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Creating a Plant Cell Journal
Fifth graders gather information about plant cells. As they read in their science book about plant cells, they take notes on the important facts. Then, they look at their notes and organize them into an outline before they write their...
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Using Abiotic and Biotic Parameters to Monitor Air Quality
Students identify the abiotic factors that influence a river or stream and the organisms that live in it. They measure several abiotic and biotic parameters to gauge water quality. Students examine the biotic environment by identifying...
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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.
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The Cell Cycle and Cancer
Learners compare and contrast the cell cycle of frog eggs, normal cells, and cancer cells. They watch a video about early development of the frog embryo, generate a hypothesis in small groups, and listen to a teacher-led lecture. ...
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Goals of the Diversity of Life Unit
Students are introduced to the unit on the importance of diversity of life and the role that interdependence plays in our worlds. this is part of a multi-lesson unit on the diversity of life.
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Panther Exam: Writing a Play
Students demonstrate their knowledge of panthers by writing a play on the subject. For this animal life lesson, students view a slide-show on school computers of a veterinary exam of a panther. Students utilize this scenario to write a...
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The Way a Tree Works
Students explore nature by conducting botany experiments. In this plant life activity, students define the necessary resources for a plant to thrive on our planet while defining scientific vocabulary terms. Students utilize different...
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Cell Reproduction and Inheritance
Students determine their inherited characteristics from their parents. In this biology lesson, students study the life of Mendel using an interactive website. They differentiate dominant and recessive characteristics.
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The Sense of Hearing
Students study the cycle of how we listen and hear our own speech. They examine sound waves, and the role of the nervous system in hearing. They investigate the cues besides lipreading that deaf people rely on for comprehension.
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DNA Extraction
Students extract and observe a visible amount of DNA from Escherichia. coli cells. They discuss the properties of DNA. Confirmation of the presence of DNA by a reaction with an indicator is confirmed within this lesson. Many hands-on...
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Bacteria's Role in Food
Young scholars grow bacteria cultures on agar in petri dishes and do a plate count. They participate in a yogurt making lab to see how bacteria produce lactic acid. They prepare a recipe and identify fungi, fermentation and the role of...
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Eureka! I’ve Got an Idea!
Students explore many inventions and inventors. In this science lesson plan, students collaborate as they research inventors and their times in order to compile information to build an informative Web site.
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Wild Arctic
Young scholars explore key terms, including food web and food chain. They discuss Arctic plants and animals, devise at least three Arctic food chains and create a food web showing connections among Arctic life.
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Animal Classes and Their Ecosystems
Students explore animal characteristics by participating in an environment identification activity. In this animal habitat lesson, students discuss a range of different wild life and the ecosystems that they are a part of. Students view...
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Solar Matters II
Students research solar energy. In this solar energy lesson, students construct a KWL chart and research solar energy through various websites and related readings. Students complete a science journal page as an assessment.
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Genetically-Modified Food
Learners investigate the pros and cons of genetic engineering. They watch a short Bill Moyers video, conduct Internet research, create a poster, participate in a pro/con debate, and write an essay expressing their personal feelings on...
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Mass Measurement
Middle schoolers explore geometry by completing a physics activity on-line. In this mass measurement lesson, pupils define the terms mass, volume, and density and identify their relationship with each other. They complete an on-line...
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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...
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Photosynthesis Cookies
Young scholars identify photosynthesis as a process through which organisms make their own food. They practice the process for writing the formula for the photosynthesis equation.
Students describe how the processes of photosynthesis...
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Smallest Thing
Students compare characteristics of myobacteria and viruses to determine which is the smallest life form. They read and discuss an article that presents different viewpoints on the definition of life to determine their own viewpoint.
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Biotechnology: Monster or Miracle
High schoolers explore biotechnology. In this scenario-based lesson, students take a survey on what they know about genetic engineering, view a PowerPoint, and conduct a web quest. High schoolers will then be placed in groups, and...
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Autoimmune Disease
Young scholars conduct Internet research on an autoimmune disease, and present the information in a PowerPoint presentation.
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Biology Honors Final Project
Tenth graders work on a project about cellular biology and genetics. In this biology lesson, 10th graders research about the assigned human body system and genetic disorders that affect it. They create a multimedia presentation and...
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Surface Air Temperature Trends of the Caribbean
Students use real satellite data to determine the changes in near-surface air temperature at different times of the year over the Caribbean Sea. They discover how Earth's tilt causes seasonal differences in incoming solar energy. They...