Curated OER
Get a Life!
Students read a New York Times article associated with the issue of the decoding for genomes, the creation of life in scientific laboratories and various genetic engineering topics. They present speeches of the pro's and con's of these...
Curated OER
Diversity/Natural Selection
High schoolers examine mechanisms behind biological evolution and the theories that feed it, and are able to demonstrate their knowledge of these theories in a story.
Curated OER
Birth of the Earth
Learners examine the major events that have taken place in the Earth's development. In this Earth instructional activity students view a video and put major events in chronological order.
Serendip
Cell Vocabulary Review Game
Can science scholars describe a nucleus without mentioning DNA, or a chloroplast without mentioning the color green? Test their organelle understanding through an exciting card game. Groups take turns guessing the correct organelle or...
Curated OER
Control of Eukaryotic Genes
Covering the molecular interactions involved with DNA packing and the control of gene activity in depth, this slideshow is useful for higher-level biology students. The biochemical components of protein translation are diagrammed and...
Serendip
From Gene to Protein via Transcription and Translation
DNA carries the codes for creating just the right protein. A well-designed lesson leads pupils through the process from start to finish and everywhere in between. Guiding questions with supporting video help scholars understand the...
Curated OER
Vaccines
Students explore and explain the role of vaccines in infectious disease, They emphasize immunological principles and viral/bacterial infection processes. Students explore the three main vaccine types: DNA vaccines ("gene gun"),...
LABScI
Taxonomy: Who is in My family?
Find similarities in seemingly unlike organisms. The second instructional activity in a series of 12 builds the concept of a taxonomy and explores the use of a dichotomous key. Learners begin in part one by attempting to group a set of...
University of Colorado
Clay Planets
Why do scientists use models? In the first installment of 22, groups create scale models of our solar system. They then share and discuss their models.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Natural Selection and the Evolution of Darwin's Finches
Darwin explained the connection between species of finches 150 years before scientists understood DNA. Technology and progressing science proved he was right, yet many struggle to understand how natural selection happens. Scholars use...
Curated OER
Science: Designer genes
Students engineer new organisms using biotechnology. In small groups, they write procedures, list benefits and drawbacks, and explain how their new organism might affect the environment. After creating their new organisms, they present...
Curated OER
Protein Factory
Students examine protein synthesis and how DNA is transcribed. For this investigative lesson students play a role in the messenger RNA when it creates nucleotides.
Curated OER
Wolf Pack in a Bottle
Students participate in an activity of a mock electrophoresis using paper chromatography to study DNA and genetic restriction mapping.
Curated OER
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...
Curated OER
Live Well Now to Live Longer Later
Ninth graders select a topic to research, completing the sentence, "Are the effects of _______ really that detrimental to one's health?" They record information in a journal, including sources of information. Students work in groups with...
Curated OER
The Basics:Life Science
Students explore concepts in life science using segments drawn from Discovery Channel. For this life science lesson, students participate in discussions about the food chain. Students create a poster to illustrate a predator...
Curated OER
Build an Electrophoresis Chamber
Students explore electrophoresis, a technique used to isolate DNA. They assemble a gel chamber for separating mixtures. Students observe separation influenced by electric charge. They define separation through gel electrophoresis.
Serendip
From Gene to Protein - Transcription and Translation
Learners identify the different steps involved in DNA transcription. In this genetics lesson, pupils complete a worksheet and model the translation process with a paper chain activity. They watch a video on sickle cell anemia and explain...
Curated OER
Pseudogene Suite
Learners use Biology Workbench to explore DNA sequence data for the GULOP gene in humans, chimpanzees, orangutans, and crab-eating macaques and the beta globin gene and its pseduogene in humans, gorillas, and chimpanzees.
Curated OER
Megabeasts
Create larger-than-life insects for the classroom. Bugs are usually pretty small, but during the Jurassic period they were huge. Kids use diagramming and scale conversion to enlarge a modern day insect so that it is as big as its ancient...
Curated OER
Physiological Adaptations
Students investigate the concepts of genetics and how it is tied to the variations found within different species and how it is tied to adaptations. They review the theory of evolution and factors found to help create variation. The...
Curated OER
Protein Factory
Pupils discuss the steps of protein synthesis before acting out the process as a class. They are assigned specific roles and receive an instruction card and get materials listed in order to perform their role. Students switch roles and...
Curated OER
Genetic Technology
In this genetic technology learning exercise, students will answer 6 true or false statements and 4 short answer questions based on the mapping and sequencing of the human genome and the applications of the Human Genome Project.
Curated OER
Nature vs. Nurture
Eighth graders investigate the concept of nature versus nurture in human development through this series of lessons.