Serendip
Soap Opera Genetics – Genetics to Resolve Family Arguments
Did she cheat on her husband? Did the hospital switch the babies? Should they have children? As much as this sounds like the plot for a soap opera, all of these questions fit into a single lesson on genetics. Scholars read about three...
Curated OER
Life in a Drop of Pond Water
Students investigate living creatures that inhabit a pond and explore how various organisms satisfy their needs within their environments. In this life in a drop of pond water lesson, students examine microorganisms under magnification....
Curated OER
The Great Archeological Dig
Students explore biology by identifying a diagram. In this cell anatomy lesson, students read a story about archeology and conduct a fictitious archeology dig in class in which they search for animal cells. Students define a list of...
Biology Corner
Life is Cellular
For this cells activity, students answer questions about the first person to see a cell as well as the evolution of microscopes. They define the parts of a cell and tell the differences between Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes. There are 20...
Curated OER
Onion Skins
Students explore the structure of a plant cell. They carefully peel a single layer of onion skin from a slice of onion and stain it with methylene blue to observe the structures inside. They use a Digiscope connected to a computer to...
Curated OER
I Need Air
Students examine and research the organs of the respiratory system. They participate in a vocabulary card matching game, create a graphic organizer, and participate in an experiment titled, Floating on Air.
Curated OER
Bacterium Cells
In this bacteria instructional activity, students read several elements of bacterium cells, their diet, types, locations, reproduction, resting stages, effects of, and classification. Students also study a cross-section of bacterium cells.
Curated OER
Controlling the Code: Molecules at Work
In this DNA worksheet, students access a website to learn about how single-celled organisms function successfully. Then students pretend they are a bacterium and determine how to transport lactose across their cell membrane for food....
Curated OER
Sinking Races
Students build plankton models and compete to see which sinks most slowly. They write, or orally present ,the adaptations they incorporated to slow the sinking rate of their organisms. Race results can be grounds for some prizes!
Curated OER
Invisible Life
By setting up an aquarium in the classroom, learners are able to describe some macroscopic and microscopic organisms that are found inside. This well-designed, and educationally rich instructional activity requires pupils to use...
Curated OER
The Time is Right
Tenth graders study the timeline of life on Earth. They learn about the progression of prokaryotes to single celled eukaryotes and the development of increasingly complex multicellular organisms.
Curated OER
Creatures That Glow In The Night
Students investigate the different bioluminescent organisms. They use microscopes in order to make observations and draw what is seen. Students demonstrate they have studies the differences between the process of photosynthesis and...
Cornell University
Extracting DNA
Uncover the basics of DNA structure through exploration activities. Collaborative groups build DNA models and recreate the process of replication. Then, using plant cells such as peas or strawberries, they extract a DNA sample.
Serendip
DNA Structure, Function and Replication
Before a cell replicates, its DNA must replicate. Take advantage of a hands-on guided lesson to teach budding scientists how this happens. Using a set of nucleotide cards, learners become the DNA and work to create matching strands...
Serendip
DNA
Get up close and personal with DNA! A two-part hands-on activity has learners extract DNA from a small organism and then their own cheek cells. Scholars then explore DNA replication using questions to guide their analyses.
Curated OER
Internal Systems and Regulation
For this internal systems and regulation worksheet, students correctly decide if given statements are true or false. Students apply information learned about the circulatory system to the given statements to determine statements of truth...
Curated OER
Fungus
Pupils study fungus, its reproduction and uses. In this eukaryote lesson students complete several fungal experiments.
Curated OER
Osmosis
Fifth graders explore osmosis as they watch organisms divide. In this organism lesson plan, 5th graders use potatoes to experiment with the effects of salty water in the body. Students discuss what osmosis is and record what happens in...
Biology Junction
Introduction to Biology
Welcome to Biology! Introduce pupils to a subject conceptualized by Aristotle in 300 BC through a presentation and worksheet. It covers the themes of biology, characteristics of life, the scientific method, microscopes, and measurements.
Curated OER
Life Underground
First graders build a terrarium in order to observe animal and plant life dynamics. In this biology lesson, 1st graders compare how organisms survive in different environments. They write their observations and analysis in their journal.
Curated OER
Pond Life
Students explore pond ecosystems. In this living environment lesson, students observe the local pond and identify the living things they find by drawing pictures. Students observe organisms that were found in the pond by using a...
Curated OER
Microorganisms
Though there are seventy-seven slides in this PowerPoint, only small bits of information are presented on each. It outlines the roles microorganisms play in the environment and spends time listing characteristics of each four different...
Curated OER
Feed Your Cells
Students examine and research the human digestive system and what happens to the food we eat. They read the article, The Passage of Food, participate in an experiment with crackers, and write a paragraph summarizing the function of the...
Virginia Department of Education
Genetic Variation and Mutations
Young scientists demonstrate their creativity while completing several activities, to assess genetic variations and mutations. Instructors provide a list of options and scientists choose to write a comic strip, create a book, construct a...