download instructions

Downloading the Fast Plant Simulations

To download the simulation ZIP archives using a PC:

1. Click on the link below using the right mouse button and select "Save as." It is important to save each ZIP archive in a new folder because the different archives contain HTML files with the same name. By saving the file in its own unique folder, your computer can avoid naming files redundantly.

2. After the ZIP archive is downloaded, you should extract, or unzip, the files to their unique folder. By extracting them to their unique folder, your computer can generate an absolute path to the simulation. For example, you can extract the "two-trait simulation archive" to a "FastPlants1" folder. These archive files can be opened using the "Explore" program (found in the Start menu), and unzipped with the "WinZIP" program.

3. To run the simulation of choice, you can click on the HTML file (e.g., garden.html) within your "FastPlants1" folder. If the simulation does not run in that manner, you can type in the complete filename into the browser. For example, you can type "c:\mystuff\Fastplants1\garden.html". This name would tell the local computer to look in the, in the folder "my stuff" in the "c" drive. Within the "my stuff" folder, your computer will find the"FastPlants1" folder that contains the HTML file "garden.html."

To downoad the simulation ZIP archives using a MacIntosh:

1. Click on the link below. The ZIP archive will automatically download to your desktop.

2. The ZIP archive will automatically be unzipped by "Stuffit Expander." If it is not automatically unzipped, you can click on the "garden.zip" file on the desktop, and then it will probably unzip. The ZIP archive will be unzipped into a garden (or grow) folder.

3. Within the "garden folder," you will find a listing of files. You can click on the HTML file of choice to open the simulation in your local browser.

ZIP archives

Note: These archives contain both the simulations that can be found online and a variety of other files and simulations. Feel free to examine and use the other files for use in your classroom.

1. Plant Growth: Within this ZIP archive, you will find the "grow.html" file. This html file is the same as the simulation found online.

2. Two Trait Plant Genetics: Within this ZIP archive, you will find three HTML files and a number of other materials.

a. garden.html: This HTML file is the same as the online simulation.
b. chooser.html: This HTML file allows you to examine three different traits.
c. mendel.html: This HTML file allows you to examine genetic crosses with a punnett square, instead of plants.

3. Plant Genetics with Chromosomes: Within this ZIP archive, you will find three HTML files and a number of other materials.

a. garden.html: This HTML file is the same as the online simulation with chromosomes.
b. choser.html: This HTML file allows you to examine three different traits, without chromosomes.
c. mendel.html: This HTML file allows you to examine genetic crosses with a punnett square, instead of plants.

4. Three traits with Chromosomes: Within this ZIP archive, you will find three HTML files and a number of other materials.

a. garden.html: This HTML file is not online, but it allows you to examine three traits with a display of chromosomes.
b. choser.html: This HTML file is the same as garden.html
c. mendel.html: This HTML file allows you to examine genetic crosses with a punnett square, instead of plants.