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Squid Dissection Pre-Discussion: Ask the students as a class what they know about squids. Create a list of questions (answers if they have any) on the board which students can keep in mind while dissecting. Examples: What type of animal are squids? What do they eat? How do they swim? Dissection: For the dissection, the students will have a list of body parts, and blank diagrams of the external and internal organs. External: Help them locate each organ and fill out the diagram. Ask them to note things like how many tentacles and arms there are. Point out the function of each of them and how the shape connects to function (ie fins for swimming, suction cups for grabbing, etc.). Cool extra things to locate! Beak: At the mouth, find the beak and show it to the students. It is possible to push out the beak and let the students handle it. Eyeballs: TUTORS ONLY: If you have time, slice open an eyeball and see if you can dissect out the lens (round ball). Warning, a lot of black juice will come out. Internal: Lay the squid on its “back” (laying on its fins) and separate the mantle from the organs. Carefully cut the mantle up the length of the squid without harming the internal organs. Spread open the mantle so students can see the organs. Help them identify and label each organ as with the external organs. Things to keep in mind: Male vs. female: If there are large, white glands laying on top of the organs, this is a female. You will need to remove these organs to get a better view of things. Females may have jelly-like eggs at the “top” of the mantle. Males will have a milky white sac instead. Gills/heart: Point out the fact that there is more than one heart, and each gill has a heart. Advanced question: Why do they have hearts for each gill? Try to explain how gills are like our lungs, and provide oxygen for the blood. Ink sac: TUTORS ONLY: Cut out the ink sac carefully without piercing it as the ink will spill and oscure the organs. Lay it aside in a small cup where it will be used for writing later. Stomach: The stomach is a long, white milky tube. If you can identify it, try cutting it open and see if you can find a recent meal for the squid. Head: you will have to cut through the tentacles to get to the brain. It is between the eyes and not that obvious. If you come across a bunch of white goo, that’s the brain. Gladius/Pen: The gladius will be along the mantle underneath the organs. It is thin, long, and like cartilage. Grab the head and organs firmly and pull them away from the mantle. This will reveal the gladius, which you can pull out. Writing: TUTORS ONLY: Remove the ink from the sac by cutting it and squeezing with forceps/toothpicks/whatever works. Let it accumulate in the plastic cup. If the ink seems thick, you can add a little water to it. Let the students dip the pointed end of the gladius (“pen”) into the ink and write their names on a piece of paper as a souvenir. If the gladius is not firm enough, or broken, they can use toothpicks instead. Also, some ink sacs may be empty of ink, so share with those that have empty ink sacs.