Curated OER
Cell Wall Recipe: A Lesson on Biofuels
Biotech engineers discover that changes in the DNA code for cell wall formation can help create crops better suited for biofuel production. They extract DNA from wheat germ. They decode paper strips with codes and relate the activity to...
Curated OER
Cell Size and Shape; Diffusion and Osmosis Processes
Use salmon eggs as a cell model for demonstrating the movement of water over concentration gradients. Junior scientists examine the same process microscopically with an onion cell. They use a thistle tube and a semipermeable membrane to...
Cornell University
Build a Fuel Cell
Discover the connection between redox reactions and fuel cells. Collaborative groups build a Hoffmann Apparatus that demonstrates the electrolysis of water and then convert their models into a fuel cell. They use their fuel cells to...
Curated OER
A Hard Sell on Stem Cells?
Students examine their prior knowledge of cell regeneration and therapeutic use of stem cells. After reading an article, they discover new techniques for deriving embryonic stem cells. In groups, they research on the different types of...
BBSRC
Discovering DNA: The Recipe for Life
A pinch of adenine, a dash of thymine and ta-da, you have life! Well, it's not quite that simple, but through this series of activities and experiments young scientists learn about the structure of DNA and how it contains the recipe...
Curated OER
Solar Kit Lesson #3 Parts of a Solar Panel - Part I
A solar cell is similar to a rechargeable battery in many ways. Science lab groups connect each in a series circuit to run a mini motor and then compare and contrast them by answering questions and completing a Venn diagram. This is an...
Curated OER
Plant and Animal Cells
Students investigate parts of a cell. In this plant cell lesson, students determine the difference between plant and animal cells. Students discover that coral is an animal based on cell characteristics. Students create puppets to...
Curated OER
Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Students use the Internet to discover information about human embryonic stem cells from the National Institutes of Health. They examine different sides of the debate to use or not to use stem cells. They can also listen to speeches given...
Curated OER
Cell Observation Exercise
Students take measurements of the distance between the objective and the slide when in focus with each objective. They determine the diameter of the field of view at each power in order to determine the size of the cells being observed.
Curated OER
Cell Energy - Bubbling Yeast
Students identify that yeast are a single celled fungi that are a great model organism for studying respiration in the classroom. They also fill the bulb of a disposable pipet (eyedropper) with yeast, then submerge the pipet in a test...
Curated OER
Solar Kit Lesson #15 - Solar-Powered Electrolysis of Water and the Hydrogen Economy
An outstanding lesson awaits your physics fledglings! After reading about how hydrogen can act as an energy carrier, they examine the electrolysis of water using solar power. They test the gases produced for flammability and will...
Curated OER
Junior Solar Sprint Series: Electrical Power
Through scientific inquiry, middle schoolers discover how to arrange solar cells in order to produce electricity. This activity is intended to prepare learners to be able to design and construct solar cars. As with other resources...
Curated OER
Solar Car Series: during What Part of the Day Can the Most Sun Power Be Collected?
In preparation for solar car races, middle schoolers attempt to discover what time of day the most solar energy can be collected. Begin by demonstrating the use of a voltmeter for measuring solar cell output. Take them outdoors to take...
Curated OER
Mitosis and Cell Division
Students discover the processes that occur during mitosis and what makes each phase different and distinct from the others as well as how each contribute to the overall process of mitosis by looking at onion root tips under a microscope.
Curated OER
Two-Cell Battery
Students build their own two-cell battery and determine which electrolyte solution is best suited for making a battery. They discuss background information for their experiment, construct and test their battery, and using the chart on...
Curated OER
Cell Pizza
Students identify parts and functions of microscope. Students watch video, Cells and Life about cell parts with actual pictures and actual cells. Students discuss video and identify parts of the cells that animals and plants have in...
Curated OER
Looking Inside Cells
Seventh graders examine the functions and roles of membranes in cells. They discover the differences between plant and animal cells.
Curated OER
Cells in the Making
Students examine and research the parts of a cell, their functions, and life processes. They simulate how cells receive nutrients using coffee filters, water, and coffee, and construct cells using pudding, cookie dough, and candy.
Curated OER
How Do Cells Reproduce?
Students discuss the importance of reproduction of cells. They identify and describe the stages of Mitosis. They discover what happens to chromosomes and DNA during reproduction.
Curated OER
Cell Me What?
Students compare and contrast the characteristics of robots and cells. In this biology activity, students examine the parts and function of cell organelles. They create a visual representation of their cell/robot analogy.
Curated OER
Lesson Plan: The Cell- A Historical Perspective
Young scholars discover the impact the invention of the microscope had on scientific discovery as well as the concept of spontaneous generation and the cell theory. Students examine these scientific concepts through a WebQuest and by...
Curated OER
Cells, Building Blocks of Life
Fourth graders, in groups, explore cells, the basic unit of all living things.
Curated OER
Solar Car Races: Build and retrofit for speed
If you have solar car kits for your junior high schoolers, they can experiment with photovoltaic cell angle, light intensity, and aerodynamic design to discover what makes their car move more quickly. This is a classic activity to use...
Curated OER
Mitosis & Cell Processes
Young scholars research the process of mitosis and how it progresses to the finished result of cell division. They reflect upon how this causes organisms to grow larger and helps tissues to be renewed.