STR Micro-Lesson: The Universe Reflected
(click on image to see enlarged version,
right click on that image to save it to
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Question
If you have a sharp eye and you're far enough away from the lights and noise of the city, you might see this on an evening's walk. What is it?
Answer
This snail's shell, viewed at 50x with a handheld digital microscope such as STR's "ProScope HR", exhibits a spiral shape that is similar to that of many island galaxies, including our own Milky Way. In it we see the shape of a universe reflected in the structure of one of its most humble inhabitants.
Micro-Lesson* Plan
Topic: Patterns of structure and function
Download the enlarged version of the image above and show it to your class (using a projector or a color printout). Ask the question just below the image. You may wish to give hints.
Once you have elicited or presented the answer, ask students if they can think of other examples of geometric shapes created by or used by plants and animals. You may wish to display examples from the links below to facilitate the discussion.
Explain to students that you have been talking about one way in which biology is connected to the subject of mathematics (geometry), and that there are many other connections between the two subjects, because mathematics provides the language that makes it possible to precisely describe the patterns of structure and function that are seen in living organisms. From there you can move on to the consideration of structures or functions in whatever life forms you are studying, advising students to be alert for patterns.
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*STR Micro-Lessons™ are designed as "plug-ins" to support and augment standards-based science teaching and learning. For complete lessons using the Scope on a Rope handheld digital microscope, see the STR Teacher Resources page.
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