Curated OER
Coastal Biodiversity of South Africa
Students investigate the biodiversity found along the coast of South Africa. They conduct research using a variety of resources. They use the information in order to write lab reports with the data. The lesson can be adapted to other...
Curated OER
Biology: Natural Selection
Young scholars explore evolutionary processes and theories using the spotted fish applet. They observe what happens to fish in a closed environment with both food and predators. Students run the model several times and answer questions...
Curated OER
Asexual Reproduction
In this reproduction worksheet, students identify the 5 major ways organisms reproduce asexually and list examples of organisms that reproduce in that manor. Then students complete 10 short answer questions.
Curated OER
Where Do I Belong?
Tenth graders study the diversity of life in the world. They classify and sketch organisms into the 6 kingdoms.
Curated OER
A Limnology Study of Drainage Ditches
Students chemically test water, observe microscopic organisms in the classroom, and screen the sample for macroinvertebrates. They design a reporting sheet that list all the items to be tested and a space to record the results.
Curated OER
An Automobile Phylogenetic Tree
Students construct a phylogenetic tree for various automobiles and trucks after considering important characteristics of these "organisms". They work in small groups to construct the trees and complete a set of questions then they...
Curated OER
Satellite Tracking
Students apply satellite tagging data to investigate questions related to open-ocean animals, their habitats, and their migratory behaviors. They determine how physical or biological factors determine organism behavior using a data...
Curated OER
Taxonomy
Students analyze the complexity of organism classifications based on certain criteria. In this classifying organisms instructional activity students study taxonomy and gather information and leaves to do their own experiment on...
Curated OER
Channel Catfish
Students study the life and biology of the Channel Catfish. In this aquatic biology instructional activity, students will examine the external and internal features of the catfish along with their breeding habits and environment. This...
Curated OER
Choose Your Defense: Spines, Vomit and Camouflage
Students investigate defensive mechanisms of insects and organisms. In this biology lesson, students draw imaginary caterpillars as well as imaginary parasites that will harm the caterpillar. Students utilize the Internet to...
Curated OER
One Tough Worm
Students explain the process of chemosynthesis and its relevance to biological communities. In this investigative activity students discuss chemosynthetic communities, then in groups they are assigned a species and are to calculate the...
Curated OER
Trophic Relationships, Cycling of Chemicals, Human Impact on Ecosystems and Conservation
Students explore how the energy flow through a system is related to trophic levels. They investigate how organisms affect the cycling of elements and water through the biosphere. Students participate in lab activities to observe ways...
Curated OER
My Habitat Address
Sixth graders draw a habitat and write about what they would need to survive in the habitat. They define the input of items such as materials, energy, and information, and what goes out of the habitat. They play a "Habitat Address" game,...
Curated OER
Life on the Edge: Exploring Deep Ocean Habitats Cool Corals
Students research the basic morphology of Lophelia corals and polyps to determine the significance of these organisms. They detail the reasons that biological communities are focusing on the Lophelia corals as major conservation efforts.
Curated OER
Biotic vs. Abiotic Factors
Students share their prior knowledge of the elements of the environment. In groups, they are introduced to the concepts of biotic and abiotic factors in a specific environment. They discover their effects on organisms living in the...
Curated OER
Species Diversity and Phylogeny
Young scholars explore the classification system of organisms: taxonomy. They examine prepared slides of Protozoans and record information on a Taxonomy Recording Sheet. Two additional classifying activities are also included in this...
Curated OER
Classify That!
Students get acquainted with diverse forms of life by using modern biological classification systems to group animals that are related. They explore basic scientific groupings like genus, species, mammals, fish, birds, amphibians, and...
Curated OER
Dogs & Darwin
Ninth graders construct and conduct a laboratory experiment illustrating the transfer of mutations. They compare and contrast natural selection in organisms with long and short reproductive cycles.
Curated OER
Who Has the Light?
Students study ways in which the ability to produce light may be useful to deep-sea organisms. In groups, they research and present to the rest of the class, how a specific organism is able to produce bioluminescence.
Curated OER
Investigative Case - Living in an Alkaline Environment
Students are shown many ways in which Mono Lake water and distilled water are different. They demonstrate that the survival of common soil bacteria declines as pH increases. Students examine the behaviors, adaptations, energy transfer,...
Curated OER
What Was for Dinner?
Students examine energy obtaining strategies that are used by organisms in deep reef communities. In this ocean lesson students complete an isotope activity.
Curated OER
Developing a Public Health Service Message
High schoolers communicate the biological basis for an aspect of a public health issue in a visual manner. They use the basics of a variety of diseases and epidemics to create their Public Health poster and service message.
Curated OER
2005 Submarine Ring of Fire Expedition: What's for Dinner?
Students compare and contrast photosynthesis and chemosynthesis as sources of primary production for biological communities, and describe sources of primary production observed in biological communities associated with volcanoes of the...
Curated OER
Some Like It Hot, Some Like It Cold
Students are explained that thermophiles are organisms that have optimal growth temperatures above 50oC. They investigate the temperature ranges for the growth of common bacteria. Students answer the question of do either of these...