This lab provides students with a visual representation of the importance of maintaining homeostasis in the human body. In this lab, students are tasked with keeping Homer alive for 5 minutes while maintaining his body temperature, electrolyte concentration, and his fluid levels. Failure to do so will result in the death of Homer. What supplies do I need? These are the materials needed for each lab group: While this lab requires a bit of time to set up, I promise that it will be worth it. Here are the steps that I took to prepare for the lab: 1. Make “Homer” Using a Sharpie marker, draw Homer Simpson on the front of a clear plastic cup. Poke a small hole at the bottom of the cup so that liquid will trickle out in a small stream. Then, place a piece of masking tape over the hole. Place the cup so that it sits firmly inside of an iron ring that is secured to a ring stand. Place a plastic bucket/container under the cup. 2. Prepare the “Homer” solution One of the objectives of this lab is to keep Homer his normal yellow color. You will need to start by mixing yellow food coloring and water until you get a nice yellow color. I mixed a huge batch so that I could use it throughout my 4 Biology classes. Here is the color that you should shoot for. Pour about 250 mL of the “Homer” solution into a beaker and label the beaker “B.” 3. Create a control sample Students will need to compare Homer’s color to his normal color. To create a “normal” sample, fill a small test tube with the yellow “Homer” solution and label the test tube “A.” 4. Create an Electrolyte/Sugar Solution During the lab, Homer’s electrolytes/sugar concentration will drop below normal levels. To provide Homer with a “boost” of energy, students will need to add an electrolyte/sugar solution. To create this solution, you will mix yellow food coloring and water; only this time, you will make it super concentrated. This Homer-o-stasis lab is the best lab for teaching homeostasis to your Biology students. Check it out on my latest blog post!

Learning Target 3: I can describe feedback mechanisms necessary to maintain homeostasis, for example, body systems such a integumentary, and circulatory system and how each interacts with other systems to maintain homeostasis. (HS-LS1-3) Plan and Conduct and investigation to provide evidence that feedback mechanisms maintain homeostasis. Do a good job maintaining my homeostasis. I don't want to die! To adjust add concentrated yellow water. Use normal body fluids as your control. Safety Precautions! Do not touch the hot plates! Always be aware of your surroundings and handle Homer with care! Know your role! What is Homer's baseline body temperature? What would happen if this temperature were to deviate from this set parameter? How might you be able to take corrective action to return this deviation back to the baseline temperature? Lab Tips! AssignTime! Take the time to assign roles for who will correct what parameter: Who will add hot water, cold water, concentrated yellow water, fluid balance water, check levels, record data, and suggest the corrective action to take? When you get to your station, stand in a way where you can do your job efficiently (ie – person adding hot water should be closest to the hot plate) Bring one ipad as a timer. Start the STOPWATCH function – and let it run for 10 minutes in a row (don’t stop it each minute… just keep your eye on it so you record data each minute) Pour the entire contents of Homer’s Body Fluids into the cup – record initial data (time 0) and push start on the clock when the level gets to the right line. How successful was your group at maintaining homeostasis? Was it easy or hard? Why? How does this model reflect what’s really happening in your body? What are some limitations to this model? What is feedback? How did this show feedback? ASSIGN ROLES NOW! 11-1 Wednesday, HW: Lab Analysis Due Tomorrow Cellular Homeostasis Quiz Remediation due Friday Term Test Review due Friday Term 2 Test Friday! We will use a sliding scale for data. The middle represents “just right” conditions Place an x on the scale to show how far away you are from the normal condition. Fluid balance must be maintained at the black line. Learning Target 3: I can describe feedback mechanisms necessary to maintain homeostasis, for example, body systems such a integumentary, and circulatory system and how each interacts with other systems to maintain homeostasis. (HS-LS1-3) Plan and Conduct and

A fun homeostasis lab with Homer! Can your students keep Homer alive for 5 minutes? This lab works well when discussing the characteristics of life, or studying homeostasis in more detail. Homeostasis is traditionally a tricky concept to teach. This is a memorable and successful way to finally get this central need of life across to students with a fun challenge. It's tried and tweaked, easy to resource and links the lab to the way their bodies work. It can work as the starting activity to any level of biology or physiology course, within the characteristics of life unit at the start of biology or within your discussions of homeostasis in anatomy and physiology. Check out my other great items in my store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Gowitzkas-Science-Stuff I would appreciate if you would leave feedback for this item. Thank you! Follow my store to get updates on new items as they are added. Reported resources will be reviewed by our team. Report this resource to let us know if this resource violates TPT’s content guidelines. A fun homeostasis lab with Homer! Can your students keep Homer alive for 5 minutes? This lab works well when discussing the characteristics of life, or studying homeostasis in more detail. Homeostasis is traditionally a tricky concept to teach. This is a memorable and successful way to finally ge...

There is nothing quite like a “Homer-o-stasis” lab. For this homeostasis lab our Biology students had to keep their Homer Simpson alive for five minutes. This involved keep his temperature, water level, and yellowness steady, even though water was pouring out of the bottom of Homer’s cup. "Homer-o-stasis" lab: For this homeostasis lab our Biology students had to keep their Homer Simpson alive for five minutes.

Keep the level, color and temperature the same in a leaky cup of yellow yellow water - maintain homeostasis to keep 'Homer' alive. Keep the level, color and temperature the same in a leaky cup of yellow water - maintain homeostasis to keep 'Homer' alive! Homeostasis is traditionally a tricky concept to teach. This is a memorable and successful way to finally get this central need of life across to students with a fun challenge. It's tried and tweaked, easy to resource and links the lab to the way their bodies work. It can work as the starting activity to any level of physiology course, within the characteristics of life unit at the start of middle school life science, or toward the end of a unit on cells. This Project includes a Rank & Reason® discussion question. Keep the level, color and temperature the same in a leaky cup of yellow water - maintain homeostasis to keep 'Homer' alive! Homeostasis is traditionally a tricky concept to teach. This is a memorable and successful way to finally get this central need of life across to students with a fun challenge. It's tried and tweaked, easy to resource and links the lab to the way their bodies work. It can work as the starting activity to any level of physiology course, within the characteristics of life unit at the start of middle school life science, or toward the end of a unit on cells.

Name: _________________________________________ Date: _________ Period: ________ Homer-o-stasis Inquiry Lab Learning Target: SWBAT Keep Homer alive by maintaining his body temperature, sugar/electrolyte concentration, and fluid levels. Task: You will need to maintain a constant temperature, keep the fluid level constant (at Homer's eyebrows), and maintain a constant concentration of sugar/electrolytes in a leaky plastic cup for 5 minutes. Good luck! Materials for each group: ✔ 1 clear "Homer" cup with a hole punched in the bottom. Place tape over the hole to keep liquid inside. ✔ 1 control sample (A) ✔ 1 beaker of "Homer Fluid" (B) ✔ 1 cup with concentrated liquid (orange color) (C) ✔ 1 cup of hot water (D) ✔ 1 cup of cold water (E) ✔ 1 thermometer ✔ 1 ring stand ✔ 1 plastic container to catch fluid ✔ timer/stopwatch Student responsibilities in the group: ● Member #1: monitors the temperature, color, and substance level and directs other group members on what to do. ● Member #2: adds hot and cold water as directed by member #1 ● Member #3: adds concentrated dye (electrolytes and sugar) ● Member #4: monitors the time using the stopwatch Pre-lab planning: What will you need to maintain to keep Homer from dying (vocab word)? Measure the temperature of the "Homer Fluid" in container B. This will be the set point temperature that you will need to maintain during the lab. What is the set point temperature? What is the set point for the water level? In other words, where (on the Homer cup) will you need to keep your water level at? What is the set point for the color? In other words, how will you know that your "Homer solution" is the right concentration of electrolytes and sugar? Who is the group member that will monitor the temperature, color, and substance level? There are many mechanisms of the human body that are responsible for maintaining homeostasis. In the space below, outline 5 examples of homeostasis in the human body and provide a description for each. Example Description Biology document from Los Altos High, Los Altos, 4 pages, Name: _ Date: _ Period: _ Homer-o-stasis Inquiry Lab Learning Target: SWBAT Keep Homer alive by maintaining his body temperature, sugar/electrolyte concentration, and fluid levels. Task: You will need to maintain a constant temperature, keep the fluid lev

Question: Can you keep Homer alive by maintaining his Homeostasis? in a leaky plastic cup for over 5 minutes. 1 Homer plastic cup with a hole punched in the bottom. Place tape over the hole to keep liquid inside. other three students. Homer from dying (vocab word)? What is a “set point” ? temperature? for F or C? What is the set point for the water level? What is the set point for the color? homeostasis? Explain what you would use each for. Who is the group leader? Who will control the Hot water? Who will control the cold water? instead of concentrated dye)? water? Homer fluid will be yellow. A control is used as a comparison. The yellow is the normal “healthy” color for Homer. · If you add water but no orange his color will turn clear. · If you add too much orange he will become sickly orange. · If you add just the right amount of orange to the water he will stay yellow!!! You can’t add Homer juice after we begin timing! What will you look at to know if homer is staying the correct color? The ________________________ cup. Directions (Lab Procedure): Let's get started! 1. Gather all materials and place the Homer cup into the ring on the ring stand. 2. Maintain a temperature and color balance (homeostasis) of Homer for at least 5 minutes. 9. Did Homer live? (If anything got way off, he won't have made it!) Post Lab AnalysisEach of you was part of “Homer’s Body” helping him maintain homeostasis. What was the stimulus? Stimuli? sensor (s)? Explain. Who was the control center? Explain. Who were the effectors? Explain. What was the response? Explain. Think about the parts of a feedback mechanism (use page 2-3 of your notes). ____________________ . ● Create a title that best represents the diagram. ● Circle on the diagram the functions of the hypothalamus. saying “blood vessel dilate”. Answer: Predict what would happen to the organism if the hypothalamus is removed. Biology lab worksheet on homeostasis. Students maintain temperature, water level, and concentration in a 'Homer' cup. Includes instructions and analysis.

Here is a round-up of resources you can use while teaching homeostasis: 1. AMOEBA SISTERS- This Youtube video may go into a little more depth than biology teachers need to cover, but it’s still a great video. They also have worksheets that accompany the videos on their website. 2. PBS INTERACTIVE- Here is a quick interactive from PBS you can use with students. In this “body control center” activity students need to monitor the person’s pulse, oxygen, blood pressure, body temperature, and glucose level. Students will learn that our body systems and responses are all connected. 3. BIOMAN INTERACTIVE- This “ endocrine ed ” interactive goes into more detail than the PBS version, so if you are looking for a more detailed virtual activity, be sure to check it out. 4. OSMOSIS- If your students know how to use microscopes, you can have them observe a wet mount of plant cells (elodea works great!) in fresh water and salt water. What happens to the cells when you add salt water and why? What would happen if you drank salt water? 5. HOMER-OSTASIS LAB- This is a popular lab where students need to keep Homer Simpson alive for 5 minutes by monitoring his temperature, water level and concentration. There are a few versions of this lab floating around on the internet, you can find one version here. 6. CASE STUDIES- If you haven’t seen University of Buffalo’s case studies, then you need to check them out! (The case studies are all free, and there is a 1 time yearly fee for the answer keys). When you search for homeostasis case studies, many pop up that may be too difficult for high school biology students, but you could check out “ Do grasshoppers sweat? ” or “ The 2000 meter row.” 7. ARTICLE- Here is a one page reading comprehension on homeostasis by Elly Thorson that is free on teachers pay teachers. 8. STATION LAB- Looking to have your students get up and moving around the room? In this engaging station activity, students will rotate through 10 stations and complete a quick activity relating to homeostasis at each station. I hope those are useful for you! If you want to check out ideas for teaching the characteristics of life, head over to this blog post! Rock on, I help busy science teachers get your prep back by providing you time saving lessons, labs, and resources.

Question: Can you keep Homer alive by maintaining his Homeostasis? Lab Challenge- You need to maintain a constant temperature, keep the water level constant at Homer’s eyebrows, and maintain a constant concentration of "body fluid" in a leaky plastic cup for over 5 minutes. Materials for each group 1 Homer plastic cup with a hole punched in the bottom. Place tape over the hole to keep liquid inside. 1 control cup (Cup #1) 1 cup of “Homer Fluid” (Cup #2) 1 cup with concentrated liquid (orange color) 1 cup of hot water 1 cup of cold water 1 thermometer 1 ring stand 1 plastic beaker to catch fluid Student responsibilities in the group: ● The group leader watches the temperature, level and compares the yellowness and directs the other three students. ● One student to add hot water as directed by the leader ● One student adds cold water ● One student adds concentrated dye (electrolytes and sugar) Homer fluid will be yellow. A control is used as a comparison. The yellow is the normal “healthy” color for Homer. · If you add water but no orange his color will turn clear. · If you add too much orange he will become sickly orange. · If you add just the right amount of orange to the water he will stay yellow!!! · You can’t add Homer juice after we begin timing! What will you look at to know if homer is staying the correct color? The ________________________ cup. Directions (Lab Procedure): Let's get started! Gather all materials and place the Homer cup into the ring on the ring stand. Determine the temperature of Homer (Temperature of Homer Cup). a. Maintain a temperature and color balance (homeostasis) of Homer for at least 5 minutes. Did Homer live? (If anything got way off, he won't have made it!) Dead Alive Post Lab Analysis- Each of you was part of “Homer’s Body” helping him maintain homeostasis. What was the stimulus? Stimuli? What was/were the receptor (s) / sensor (s)? Explain. Who was the control center? Explain. Who were the effectors? Explain. What was the response? Explain. Think about the parts of a feedback mechanism (use page 2-3 of your notes). There is a ____________________ that creates a change that is detected by a ____________________ (sensor), that sends a signal to the ___________________, which coordinates a response and sends a signal (communication through hormones or nerves) to the ____________________ which then responds (does something) to return the body to ____________________. Word Bank: Homeostasis Effector Stimulus Control center Receptor Name: _______________________________________ Date: ___________ Period: ________ Was this document helpful? Was this document helpful? Question: Can you keep Homer alive by maintaining his Homeostasis?