NASA
Ripening of Fruits and Vegetables
How long do fresh foods last in space at the International Space Station? Which foods perish quicker than others? How can astronauts preserve their foods to make them last longer in space? Young scientists test the rates at which some...
Teach Engineering
Kidney Stone Crystallization
No one likes kidney stones, but they are very interesting to learn about. The last installment of a three-part unit has learners experiment with different chemicals to see which one inhibits the growth of calcium oxalate crystals (which...
It's About Time
The Nitrogen and Phosphorous Cycles
How do we affect the ecosystem, and what can we do to preserve it? Pupils explore chemicals that promote and inhibit plant growth, then discuss the importance of nitrogen and phosphorus to the survival of organisms and describe how...
Curated OER
Lead and Mercury Ion Catalase Inhibition
Students participate in a laboratory investigation in which they observe the effect of temperature and pH on enzyme activity. Students also examine exposure to heavy metal ions and the effect that may have on enzyme activity.
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network
Silver and Bandages: Assessment of Inhibition of Bacteria by Silver Colloid-Impregnated Bandages
Silver: more than jewelry, it's also a natural antimicrobial agent. An inquiry-based lesson asks collaborative groups to design and implement an experiment to test this property. Using samples of silver nanoparticles and a strain of...
Baylor College
Crossing the Synaptic Gap
As part of a unit on the chemistry of the brain, thinkers learn how chemicals work to transmit messages between individual neurons and how controlled substances impact the synaptic cleft. They do so by playing a dice-and-card game in...
Curated OER
Cellular Respiration: Other Metabolites and Control of Respiration
The feedback mechanisms of metabolism of a variety of substances in the human body. Carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, and their derivatives are explained. The biochemistry required to explain the metabolic balance and feedback controls...
Curated OER
Toxicology 2: Finding the Toxic Dose
Students brainstorm with group partners to decide upon a chemical they would like to test, and outline a procedure for their investigation. They then present in groups their ideas to the rest of the class as well as the chemical they...
Curated OER
Staying Young with Vitamin E
Investigate how Vitamin E is used to prevent cell aging. Young scientists coat the surface of apples and bananas with oil, Vitamin E, and water. They place each in a petri dish and cover them to observe oxidation over time. They answer 8...
Curated OER
Toxicology and Living Systems
Students investigate how toxic chemicals affect biological systems. They determine the toxic dose of a chemical that inhibits seed germination in a Brassica rapa. They investigate the effect of environmental tobacco smoke on human lung...
Curated OER
Enzymes
Students explore enzymes and what can inhibit and act as a catalyst for them. In this enzymes lesson plan students complete experiments on enzyme properties.
Curated OER
Phytochemicals
Students study what phytochemicals are, how they work and where you can find them. In this food chemicals lesson students complete and activity and study products that contain phytochemicals.
Curated OER
A Model of Morphogenesis in Drosophila Melanogaster
Learners investigate the following scientific terms and ideas: rates of diffusion, the role of morphogens in the development of larva, the chemical dynamics of a cell, and the significance of embryo polarity during development.
Curated OER
Growing from Seed
High school or college horticulturists will appreciate this PowerPoint on seed-propagation. It walks them through the science behind seed production and germination as well as the requirements for growing plants from this stage....
Curated OER
Germination Inhibitors
In germination experiment learning exercise, students conduct the following lab activity. Students determine the effects of another tomato on germinating seeds. Students answer the following questions to analyze their experiment.
Teach Engineering
Body Full of Crystals
Your body has lots of crystals, just not any gemstones. The first installment of a three-part unit provides a PowerPoint presentation on crystallization occurring in the human body and about crystallization in general. The resource gives...
Polar Trec
Frozen Fish? Unique Adaptations of Antarctic Fish
Some fish contain proteins that act like antifreeze in order for them to live in the frigid waters of Antarctica! High schoolers determine how much antifreeze a fish needs to lower its body temp to -2.5 degrees. Teachers act as a...
Serendip
The Ecology of Lyme Disease
Areas that previously included no risk of Lyme disease now have cases every year. Scholars learn about the spread of Lyme disease and the relationship with ecological succession. Then, they discuss possible solutions using the known food...
Curated OER
Toxicology And Human Health
High schoolers examine the clinical effects of environmental toxicants on living organisms by collecting and analyzing scientific data and identifying ways of detection and diagnosis.
Curated OER
Sour Milk Experiment
Students experiment with milk to understand the importance of pasteurization. In this pasteurization lesson, students learn background knowledge about bacteria in milk and the process of pasteurization. They complete an experiment to see...
Curated OER
The Drug Connection: Design-O-Synapse
High schoolers study cholinergic neuromuscular pathway of acetylcholine release and develop a model for drug interaction at one specific neurological site. Working in teams, students can also research different drugs or poisons and...
Curated OER
The Endocrine Systems
In this endocrine system worksheet, students review the structures and functions of the parts that make up the endocrine system. This worksheet has 7 fill in the blank and 6 matching questions.
Curated OER
Synaptic Transmission Worksheet
For this synaptic transmission worksheet, students determine how information is transmitted from one neuron to the next plus describe the function of neurotransmitters and neuromodulators. This worksheet has 12 fill in the blank and 4...
Curated OER
Foiling Spoilage
In this agricultural education activity, students read 6 descriptions of bacteria that cause food spoilage. Students then read 4 descriptions of preservatives that can be used to prevent spoilage. The activity is meant as a display.