The Brown lab is dedicated to outreach in public schools of Mississippi. The Brown lab works in partnership with Starkville Oktibbeha County School District (https://www.starkvillesd.com/), primarily in 3rd and 6th grade classrooms. Our outreach programs focus on the diversity of microbial eukaryotes. The materials for outreach are provided here and free to use. Please provide feedback to Matthew.Brown{at}msstate.edu if you use. This project and materials are supported by the National Science Foundation.
6th Grade Outreach at MSU/SOSD Partnership School
Teaching Materials: Powerpoint (with Videos): ProtistBiology-MiddleSchool
Materials needed.
LIVE PROTISTS TO DEMONSTRATE (Hands-on microscopy) and PLUSH TOYS : OUR SUGGESTIONS
Testate Amoeba | Arcella vulgaris = Arcella intermedia, Living (Item #131310 $9.50): https://www.carolina.com/protozoa/arcella-vulgaris-living/131310.pr
Testate Amoeba | Difflugia lobostoma = Lesquersusia sp., Living (Item #131334) https://www.carolina.com/protozoa/difflugia-lobostoma-living/131334.pr
Testate Amoeba | Cryptodiffulgia operculatum, Living : in Amoeba proteus culture (Item #131306 $9.50) https://www.carolina.com/protozoa/amoeba-proteus-living/131306.pr
Naked Amoeba | Amoeba proteus, Living (Item #131306 $9.50) https://www.carolina.com/protozoa/amoeba-proteus-living/131306.pr
Plush GIANTmicrobes® Amoeba | Example Amoeba Toy (Item #132012 $13.75) https://www.carolina.com/cell-models/giantmicrobes-amoeba/132012.pr
Large Plasmodium | Physarum polycephalum, Living (Item #156193 $16.60) https://www.carolina.com/slime-molds/physarum-polycephalum-plasmodium-living-plate/156193.pr
Flagellates | Euglena gracilis, Living (Item #152800, $9.50) https://www.carolina.com/algae/euglena-gracilis-living/152800.pr
Plush GIANTmicrobes® Euglena | Example Flagellate Toy (Item #132014, 13.75) https://www.carolina.com/cell-models/giantmicrobes-euglena/132014.pr
Ciliates | Paramecium sp., Living (Item #131540, $9.50) https://www.carolina.com/protozoa/paramecium-living/131540.pr
Plush GIANTmicrobes® Paramecium | Example Ciliate Toy (Item #132016, $13.75) https://www.carolina.com/cell-models/giantmicrobes-paramecium/132016.pr
Forceps: https://www.carolina.com/dissecting-forceps/thumb-forceps-stainless-steel-straight-6-in/624534.pr
Pipettes: https://www.carolina.com/lab-measuring-pipets/sterile-transfer-pipet-pack-of-100/214551.pr
Slides: https://www.carolina.com/microscope-slides-covers/microscope-slides-carolina-glass-standard-25-x-75-mm-08-100-mm-box-36/631920.pr?question=slides+
Coverslips: https://www.carolina.com/microscope-slides-covers/coverslips-student-quality-glass-18-x-18-mm-box-100/632960.pr
Microscopes (If Needed): Example (https://www.carolina.com/compound-microscopes/walter-50-series-binocular-microscope/593025.pr)
Please email Matthew.Brown{at}msstate.edu if you need PDF copies of other teaching materials including A Guide to Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa
High School Teaching Resource
Protist Biology Module Course Materials (Directed to 10-12 graders) ProtistBiology-HighSchool
Microscopy Videos
YouTube Channel
Darwin Week Presentations on Convergent Evolution
Public Dissemination Materials on Convergent Evolution DarwinWeek.zip
Dissemination of Research Tools: PhyloFisher
PhyloFisher - A Phylogenetically Aware Package for Phylogenomics Presented by Matthew Brown PhD on 5/14/2020 as part of the Protist Genomics Seminar Series.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcKhLiUxBTU&t=1s