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Lesson Plan
University of Minnesota

Chemotaxis Using C. elegans

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Have you ever wondered what roundworms are like? Or what they don't like? Explore the sensory preferences of C. elegans through this controlled chemotaxis experiment. Biology class members brainstorm what substances might attract—or...
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Lesson Plan
Science 4 Inquiry

A Whole New World: The Search for Water

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Scholars find Earth won't support humans much longer and need to identify a planet with water to inhabit. They test four unknown samples and determine which is the closest to water. Then they explain and defend their results.
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Lesson Plan
Teach Engineering

Dirty Decomposers

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Do not let the class just sit and rot. Pupils learn how decomposition and nutrient recycling is important to an ecosystem. Groups design an experiment to determine how environmental conditions affect decomposition. They develop a poster...
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Lesson Plan
American Physiological Society

Effects of Environment on Enzymes

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Much like the tale of Humpty Dumpty, proteins, once altered, will never be the same again. Honors and pre-AP biology classes explore the delicate world of enzymes via a Webquest and lab experiment. The teacher's guide contains all...
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Lesson Plan
2
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American Chemical Society

Changing State: Evaporation

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Why do experiments require a control? Guide scholars through designing an experiment to see what they can do to evaporate water faster with a lesson that stresses the importance of controlling all variables. The second activity allows...
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Lesson Plan
University of Minnesota

Caeno-WHAT??

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Can you feel that? Can you smell that? Since pupils can't ask worms about their sense of smell and touch, they design and complete an experiment to answer these questions. Individuals expose nematodes to different stimuli using their...
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Lesson Plan
University of Minnesota

C. elegans and Alcohol

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Investigate experimental design through a hands-on exploration. A creative lesson allows learners to design an experiment to monitor the effects of alcohol on the C. elegans worm. After conducting the experiment, individuals analyze...
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Lesson Plan
University of Minnesota

Whose Choice Is It Anyway?

For Students 5th - 8th
Your taste buds may be saying Pepsi, but your brain is saying Coke! By analyzing experimental research, learners discover ways in which our brains impact decision making. They conclude with a discussion of neuromarketing and how it...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Open Inquiry Using C. elegans

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Ever wondered what motivates a roundworm? Introduce your biology class to C. elegans, a non-parasitic model organism that can help them understand behavioral stimuli. Paired pupils design an experiment to test the worm's reaction to...
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Lesson Plan
1
1
Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary

Let’s Throw an Electric Science Party!

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Are you looking for a shockingly good lesson plan? Check out one that has middle schoolers recreate four of Benjamin Franklin's experiments. Groups investigate, observe, and draw conclusions about static electricity and electrical...
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Lesson Plan
University of California

Heating and Cooling of the Earth's Surface

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Scholars collect data from heating sand and water before forming testable hypotheses about why sand heats up faster. Afterward, they develop and run experiments to test their hypotheses.
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Interactive
Learning Games Lab

Understanding Water Activity

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
How does water activity play a role in food spoilage? First, the learners think about which types of foods would be best to take on a backpacking trip based on the water activity of different foods. It then walks through why water...
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Interactive
Learning Games Lab

Controlling Water Activity in Food

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Food storage matters! Scholars learn how the amount of water in corn can affect its rate of spoilage. They create a control group, then test three corn samples stored in three different locations for water activity. As a result of the...
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Interactive
Learning Games Lab

The pH Scale and Meter Calibration

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
What are the different ways to test for pH? First, scholars explore the pH scale and a common way to test for acidity and alkalinity. Then, they learn about the importance of pH in food safety and why variance in pH could potentially...
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Interactive
Learning Games Lab

How to Use Oil Immersion Microscope

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Teach the class how to use a microscope to identify bacteria in food. Scholars explore the different parts of the microscope and learn how to determine total magnification. They walk step-by-step through the procedure of preparing slides...
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Interactive
Learning Games Lab

Gram Staining

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Scholars use a lab simulation to test contaminated yogurt for bacteria by gram staining. They learn proper lab procedures for handling bacteria and for sterilizing equipment, and then walk through the process on their own to try gram...
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Interactive
Learning Games Lab

Bacteria Sampling

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Scholars explore the procedure for bacteria sampling in a virtual lab by first walking through a detailed step-by-step procedure of preparing the samples of raw milk and pasteurized milk, growing the bacteria, and comparing results....
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Interactive
Learning Games Lab

Testing for Corn Mold

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Learners complete a virtual lab to test for a corn mold that can lead to dangerous toxins. They walk through a detailed step-by-step procedure then see their findings. Throughout the activity, they learn how to use lab tools and practice...
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PPT
1
1
Biology Junction

Scientific Method

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Break down the scientific method to get a better grasp on the proper way to use it. A short presentation walks through each step in the scientific method and the proper vocabulary associated with each. Scholars complete the worksheet to...
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Activity
American Psychological Association

Do Cookies/Donuts Improve Memory? Errors in Methodology

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
If the methodology is skewed, the results will be skewed. That's the takeaway from an exercise designed to get class members thinking about research methods and statistics gathering. Instructors manipulate the testing environment to...
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Activity
New South Wales Department of Education

Photosynthesis

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
Venus fly traps photosynthesize and consume insects because the soil they live in does not provide enough nutrients. Scholars analyze historical scientific experiments to learn how scientists discovered photosynthesis. From their...
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Unit Plan
Mathematics Vision Project

Module 8: Statistics

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
What does it mean to be normal in the world of statistics? Pupils first explore the meaning of a normal distribution in the eight-lesson module. They then apply the statistics related to normal distributions such as mean, standard...
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Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Differences Due to Random Assignment Alone

For Students 10th - 12th Standards
It takes a lot of planning to achieve a random result! Learners compare results of random assignment, and conclude that random assignment allows results to be attributed to chance. They also realize the set of random means are clustered...
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Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Evaluating Reports Based on Data from an Experiment

For Students 10th - 12th Standards
They say you can interpret statistics to say what you want them to. Teach your classes to recognize valid experimental results! Pupils analyze experiments and identify flaws in design or statistics.