Brainy Briny is a fun, interactive way to learn science! Foss Waterway Seaport has teamed up with Algae research and Supply from California and consulted a brine shrimp biologist in Utah to bring students a hands-on science experiment that they can do at home or in the classroom.
Check back here in Fall 2021 to see updates on this experiment!
Check out this video <— to learn more about the Brainy Briny Project!
These three videos will help students set-up their project. Don’t forget to fill out your data sheets! Next week, we start learning more about energy transfer and life cycles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Thank you students for participating in the Brainy Briny Science Project! You’ve made it to the optional Week 4 portion of the journal. Here are some helpful tips for completing each Week 4 page:
For this portion of Week 4 it is best to wait until your brine shrimp are in the adult stage. When they are in the adult stage you can see the differences in male and female brine shrimp. Male brine shrimp have claspers or claws near their head, while female brine shrimp have a brood sack or egg sack where brine shrimp young or cysts are.
For this activity you will be getting creative with your writing. Your story must include your brine shrimp and their ecosystem, but other than that, it can be about anything! You can create a villain, and a hero who saves the day, the options are endless. Have fun with it! When you are finished, email your story over to education@fosswaterwayseaport.org and we will publish it on our website, how cool is that!
Brainy Briny Science JournalDownload
The best way to ask us questions is through Flipgrid. Just head over to Flipgrid by clicking that link and it will take you to a log in page. Use your schools code and your school email address to log in. Once you have access you can participate by sharing videos and commenting on your classmates posts!
Your Flipgrid code is bb(your schools name).
Below is a list of each elementary schools join code:
bbarlington
bbbirney
bbblix
bbboze
bbbrownspoint
bbbryant
bbcrescentheights
bbdowning
bbedison
bbfawcett
bbfernhill
bbfranklin
bbgeiger
bbgrant
bbjefferson
bblarchmont
bblister
bblowell
bbmanitoupark
bbmann
bbmarylyon
bbmccarver
bbnortheast
bbpointdefiance
bbreed
bbroosevelt
bbsheridan
bbstafford
bbstanley
bbwainwright
bbwashington
bbwhitman
How do I use my kit?
You can download the instructions above, or watch the detailed video. If you need more help, please email education@fosswaterwayseaport.org or use the form below.
How long does it take for my Brine Shrimp to hatch?
It depends on the temperature, if it’s very warm they can hatch in 12 hours, or it can take up to three days it the temperatures are colder. Make sure to look closely, newly hatched Naupli are very small.
How much light does my Brainy Briny bag (and inhabitants) need?
As much as possible! However, be wary of putting your bag in DIRECT sunlight. The bag can get too hot, and kill your ecosystem.
How open should I leave my bag?
As long as there is a gap that air can go through, it’s fine. Make sure to keep your bag somewhere out of reach of your pets, siblings, and llamas.