The Hefner Museum of Natural History created a Science of Sorting Discovery Trunk, science kits offered to the grades K-8 audience, as an educational component to the National Science Foundation grant submitted by Michael Robinson, MRI: Acquisition of a Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting System to Expand Synergistic Research and Educational Opportunities, Number 1726645, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. With the NSF funding, Miami University purchased a Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorter, or FACS.  The FACS Machine, no larger than a home dishwasher, physically sorts microscopic particles one at a time based on their light scattering properties that disclose size, shape and color. In fact, it sorts most any microscopic particles up to 100,000 particles per second. As particles, or cells, drop from the nozzle in the FACS Machine, a laser analyzes the droplets, each containing one particle or cell. The single droplet is given an electric charge that is dependent on the fluorescence the cell exhibits. These particles can then be further sorted and analyzed and used in the next cancer treatment, diagnosis, or biotechnology application. This makes the FACS a powerful tool for many disciplines and impacts our daily lives. Thanks to the National Science Foundation, Miami has a FACS Machine, which has become part of Miami University’s scientific tools.

Understanding the concept of sorting at its most basic level—sorting cells—and at a micro scale can be difficult for K-8 students to grasp. The Trunk explores the topic of sorting and classification in the study of life science. Every grade level from K-8 in the Ohio Department of Education Science Standards includes the topic of classification or sorting in some form. The teacher guide containing life science inquiry activities incorporates the use of natural world specimens and can easily align to Next Generation Science Standards. Six lessons are included in the teacher guide.

Lesson 1: "Shells, shells, shells"

Lesson 2: "I got your back...bone!"

Lesson 3: "Creepin' crawlies"

Lesson 4: "All things great and small"

Lesson 5: "Taxonomy and classification"

Lesson 6: "Leapin' lizards"

The guide develops vocabulary for the young learner and sparks discussions of how objects can be sorted by their properties. In the natural world, these properties can provide an organism the advantage in surviving and reproducing. The guide further connects classification, taxonomy, dichotomous keys and binomial nomenclature at the most fundamental level—looking at basic traits shared by organisms, living and nonliving, to further classify and explain their relatedness to other organisms. Activities are designed to last one class period, but can easily accommodate shorter or multiple class sessions. Obtaining your own specimens or using images of specimens incorporates well for use with the Science of Sorting Discovery Trunk teacher guide. Reproducibles and a glossary are contained within the teacher guide. 

• Ashley Kramer
• Julia Robinson
• Margaret t Liechty
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• Science of Sorting v.1.0 - published 22 Apr 2021 in Teaching Materials