Planaria Regeneration Kit (with voucher)

Starfish regeneration introduces the investigative phenomenon of regeneration in animals. Over the course of this multi-week lab, students gather evidence as they observe and identify patterns in the regrowth of planarians that have undergone several different controlled injuries. After compiling evidence of planaria regeneration from observations by the entire class, student groups revisit their original hypotheses regarding the driving question. Note: Kit includes a voucher to request delivery of perishable materials later at your convenience. Contact us or return the voucher to request delivery of perishables.

Time Requirement
270 minutes over 2 to 6 weeks: 1 lab period to set up the experiment; 10 to 20 minutes a lab period to collect data over the next 2 to 6 weeks; and then 2 to 3 lab periods for discussion and assessment.

Digital Resources
Includes 1-year access to digital resources that support 3-dimensional instruction for NGSS. Digital resources may include a teacher manual and student guide, pre-lab activities and setup videos, phenomenon videos, simulations, and post-lab analysis and assessments.

Performance Expectation(s)
HS-LS1-4
HS-LS1-2

Crosscutting Concepts
Patterns

Disciplinary Core Ideas
HS.LS1.B: Growth and Development of Organisms

Science and Engineering Practices
Planning and Carrying Out Investigations

Learning Objectives

• Formulate directional hypotheses regarding planarian regeneration patterns after certain cuts are performed.
• Collect data to document regeneration changes in a planarian.
• Summarize class data by creating a list of regeneration patterns observed.
• Apply observations of regeneration patterns to the prediction of neoblast locations and of cut patterns that are likely to result in no regeneration.

Prerequisite Knowledge and Skills
Students need a knowledge of the process of mitosis and experience performing experiments with living organisms.