CSTA Classroom Science Banner

Archives

Keeping You Informed: Assembly Bill 2640 (Dissection)

Keeping You Informed: Assembly Bill 2640 (Dissection)

In the March Edition of California Classroom Science, CASE published seven articles giving different perspectives on the topic of dissection. There was also a survey in which we asked readers to share their perspectives. Most respondents to the…
Read More
Exploring Perspectives on Classroom Dissection: Insights from CASE, PETA, and Beyond

Exploring Perspectives on Classroom Dissection: Insights from CASE, PETA, and Beyond

A few years back the California Science Teachers Association (CSTA then CASE now) and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) found themselves on opposite sides of a dissection debate in Sacramento. PETA was supporting a bill to ban…
Read More
Why Animal-Free Anatomy Lessons are the Future of Education

Why Animal-Free Anatomy Lessons are the Future of Education

Science is always evolving, so why are some of the methods we use to teach it—like dissecting dead animals—stuck in the past? We can better prepare students for the future by leaving behind old ways in favor of innovative and exciting new approaches…
Read More
Evaluating Alternatives to Dissection with the SynFrog

Evaluating Alternatives to Dissection with the SynFrog

At the 2023 California Science Education Conference in Palm Springs, the Keynote Speaker was the inspiring Dr. Tyrone Hayes, who introduced himself as “a boy who loved frogs.” I asked him after the keynote, how he felt about frog dissection, and he…
Read More
Invaluable Learning Experiences: Thoughtful Design and Implementation of Dissections

Invaluable Learning Experiences: Thoughtful Design and Implementation of Dissections

When people recall their science experiences in school, those with strong memories often describe times when they were actively engaging with content, having hands-on exploration, and participating in the process of science. Many describe conducting…
Read More
A Student's Experience with High School Dissection

A Student's Experience with High School Dissection

Like most high school students, I took a course called Human Physiology. I knew it entailed learning about the human body and that I might see images that made me uncomfortable. I was also aware that dissecting an animal carcass was part of the…
Read More
Changing My Thinking About Dissection

Changing My Thinking About Dissection

The article describes a workshop by the Monterey Bay Aquarium, showcasing a more engaging approach to squid dissection. Unlike traditional methods, this workshop involved group discussions and inquiry-based learning, connecting the activity to real…
Read More