Fetal pigs are the specimens of choice in teaching human body systems in an introductory high school biology class. I teach on-level biology to 9th grade students in a large suburban high school in southeast Texas.
On the first day of school my 9th grade on-level biology students ask "Will we get to dissect something in this class?" The answer to this question sets the tone in class for the remainder of the school year.
My students prefer to dissect pigs rather than rats. If students know that they will be able to dissect fetal pigs instead of rats, they tend to be more focused on successfully completing the required curriculum so that they can participate in the dissection lab. Due to a severe school district budget deficit, my students may not be able to benefit from this crucial exploratory experience. The cost of dissection specimens comprises more than 75% of our total science budget, but serves only 25% of our school's population. In times of severe budget deficits, items that benefit a small percentage of students are usually the first to be cut. My students would be extremely disappointed if they were forced to forgo this crucial dissection.
My Project
The fetal pig dissection introduces biology students to basic mammalian anatomy. Fetal pigs are larger than rats; thus students can see and learn the internal anatomy better inside a fetal pig than an adult rat. Many students begin the dissection with the misconception that the lungs are empty bags or sacs. They are amazed when they participate in dissections and discover that the lungs are not sacs or bags at all, but rather a firm organ. Also, my young high school students do not realize that the rib cage encloses and protects the lungs and heart until they actually cut through the sternum to expose the lungs and heart. Even though they have read the descriptions in their textbook, they do not seem to visualize the anatomy until they participate in the actual dissection. Participating in the dissection process will enable my students to comprehend basic human anatomy.
By supporting this project, you will be enriching the learning of prospective nurses, nursing assistants, doctors, veterinarians, and scientists by allowing on-level biology students to participate in a meaningful exploration of basic mammalian anatomy.
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