP-Bio, AP-ES)
