Curated OER
Black Death Biology
Learners in pairs explore the transmission of the Plague, through experimentation. Cooperative groups use the scientific method to solve the fictional problem of a bacteria spreading in the Amazon. Groups also create a vector to visually...
Curated OER
Temperature Affects The Heart Rate
Learners relate heart rate and development to environmental conditions through experiment. In cooperative groups, students record the heart rate in developing zebra fish. Groups create a standard curve to predict the temperature at...
Curated OER
Pair the Plants: An Introduction to Scientific Names
Students examine why plants have both common and scientific names, then complete the activity by matching each common plant name with its scientific name. They finish by working in cooperative groups to create an ABC of Plants class book.
Curated OER
Biology - Life Cycles Game
High schoolers develop a working vocabulary of terms related to the life cycle. In small groups, students play the life cycle's game which consists of matching and defining vocabulary. Directions for creating the game board are...
Curated OER
Games and Activities to Teach Molecular Genetics
Students demonstrate a working knowledge of cell interactions such as DNA replication, protein synthesis (transcription and translation), through active participation in a cooperative group.
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Genetics and Molecular Biology
Students create DNA models using colored construction papers. In this biology lesson, students identify enzyme restriction sites. They model how DNA plasmids replicate when taken up by a bacterial cell.
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Patterns in Nature
Research patterns in nature which illustrate biological and mathematical concepts. Your class will discover and explore aspects of fractals, Fibonaccis numbers, whale and butterfly migration patterns, whale identification, flower...
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String Cells
Use this resource to have your class learn about the cell. This resource walks learners through the construction of a model of a cell. This project is completed in a cooperative learning group, and reinforces the higher-order thinking...
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Microarrays: Chipping Away at the Mysteries of Science and Medicine
Students research microarrays on the internet in cooperative groups. Students write an essay describing the use of microarrays in environmental research and in medicine.
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Conservation vs. Economic Growth
Investigate the choices people make between economic growth and personal growth and development using the ethical/decision making model. Small groups create and present a position paper describing their feeling for or against the...
Curated OER
Unplanned Pregnancy: Parenting
High schoolers consider and discuss characteristics of an ideal parent. In small groups, they work together to examine the stereotypical roles of the father and the mother. The issues dealt with in this resource are thought-provoking and...
Virginia Department of Education
Ecosystem Dynamics
Searching for an eccentric way to enhance lessons on ecosystems while ensuring pupils remain creative and motivated? Upon viewing The Lorax by Dr. Seuss, designated groups design and construct a pop-up book that depicts the specific ways...
Curated OER
Respiration in Sammy's Cells
Students practice translating biological ideas into graphical representations and explore respiration in the context of an exercise session in this 50 minute lesson on aerobic and anaerobic respiration. The lesson includes a question...
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DNA Extraction From a Variety of Tissue Samples
Students, working in cooperative groups, extract very impure samples of DNA from a number of tissue samples. They determine how the samples can be preserved and how they are similar.
Curated OER
Assisted Reproduction
Students are actively involved in presenting some of the issues in implanting previously frozen embryos through a cooperative learning lesson. This lesson helps students to develop decision-making skills through discussing various types...
Curated OER
THE EMBRYO GAME
Students develop a game similar to BINGO. They compare the reproduction and embryo development of different organisms while initiating group and cooperative learning. They constuct cards from vocabulary words.
University of Colorado
Punnett Squares with Piebald Deer
Explore the science behind Earth's amazing diversity of life with this instructional activity on genetics. Looking at specific traits in piebald deer, carnations, and roan cattle, young scientists use Punnett squares to determine the...
Curated OER
Problem Solving in Genetic Disorders
A class of older and academically mature students are divided into pairs, usually one male and one female and are told that they are expecting a child. Unfortunately, their child may or may not have inherited some form of genetic...
Curated OER
A Statistical Study of Three Biomes
Learners collect data from one of three selected biomes. Data are then organized and statistically analyzed. This project engages students of different backgrounds grouped cooperatively in a relevant outdoor hands-on learning experience.
Curated OER
It's All in the Rocks
Students think critically to determine fact or inference when examining sedimentary layers with embedded fossils. They are being introduced to geology as well as evolutionary biology.
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Fun with Phylogenetic Trees
Tenth graders differentiate angiosperms and gymnosperms. In this biology lesson, 10th graders construct a musical phylogenetic tree from information they gathered on resource websites. They present their project in class.
Curated OER
Mendelian Genetics
Students work collaboratively in small learning groups to create some representation of an aspect of Mendelian genetics in this review lesson for the Biology classroom. The lesson includes task cards for each small group and a...
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The Human Genome Project: WebQuest Jigsaw
Twelfth graders research facts about the Human Genome Project. In this biology lesson plan, 12th graders brainstorm on the pros and cons of this project. They complete the jigsaw puzzle and present their findings in class.
Curated OER
Bioethics: Tool for Portfolio and Performance Assessment
Students, in cooperative studying groups, assume the affirmative or negative position of a particular issue (premise). They research the issue and participate in a debate. In addition, they write essays to complete a portfolio entry.