1. Prepare copies of Dissection_longer_class.pdf (print double-sided, narrow margins), one for each student. The first page is the (unlabeled) ‘How to find your blind spot’ exercise handout. (We’ll instruct students how to take this handout home and use it to show their family members how to find their own blind spot.) The second page of the pdf informs caregivers about the dissection demonstration and provides them with prompts to help them ask the student about what was learned from the dissection. (For students who primarily speak, or whose parents primarily speak, Spanish, you can download a Spanish version of the same handout here: Dissection_longer_class_Spanish version.pdf
2. We will bring our trays, dissecting equipment and gloves.
3. Arrange the lab tables to form 5 groups, and assign/organize four to six students to a group. Ensure there’s at least one dissector in each group.
4. Be prepared to project a Powerpoint presentation that contains five slides depicting the following content:
(Slide 1) Introductory title slide
(Slide 2) the ‘How to find your blind spot’ exercise
(Slide 3) a diagram of the eye, with animations that label its anatomical parts successively (from outermost to innermost)
(Slide 4) a photomicrograph of a canine lens
(Slide 5) diagram of the Optic Chiasm
You can download the Powerpoint file here.
5. If you have one, place the 3D model of the eye on the demonstration bench. (We have only 1 complete model)
6. Have a generous supply of paper towels available to us and the students.
7. If a student objects to remaining in the classroom, send them with their Chromebook to view a walkthrough of the dissection on the Exploratorium website here. Make arrangements for that option with the receiving party ahead of time.
8. Designate a trash can for the eyeball waste and notify the custodian(s) of what to expect. Have extra trash can liners available.