Daphnia magna culture . Consider doing this laboratory as the first one of the year. It lends itself well to teaching the science as a process theme. Have students collect pill bugs and bring them to class. Try other small organisms, besides pill bugs, and compare the results.
Groups then present their findings to the class.
In the first part of this lab, students measure and record the dissolved O 2 present in tap water at different temperatures. In the second part, students measure the dissolved O 2 present in sampling bottles filled with a culture of Chlorella , a freshwater alga. The bottles have been wrapped with differing numbers of fiberglass screens to simulate different depths in a pond. Once samples have been fixed they can be stored for titration at a later time. Grow Chlorella under continuous light for a minimum of 72 hours.