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Keystone Colloquium, December 2, 2000 Human Body Science A group of KSN participants gathered at The Franklin Institute on a Saturday morning to take part in for the fall's third colloquium. Staff members Susan Holmes and Molly McLaughlin led the group in exploring inquiry strategies related to the human body. |
| The human body is a complex organism. Which motions and which systems are involved in the apparently simple act of putting on a coat? Susan asks the group to give her precise instructions for getting her from a sitting-down position to putting on her coat. | |
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Susan gathers the group in a circle to test reaction times by "passing along" a squeeze to the person next to them. Reaction times improved with practice, and the group discussed possible reasons and variables. |
| This chart illustrates trial times and some proposed variables. Discussions centered around which data to collect and which variables might impact squeeze speed. |  |
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From reacting to a stimulus, participants move on to isolating certain groups of voluntary muscles involved in particular movements. Here, Paul presses up on the table from underneath, and can tell that his biceps are contracting. |
| Pushing down on the table works a different muscle. Kathy and Judy try isolating their triceps. |  |
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Investigating an aspect of muscles that interested them, Michelle, Jo, and Pat try to find out if there's a relationship between the size of a muscle and the pressure it can exert. |
| Knowing that burning energy is required to move a muscle, Georgene, John, and Celia wonder whether exerting a muscle will result in an external temperature change. |  |
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The group divided the tasks of temperature-taker, timer, and recorder. |
| Results were inconclusive, but the twenty minutes of testing didn't really provide enough time to get the bugs out of the experimental design. |  |
Much more awaits! Continue on to the rest of the colloquium.
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| The Franklin Institute gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the National Science Foundation and Unisys Corporation. | |||
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The Franklin Institute is the Demonstration Site for the
Eisenhower
Mid-Atlantic Consortium, providing science and math
resources for teachers.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 9819641. © 2003. All rights reserved.
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