Lesson Plan
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Making CD's from MIDI Compositions

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students complete their own composition (ABA song form, C Major scale, 32-60 measures) using the keyboard and sequencing software on the computer to playback the song. They fill in answers in their workbooks and watch how to transfer...
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How to Think Like a Scientist

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders study the scientific method and understand how to apply it.  In this "thinking like a scientist" lesson students complete several activities.
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Baking Soda and Vinegar Volcano

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students construct a volcano using baking soda and vinegar. In this earth science lesson, students explain the reaction that takes place when these two chemicals combine together.
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Natural Dye Lesson Plan

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students investigate major pigments which occur naturally in fruits and vegetables, and to use them to dye a number of items. They study the effects of pH on anthocyanin on pigments.
Lesson Plan
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DNA Activities

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students work together to identify the structure of DNA. They practice using new vocabulary as well. They create a 3-D model of DNA to complete the lesson.
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DNA: The Search for the Genetic Material

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students study the history of DNA and how to extract it. In this genetic lesson students complete a DNA experiment using bacteria.
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Molecular Evidence for Evolutionary Relationships

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students compare the amino acid sequences in cytochrome-c for a variety of organisms and use this information to infer evolutionary relationships. Students investigate the role of homeobox genes and what this indicates about the...
Lesson Plan
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Fingerprinting

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discover the basics of fingerprinting and how it identifies a person. They create their own fingerprints and compare them to classmate's to determine that no two people have the same identity because of fingerprints. Then they...
Lesson Plan
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Electrophoresis Analogy

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students participate in a simulation of electrophoresis separation of DNA fragments. They link arms to form DNA fragments with each student representing a nucleotide. As they move through an obstacle course they discover how fragments...
Lesson Plan
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BLAST Algorithm

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students explore a series of activities on using BLAST. In this biology lesson plan, students explain the significance of BLAST in DNA query. They give real world applications of BLAST.
Lesson Plan
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The Structure of DNA

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students will demonstrate knowledge of the structure of DNA by constructing simple models of DNA with materials given to them in class. They will also discover that some female scientists such as Rosalind Franklin have not been given...
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Understanding the Power of Genes

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers research the impacts of genetic research on homes, research laboratories, and hospitals. In this genetics lesson, students use the Internet to investigate the ways that genetics has affected our way of life. They...
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X Is For Wonderment

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners engage in a lesson that is concerned with the "X" chromosome and how ti is part of genetics with the use of Punnett squares. They use this tool in order to predict future genetic outcomes while focusing upon specific questions.
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Radiation Reassessed

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students investigate the dangers of radiation by exploring recent nuclear tragedies.  In this scientific debate lesson, students define the idea of radiation "half life" and determine if low doses of radiation are truly damaging to...
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"Who Done It?" Analysis of Molecular Fingerprints Left At the Scene of the Crime

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine different types of DNA fragments. They record and analyze their results. They determine who is the criminal in the story.
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DNA Week

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students perform different activities about DNA for a week in order to celebrate DNA Week and raise their awareness of DNA. The teacher is provided with a different theme for each day.
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Restriction Digest + DNA Comparison

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars compare different DNA and run a gel electrophoresis.  In this DNA lesson students complete a DNA activity that allows them to better understand its structure and function. 
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The Cytochrome-C Lab

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine a method biologists use to try to determine relationships. They examine how amino acid sequences have been determined for a number of proteins, and how scientists can make inferences about DNA based on the amino acid...
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DNA Blueprint for Life

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Did you know that meat tenderizers contain DNA cutting enzimes? Did you know that you can isolate your own DNA? Or the DNA of fruit? Explore with your learners the DNA world with a series of experiments using readily available materials...
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Investigating Evolutionary Questions: Bats, Whales, Reptiles, Birds, Animal Classification

For Teachers 6th - Higher Ed
Students are guided through a process in which three questions are addressed by retrieving beta hemoglobin sequences from online databases, and using online tools to compare those sequences in student-selected animals.
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Human Genome Project

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the goals of the Human Genome Project. They research issues of the project such as scientific, potential and ethical implications of the project. In addition, they create a presentation to present their findings.
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National Chemistry Week

For Teachers 4th - 8th
National Chemistry Week lessons enliven classroom science investigations.
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Who is the Sea Otter Related to?

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students examine the genetic relationships of different organisms. In groups, they discover the importance of genes and how different amino acids show various evolutionary relationships. They use an online database to continue their...
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Catalase: A Bioinformatics Case Study

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars investigate the physical structure of a protein by using a computer simulation tool. They record its primary amino acid structure while viewing it in three dimensions for a better visual recognition. There is also a...