Hisser Lab
Buy on AmazonReal lessons, written by a UT Austin scientist
Every lesson names its author, cites the full NGSS bundle it serves, and ships with materials, cost, time, differentiation, and a formative assessment. The first pack is in progress; join the list below to get it free, with the observation journal available now.
Lessons by grade band
PreK–2 · Look closely
Structured observation: what does our hisser need? Drawing-and-labeling journal pages.
K-LS1-11-LS1-1Observation
Coming with the v1 lesson pack.
3–5 · Life cycles, compared
The hisser vs. the butterfly: incomplete vs. complete metamorphosis (no pupa, no chrysalis, six molts). Sequencing cards included.
3-LS1-14-LS1-1Life cycle
Coming with the v1 lesson pack.
6–8 · Behavior & evidence
Stimulus and response: log hisses, build a claim-evidence-reasoning argument from your own colony’s data.
MS-LS1-4CERData logs
Coming with the v1 lesson pack.
Every lesson includes ELL/IEP scaffolds and an observation-only path for students who don’t handle animals. TEKS crosswalks in progress.
The Classroom Animal Care Plan
The documents that actually decide whether an animal enters your classroom, as finished, hand-to-your-principal PDFs:
- Admin approval one-pager: the “Animals in the Classroom” rationale plus a hygiene & safety sheet for district sign-off.
- Break & summer coverage: hissers are forgiving. Safe unattended about 10 to 14 days with simple prep. We show the prep.
- End-of-year decision tree: prevention, responsible rehoming, and why you never release into the wild. (Hissers breed prolifically; plan in September, not June.)
- Allergy & phobia accommodations, including the observation-only path.
Get the free educator kit
The age-scaffolded observation journal now, plus each lesson and care-plan PDF as it’s released. One email per release.
Setting up a class colony?
Classroom colony kits are on the way. Pairs and nymph packs are in the catalog now.