Towson University
Berries...With a Side of DNA?
Sometimes science lab can be ... delicious! Middle school science scholars extract DNA from strawberries and other fruits in an engaging lab activity. The teacher's guide includes pacing, materials list, and worksheets with answer keys.
Polar Trec
Why Can’t I Eat This Fish?
Can turning on the television lead to toxins in the food supply? The lesson offers an opportunity for young scientists to complete guided research. A worksheet lists each question as well as the web page necessary to answer the question....
Polar Trec
Do Microorganisms Live in Antarctica?
Can microorganisms live in the dry, cold climate of Antarctica? Young scientists view a research project measuring microorganisms in the Taylor Glacier. They record the findings from dirty ice, clean ice, boots, sediment, and more. Then...
Polar Trec
Nature's Density Column
Nature provides density columns in the polar regions that provides food for many animals. Young scientists build their own density columns with water in order to answer analysis questions. Through a slideshow presentation, scholars...
Polar Trec
Drawing Diatoms like Ernst Haeckel
Why do scientists rely on drawings rather than just photographs of their research studies? The lesson introduces drawings of microscopic organisms and the importance of accuracy. Young artists draw organisms and learn why focus and...
Polar Trec
Bioaccumulation of Toxins
In 2015, Peter Cook found that sea lions with high levels of exposure to toxins suffered permanent brain damage if they survived at all. Scholars learn about the accumulation of toxins at various levels of the food chain. Using...
CK-12 Foundation
Skeletal System Joints: Appendages
The hundreds of joints in the human body fit into five main categories. A quick video explains the joints in the skeleton, which are often the most confusing. The interactive reviews each of the five types of joints and has scholars...
Institute for Energy and Environmental Research
Practice with Scientific Notation
Zeroes are more important than they look! A guided practice activity takes learners through the process of both scientific and decimal notation, culminating in more complex word problems and equations.
CK-12 Foundation
Scientific Models: Mathematical, Physical and Conceptual
This is one super model interactive! Middle and high school science scholars examine scientific models through a simple resource. Guided, hands-on practice allows them to classify conceptual, mathematical, and physical models. Other...
CK-12 Foundation
Blood Types
Does your blood type matter? The video explains the four main blood types and the importance of knowing blood types when performing transfusions. The interactive reviews the information with a quick graphic organizer and questions.
CK-12 Foundation
Homeostasis
How much negative feedback does a body get daily? The interactive walks through one negative feedback loop, increasing body temperature. Then it challenges scholars to relate this to mechanical feedback loops and disorders that prevent...
CK-12 Foundation
Seasonal Changes in Plants: Leaf Pigment
Leaves fall off the tree in the autumn, but why do they change colors? The interactive covers the role of chlorophyll and photosynthesis. It also explains both carotenoids and anthocyanins.
CK-12 Foundation
Types of Archaea
One of the few organisms that are classified by the environment in which they live include archaea. The video describes the phylogeny of the group and their major characteristics. It details how they reproduce and discusses the diversity...
CK-12 Foundation
Limiting Factors to Population Growth: Graphing Population Growth
If any of the limiting factors in an environment change, both animal and plant populations also change. The video explains two different models of growth and the impact of limiting factors. It highlights the carrying capacity of an...
CK-12 Foundation
Natural Selection: Of Seasons and Species
Do predators look for different things in different seasons? The quick interactive shows how some species survive longer in one season than another based on the conditions. The challenge questions encourage pupils to demonstrate that...
CK-12 Foundation
Natural Selection: Peppered Moths
Can human activity influence the colors of moths? The simulation explains how pollution changed the color of tree bark, which led to the survival of a different variation of moths. It also discusses the shift back as air quality improves.
CK-12 Foundation
Natural Selection: Natural Disasters
Can natural disasters alter natural selection? The interactive explores this concept with mice living through a forest fire. As the environment changes, the camouflage also changes. How does this one disaster impact future generations?
CK-12 Foundation
Sex-Linked Inheritance
Sex-linked traits indicate a gene's location on a specific chromosome. Scholars learn about sex-linked traits and the specifics behind color blindness in the videos. Then they complete the online interactive to apply their knowledge...
CK-12 Foundation
Modern Genetics
Genetic counselors advise their clients on the chance of passing specific diseases on to their children. Pupils learn about genotypes, phenotypes, and genetics in the lesson. Matching activities, multiple-choice questions, and a...
CK-12 Foundation
Transcription of DNA to RNA: Making mRNA
Transcription means a written copy but how can DNA write a message? The video explains transcription and translation as they relate to DNA and RNA. Then in the interactive, scholars practice base pairing and answer analysis questions...
CK-12 Foundation
Cell Cycle: Phases of the Cell Cycle
Eukaryotic cells go through a cycle of creation, reproduction, and death. The video choreographs the cell cycle to music from a popular movie. This prepares scholars to answer the questions in the online interactive.
CK-12 Foundation
Passive Transport
Some molecules move through a membrane with diffusion while others require protein channels. The video and interactive discuss both types of passive transport. Challenge questions allow scholars to demonstrate their understanding.
CK-12 Foundation
Microscopes: Focal Point
The 1590s saw the invention of the first compound microscope. Scholars learn about how microscopes work and how to properly focus one. The lesson stresses the science fields that use microscopes and the difference between electron...
CK-12 Foundation
Fields in the Life Sciences
Many fields of study require a specialty and a sub-specialty as you progress through your education. Scholars learn about six sub-specialties of life science. From botany to zoology, our knowledge of the world of living organisms expands...