Sunday, September 22, 2019

It's the 20th year of the Ballard Biotechnology Academy! School has started and we are doing science!

This fall marks the 20th year of the Biotechnology Academy. The Academy began with the opening of the new building in 1999. This year we have two 9th grade classes that started in  the Biology/Biotechnology Cohort.  Students are learning about science habits of mind and doing science in real time.  In biology, students are reviewing the metric system and learning about the actual tools of the trade in the laboratory. In chemistry, students are also learning and reviewing basic scientific concepts of inquiry and experimentation. In genetics, students are refining their investigative skills to learn more about chemistry with a focus on biochemistry.  Curriculum night is on Thursday, Sept. 26 from 7-9.  Please come and learn what your offspring are learning!
Genetics students trying to make observations of an unknown substance.

Lab team exploring and investigating, reviewing lab techniques.

Genetics students spooling DNA after extracting it from plant cells.

Students spooling DNA that precipitated out of solution from their experiment.

DNA precipitated!

Adding unknown samples to test for presence of specific biomolecules.

Biology students learning how to use the microscope.