Home Away from Home School
It's important to reserve ahead for these classes. Socks, shoes and a sunhat are highly
recommended, in case we take a walk outside afterwards!
Science Classes at the Biophilia Nature Center
12695 County Road 95, Elberta, Alabama 36530
251-987-1200
biophilia@gulftel.com
Instructor/Biologist: Carol Lovell-Saas Resume
Monarch in Danger!
My Dream Necklace
Newly Emerged Monarch
There are no home school science classes scheduled for the remainder of the year. Please check www.biophilia.net for fall natural history and craft workshops for children and adults.
Return to Top of Home School Class Schedule
RESUME
Carol Lovell-Saas
- B.A. in Biology, 1979, University of California at Berkeley Age Level: 7 years old and up Grade Level: Sixth/Seventh Grade Level: Fourth/Fifth
Grade Level: Fourth/Fifth Grade Level: Sixth/Seventh Grade Level: Fourth/Fifth
12695 C.R. 95
Elberta, AL 36530
251 987-1200
- 5 years in Research Mariculture, Genetic Engineering, Plant Breeding and Tissue Culture, Marine Ecology
- 20 years Teaching Children and Adults
- 2 years Volunteer Reading Teacher, Laubach Literacy Program
- 16 Years of Habitat Restoration and Plant Propagation
- Florida Certified to Teach Biology (Secondary School) and Gifted Education in 1988
- Alabama Certified to Teach Biological Science in 1989
- 22 Semester hours of Graduate Studies in Science and Education, University of West Florida
Experience
Director Biophilia Nature Center/Native Nursery Elberta, Alabama 6/1990-present
Restore native wetland and upland ecosystems of 20-acre site; conduct tours and develop/implement science workshops and
extended programs for children and adults, schools and organizations; propagate plants; run native plant nursery and bookstore
Business Manager/Naturalist Sail the Daedalus Elberta, Alabama 6/1990- 7/2001
Was responsible for all administration, accounts, marketing, personnel training and management for sailing charter business, crewed and conducted sailing/natural history tours for groups of 22 passengers on Perdido Bay
Biology/Science Instructor
Pine Forest High School Pensacola, Florida 89/90
Gulf Breeze High School Gulf Breeze, Florida 87/88, 88/89
Professional Tutor K-12, College, Baldwin County, Alabama 9/85-6/91
Lab Technician Alabama Marine Resources Division Gulf Shores 11/84-11/85 Mariculture Research from Water Quality Monitoring to Fish and Shrimp Culture, Tagging, Release and Computer Analysis of Data
Research Associate Genex Gaithersburg, Maryland 11/84-2/84 Genetic Engineering Bacteria, Plasmids
Research Biologist International Plant Research Institute Redwood City, California 9/80-12/82
Tissue Culture, Genetic Transformation
Research Assistant University of California, Santa Barbara 1/76-8/77 Field surveys, lab analysis of biodiversity and energy cycling, Mugu Lagoon, Ventura, California
Hobbies/Passions: Learning about Gulf Coast Biodiversity; Teaching; Recognition of Frog Songs, Bird Songs, and Insect Sounds;
Animal Hideouts, Architecture and Artifacts; Edible and Useful Wild Plants; Bike Riding; Hiking; Nutritional Research; Pine
Needle Basket Weaving; Writing; Reading; Photography
Classes already given this year, to be repeated at a later date:
January 25th 1pm - 2:30pm
Let's chat about insects and their ecology, then go out and see where they're hiding at this time of year. From their life
cycles to their architecture, insects have skills, beauty and essential roles on earth that are often overlooked. $10/person
class size maximum = 20 students
January 29th 9:15am-11:15am
Students will practice scientific measurement and calculation until they're familiar enough not only to work with
but to estimate metric heights and weights, and able to use European recipes. Lab will include making toll
house cookies. $15/student, class size maximum = 6 students
January 31st 9:15am-11:15am
Structure and Function of Plant and Animal Cells -
Part One $15/student, class size maximum = 6 students
February 14th 9:15am-11:15am
$15/student class size maximum = 6 students
Microorganisms
We will survey Kingdom Monera and Kingdom Protista emphasizing defining characteristics, biodiversity, ecology
and roles in
human health and disease. $15/student, class size maximum = 6 students
Grade Level: Sixth/Seventh
February 26th 9:15am-11:15am
The Mammals
We'll explore the characteristics and diversity of mammals, local and worldwide. $15/student, class size
maximum = 6 students
February 28th 9:15am-11:15am
Chemistry, Part One - Atomic Theory/Periodic Table $15/student, class size maximum
= 6 students
Grade Level: Fourth/Fifth
Grade Level: Sixth/Seventh Home school, home-school, homeschool, home school classes, home-school classes, homeschool classes
March 6th 9:15am-11:15am
Chemistry, Part Two - Atomic Theory/Periodic Table $15/student, class size maximum
= 6 students
Grade Level: Sixth/Seventh
March 11th 9:15am-11:15am
Kingdom Fungi
This diverse Kingdom is underappreciated. Many plants could not survive without their fungal partners. Fungi
provide a free global recycling service, make bread rise, produce life-saving medicines, and play a variety of other roles.
$15/student, class size maximum = 6 students
March 18th 9:15am-11:15am
A tapestry of interactions keeps the living world going. Learn relationship categories from mutualism to
parasitism and some of the most important global and local examples. $15/student, class size maximum = 6 students
Botany: Gourmet Herbs to Host Plants - April 15th, 9:15am-11:15am
Explore the horticultural side of two important plant families, the Mint Family and
the Carrot Family. Learn how to identify the families, get to know key species, propagate an aromatic herb, learn some
plant/animal relationships and plant a few seeds in pots to bring home for salads and/or the butterfly garden. Includes 5th
through 7th grade academic material, but may interest somewhat younger and older students as well. $15
From Vegetables to Butterfly Baby Food - April 22nd, 9:15am-11:15am
Horticulture and
natural history relative to the Pea and Mustard Families will be
investigated. Students will plant legume seeds and bring home a wild new food as well as a native wildflower plant for
attracting butterflies. $15 Includes 5th through 7th grade material.
Getting Ready for Butterflies - No Admission Fee - April 23rd, 2 pm - 4 pm
See which host plants will attract mother butterflies and feed their caterpillars. Free admission, free
plant/butterfly lists. No formal presentation, just an informal chat about easy-to-grow native plants that will bring
butterflies to local gardens. As of last year Biophilia had attracted 40 species to breed on restored habitats here! This is
early in the season and a good time to start planning. Call ahead to reserve a spot.
Carnivorous Plants - April 29th, 9:15am-11:15am
The Pitcher Plants, Sundews and Bladderworts are so
beautiful right now, and we had some weird carnivorous plants show up floating in our pond, so my Tuesday students encouraged
me to change the Monocots topic planned for Tuesday, April 29th, 9:15-11:15 am to Carnivorous Plants. We will do a lesson,
lab, and hunt for the plants. Using microscopes, loupes, dissections, diagramming and model-making, we will study the special
needs and strategies of these plants, including basics on how to grow them for fun and profit. The class includes 4th-7th
grade biology concepts at a fee of $15/student.
Plant Leaves - May 6th, 9:15am-11:15am
We will study the biology of leaf structure and function using live material and microscopes, then learn the
categories of leaf shape and arrangement. Students will go on a leaf hunt and create a labeled leaf collection. Includes 5th
through 7th grade material with some easy 10th grade vocabulary (memorization not required).$15
Wetland Values - May 13th, 9:15am-11:15am
Lets explore the wetland ecosystems from flora to fauna to functions, hands-on at Biophilia including the
dragonfly life cycle and then discuss wetland diversity in Baldwin County with an emphasis on Perdido Bay. Academic concepts include 5th through 7th grade material.
Botany Plant Reproduction - May 20th, 9:15am-11:15am
Well examine, dissect, mount and label flower parts from different plant families and discuss
pollinators, pollination and the process of fruit development. Well perform cross pollination and conduct an experiment
altering floral color or scent to look for effects on pollinator behavior. $15 Take a bouquet home! 5th -7th grade
Human Body Defenses - May 27th, 9:15am-11:15am
This class will work with immune system
concepts and include a modeling lab on antigens and antibodies. $15 5th - 7th grade
Insect Ecology and Behavior - Wednesday June 11th, 9 am - 10:30 am
This class will explore the natural
history of
local insects. We will hunt for specimens, log their behaviors, and draw their architectural structures. Wear socks and
shoes. $10 3rd - 7th grade
Structure and Function of Living Cells, Part I - Tuesday, August 19th, 9:30am 11:30am
Cell organelles, cell physiology, shared characteristics and differences between plant and animal cells will be main features
of this session.
6th/7th grade level, $15/student
Structure and Function of Living Cells, Part II - , 9:30am 11:30am
We will explore cellular function, cell diversity in complex organisms, and build cell models.
6th/7th grade level, $15/student
How DNA Works, Part I - Tuesday, September 2nd, 9:30am 11:30am
The molecular structure of chromosomes, the DNA code, the process of replication and cellular mitosis will be highlights
of this session.
6th/7th grade level, $15/student
How DNA Works, Part II - Tuesday, September 9th, 9:30am 11:30am
Starting with a hypothetical string of DNA code, students will learn to show and describe the processes of its
transcription and translation by RNA, as well as how to determine the amino acid chain coded by any given genetic sequence.
This is much easier than it sounds:-)
6th/7th grade level, $15/student
How DNA Works, Part III - Tuesday, September 16th, 9:30am 11:30am
We'll explore the process of meiosis, its consequences, and how genetic combinations determine traits.
6th/7th grade level, $15/student
Taxonomy and Biodiversity - Tuesday, September 23rd, 9:30am 11:30am
Classification by the Six-Kingdom system will be explored with an emphasis on group characteristics and diversity. The
seven taxonomic levels will be made easy to remember and use. It will be fun to apply these skills to organisms we find
outside at Biophilia.
6th/7th grade level, $15/student
Kingdom Fungi - Tuesday, September 30th, 9:30am 11:30am
This diverse Kingdom is underappreciated. Worldwide, many plants could not survive without their fungal partners. Fungi
provide a free global recycling service, make bread rise, produce life-saving medicines, and play a variety of other roles.
6th/7th grade level, $15/student
Botany - Plant Groups from Liverworts to Flowering Plants - Tuesday, October 7th, 9:30am 11:30am
This lesson will explore the major plant groups and their characteristics including live specimens and a lab practical
exam. The Gulf Coast has a level of biodiversity higher than most areas of the continental U.S. so we have lots to learn
about.
6th/7th grade level, $15/student
Insect Biodiversity and Classification - Tuesday, October 14th, 9:30am 11:30am
The features and significance of the most common insect orders will be studied. We'll go out and inventory our abundant insect "zoo".
Wear socks and shoes.
6th/7th grade level, $15/student
The Mammals - Tuesday, October 21st, 9:30am 11:30am
We'll learn about the characteristics and diversity of mammals with an emphasis on local species.
6th/7th grade level, $15/student
Baldwin County, Alabama, Escambia County, Florida
June 4th, 2008