Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Galapagos - Discover the Diversity

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Pretend you are exploring a newly discovered species of fish in the Galapagos. Your budding marine biologists access FishBase Database's list of marine/brackish fishes and choose one to research. The link through this website does not...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who Done It?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Pick and choose which activities to include in this crime scene investigation. Junior detectives can examine fingerprints, DNA, blood samples, or bone structure.  The plan suggests you have teams solve a mystery, but it does not...
Lesson Plan
Desert Discoveries

Bird and Feather Features

For Teachers 3rd
Ornithology is the study of birds, and young scientists do just that with an interesting science lesson. They identify the parts of a bird, realize that birds have different types of beaks, wings, and feet, and take a close look at bird...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigating DNA

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers engage in a variety of activities designed to facilitate the understanding of DNA. Activities include preparing human chromosome spreads, separating a mixture of dyes using gel electrophoresis and extracting DNA from onion...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life in a Drop of Water

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine the structure, function, and characteristics of microscopic organisms that inhabit freshwater through collection of water samples and observation through microscopes.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Naming New Species

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Young scholars explore science of taxonomy and the Five Kingdoms of life, categorize organisms into Kingdoms, and create multi-media presentations illustrating knowledge of a Kingdom. They collect data and related pictures on the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students act out a drama in this lesson on one aspect of the Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium. They are to follow all stage directions precisely and give it their best effort to get across the main points of the play.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using Abiotic and Biotic Parameters to Monitor Air Quality

For Teachers 7th - 8th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to Adult Insects and Their Adaptations

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners study organisms found in Class Insecta. They examine the different adaptations these organisms have developed over time to survive and prosper in their respective habitats. They research the origin of the names of several orders...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Insects: Bug Off

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students design and conduct an experiment to test three organic pesticides to control ants. They view a video that demonstrates ant behavior and the role of pesticides in insect control. In small groups, they set up behavior...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Columbian Exchange

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders examine the consequences of Spanish exploration of the New World on animals, humans, and plants. They read and discuss an informational handout, define key vocabulary terms, and complete a Venn Diagram with Old World and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Columbian Exchange

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders examine the significant consequences of Spanish exploration and settlement of the New World on animals, humans, and plants. They read and discuss an informational handout, define key vocabulary terms, and complete a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Cytochrome-C Lab

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars 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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Summer: Getting the Bugs Out

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students compare and contrast classification systems used throughout the world. They also examine the importance of preserving biological diversity.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Relative Dating-Telling Time Using Fossils

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students explore how to read fossil range charts. They develop an knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of the fossil record. Students become familiar with the concepts index fossil and fossil range. Students use bar graphs to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hyperlink Habitats

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students explore an online Hyperlink Habitat to illustrate the interconnectedness of a tropical rainforest ecosystem. They create a map of the Hyperlink Habitat and research a local ecosystem and create their own print or Web version of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Organs to Go...

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students explain the principles of experimental design and reinforce the steps of the scientific method. Each group of students create a "slush" type mixture to store a chicken liver.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

EVOLUTION OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students create a project using a provided "Evolution of Biotechnology Timeline". Students may pick from many different ideas in order to find a project that interests them. They examine how the use of biotechnology has increased with...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Inquiry-based Investigations into Pond Water Microorganisms

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students become familiar with common microorganisms and experience exploring the microbial world.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Diffusion & Osmosis with Data Analysis

For Teachers 12th - Higher Ed
Students explore principles governing diffusion and osmosis. Students perform a dialysis tubing experiment. They obtain core samples of potato in varying concentrations of sugar-water to measure water potential of the potato cells....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Evolution

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research the theory of evolution and the controversy.  For this evolution lesson students view a film on Charles Darwin then they write an essay about whether or not intelligent design should be taught in science class. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who's Who and How Do You Know for Sure?

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students investigate the applications of DNA fingerprinting, They read crime scenarios and using the details of the crime and laboratory experimentation decide the suspects guilt or innocence.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Alcohol Tolerance in Drosophila and You

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students develop and run a laboratory comparing alcohol tolerance in flies with and without the ADH enzyme.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to Mendelian Genetics using Fiction

For Teachers 10th - 11th
Students investigate Mendelian Genetics by studying the history of Mendel and what it was like to be a 19th century scientist. They read a pieces of fiction during this investigation.