Curated OER
Periodical Cicada Survival
Students explore defense mechanisms involved in predatory/prey relationships.They engage in a discussion about predatory/prey interactions. They reflect on the life cycle and behavior of the cicada.
Curated OER
What Makes a Plant a Plant?
For a plant unit in your biology curriculum, here is a slide show that bestows the basics of plant structure, reproduction, and classification. The information is general. The main point of the lesson is to highlight what characterizes...
Curated OER
Dragon Genetics - Understanding Inheritance
Six pages begin with a detailed introduction to meiosis and homologous chromosome pairs. Instructions guide learners through a simulation in which they draw craft sticks marked with autosomes in order to decode the genes inherited by...
University of Washington
Pasta Genetics
Four different-shaped and dyed pasta types represent four different alleles. Following a guide sheet, young geneticists practice randomly selecting alleles and discover the traits of the resulting offspring. This is a fun and solid...
Channel Islands Film
Island Rotation: Lesson Plan 3
How far have California's Channel islands moved? What was the rate of this movement? Class members first examine data that shows the age of the Hawaiian island chain and the average speed of the Pacific Plate. They then watch West...
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Gorongosa: Making Observations Activity
Do you have young scientists wanting to make new discoveries rather than just completing the same experiments? Young scientists use their observational skills to identify animals and patterns in animal behavior. Through tracking...
Curated OER
Poriferans and Cnidarians
Learners study the major phyla of the animal kingdom. In this biology instructional activity unit, students identify their general characteristics. They define taxonomy terminologies.
Curated OER
Amphipods
Students identify organisms that live at the bottom of the body of water. In this biology lesson, students evaluate the effects of pollution to amphipods population. They examine collected data and create a bar graph comparing them.
Curated OER
Classification: Dichotomous Key
Students explain the classification process of organisms. In this biology lesson, students practice writing the names of organisms scientifically. They answer the dichotomous key and discuss answers as a class.
Curated OER
One Tough Worm
Students explain the process of chemosynthesis. They are able to explain the relevance of chemosynthesis to biological communities in the vicinity of cold seeps.
Curated OER
Classification of Living Things
Students classify organisms according to the rules of taxonomy. In this biology lesson, students name organisms using binomial nomenclature. They create a new organism and explain which specific group it belongs to and why.
Curated OER
Fun with Phylogenetic Trees
Tenth graders differentiate angiosperms and gymnosperms. For this biology lesson, 10th graders construct a musical phylogenetic tree from information they gathered on resource websites. They present their project in class.
Curated OER
Ecology: Adaptations
Eighth graders identify different types of adaptation in organisms. In this biology lesson, 8th graders explain how adaptation help organisms survive. They complete a worksheet at the end of the lesson.
Curated OER
Blood Business
Students identify the different kinds of blood. In this biology lesson, students investigate the antigens, agglutinins and Rh factor using their own blood. They use Punnett squares to predict blood type of offspring.
Curated OER
Learning about Biotechnology and GMO’s
Tenth graders describe the different methods of biotechnology. In this biology lesson plan, 10th graders assess the pros and cons of using GMO's. They create posters that either supports or discourages its use.
Curated OER
Asexual Reproduction
Students identify the different types of asexual reproduction. In this biology lesson, students name organisms that reproduce asexually. They answer an interactive quiz and check their answers afterward.
Curated OER
What Happens When A Cell Divides?
Students investigate the cycle of mitosis. In this biology activity, students discuss the different stages of mitosis through cell reproduction. They further their investigation through laboratory analysis.
Curated OER
The Different Fresh Water Ecosystems
Learners summarize the characteristics of an ecosystem. In this biology lesson, students identify five major fresh water ecosystem. They define terms and write a journal about what they learned.
Curated OER
Thanksgiving: Bird Evolution
Students explore the evolution of birds. In this biology lesson plan, students research articles that discuss evidence about the ancestry of birds. They discuss their findings with the group and draw a journal magazine cover highlighting...
Curated OER
DNA Blueprint for Life
Students isolate DNA from different food sources. In this biology lesson, students research DNA extraction. They analyze DNA stands collected from the lab, and compare the differences between each.
Curated OER
Photosynthesis and Plant Reproduction
Young scholars explain the process of photosynthesis. In this biology lesson, students label the different reproductive parts of the flowers. They watch a short video then identify the leaf parts on the board.
Curated OER
Mechanisms to Fight Disease
Students explain how our body fight diseases. For this biology lesson, students identify the role of bacteria and viruses in human illness. They create a PowerPoint presentation and essay at the of the unit.
Curated OER
Cells=Life!
Ninth graders share what they know about cells. In this biology lesson, 9th graders study different microscopic images of the cell. They draw one and explain to their partner why they chose that image.
Curated OER
Video Analysis of Motion &
Students examine a powerful tool that can be used in the study of motion. They use VideoPoint to measure an aspect of an organism's motion: speed, acceleration, center of mass.