Curated OER
Forest Fun
Students explore orienteering and how to use a compass. They explore the importance of forests and identify some of the trees in a local forest.
Serendip
A Scientific Investigation – What Types of Food Contain Starch and Protein?
You are what you eat, as they say! Are you more starch or more protein? Young scholars use their knowledge of each component to test different foods for their content. Using multiple indicators, individuals describe the protein and...
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
The Molecular Evolution of Gene Birth and Death
An upper-level biology activity, the comprehensive worksheet found here accompanies a PowerPoint and the video The Making of the Fittest: The Birth and Death of Genes, both of which are linked to through the website. Depending on the...
Curated OER
Your Body's Defenses When Microbes Attack
Students study how being exposed to a harmful microbe doesn't automatically make them ill. They discover the lines of defense against microbe invaders and explore the roles of skin and mucus membranes, white blood cells, and lymphocytes...
Curated OER
When Microbes Attack
Pupils study how the body defends itself against the invasion of harmful microbes and how certain types of drugs can provide assistance. They design and execute their own experiments to test whether increasing the number of types of...
Curated OER
Bioethics
Students are introduced to the issues surrounding bioethics and begin to discover how some of these values can influence decision making. The exciting part of this lesson is the constructivist method used to engage students of all...
Curated OER
Pets: Oh Behave
They say that a dog is a man's best friend. Why is that? Discuss with your class why people like pets and the responsibilities with owning one. They read an article about pet behavior and write a short essay comparing one of their...
Curated OER
The Four-Color Problem: Concept and Solution
Take a walk through time, 1852 to 1994, following the mathematical history and development of the Four-Color Theorem. Learners take on the role of cartographers to study an imaginary world of countries that need to be...
Curated OER
How Diverse is That?
After reviewing biodiversity, learners work in small groups to analyze actual species distribution data. They learn to calculate the Shannon-Weaver diversity index for different communities. Though not particularly engaging, the content...
Curated OER
All About Seeds!
First graders learn all about seeds. In this biology lesson, 1st graders discover: what a fruit is, what is inside of seeds, and how seeds are transported.
Curated OER
Studying Species By Examining the Evolution of the Canidae Family
Students read an article on the characteristics of wolves and dogs then complete a phylogenetic tree of the canid family. They then write an essay justifying why or why not wolves and dogs should be classified as different species.
Curated OER
Studying Species by Examining the Evolution of the Canidae Family
Students examine the definition of species. Students complete a phylogentic tree of the Canidae family. They write an essay justifying why or why not wolves and dogs should be classified as different species.
Curated OER
Evolution: Is It Fact and/or Theory?
Students explore the concepts of evolution. In this biology lesson, students read articles from the internet. They discuss the article within the group and answer their handouts.
Curated OER
An Introduction to Fetel Tissue Transplantation
Learners explore fetal tissue transplantation. They research basic factual information and justify their opinions. They write a paper discussing their position. Students consider the consequences and values associated with their...
Curated OER
The Secrets of the Sequence
Students explore genetics using a series of selected videos. For this biology lesson series, students study the different advances in life sciences. They research the pros and cons of genetic research.
Curated OER
Legal Aspects of Tissue
Students research their role and develop a group position on the appropriate use of fetal tissue transplantation. They engage in role play discussion focused on the case study.
Curated OER
Wet 'n Wild Watershed
Students engage in a discussion on watershed management. In this ecology lesson, students consider the role of forests in water quality. Students incorporate lecture material into a class room discussion and...
Curated OER
Bird Flu: the Next Pandemic?
Students discuss what they know about bird flu and check the accuracy of their facts using primary sources related to the topics and classroom discussion activities. They create projects that illustrate what they have learned about...
Curated OER
SeaWorld: Education, Entertainment, or Exploitation?
Students discuss SeaWorld, research marine animal biology, investigate one animal currently collected by SeaWorld, and decide whether they oppose or support SeaWorld's collection policy. Students then gather information relating to...
Curated OER
Pesticides and Eggshell Thinning.
Students analyze the calcium content of egg shells as an introduction to the toxic effects of pesticides on biological systems.
Curated OER
Diversity/Natural Selection
Students 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
Hawaiian Hot Spots
Middle schoolers discuss how plate tectonics and volcanic activity have affected Hawaii. In this Hawaiian lesson, students look at maps and photographs of Hawaiian Islands and discuss their formation through multiple volcanic eruptions....
Curated OER
Plagued by Warfare
Students define "biological weapon" and explore why these types of weapons are so dangerous. They also explore the covert shift of American grant research money to an organization that once directed the Soviet Union's germ warfare...
Curated OER
Introduction to Aseptic Techniques
Students study bacteria and aseptic microbiology laboratory techniques. They discover how to pour, label, streak, seal and store plates in an incubator and articulate what they have learned via an informational laboratory poster.
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