Free, Fun Heads and Tails Planaria Curriculum

​This unit will help elementary children learn about regeneration in living things by observing planaria—both as whole living things and after they’ve been cut. They’ll be able to observe how the planaria are able to regenerate their heads and tails after they’ve been cut off.

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Objective

​To clarify concepts of regenerative medicine science and provide lab experience of objective, replicable evidence for regeneration.

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Looking for some fun? Download our Planaria Mandala Coloring Page!

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What You need

Download documents you'll need here.

• Heads and Tails Planaria Curriculum
• ​Planaria Information Student Sheet
• What Are Planaria? Student Sheet
• What Happens When Planaria Are Cut? Student Sheet
• What Happens When Planaria Are Cut? Teacher Sheet
• Regeneration Student Sheet
• Regeneration Teacher Sheet 
• Ice Cream & Fish by Linnea Ljosenvoor and Iris Works
• Planaria – these can be obtained from the Carolina Biological Company
• Digital microscopes
  ​(if available)
• Microscopes
• Microscope slides
• Petri dishes
• Bottled water
• Pipettes
• Plastic coverslips 
• Scalpel (for educator to use when working with young children)
• Rulers
• Cotton swabs

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