Cornell University
Plant Cell Crime Scene
Use science to solve the mystery of the Poplar murder. Pupils use forensic botany to determine if a suspect could be the killer. By analyzing images from a Transmission Electron Microscope, learners determine if the material found on the...
University of Minnesota
C. elegans and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life
Introduce the topic of astrobiology in a unit that's out of this world. Biology scholars examine the search for extraterrestrial life by culturing roundworms, a species that has been key in helping researchers understand the...
Cornell University
The Making of Macromolecules
Compare and contrast macromolecules made from the same elements. Young scholars learn how the structure of a molecule has as much influence on a compound as the elements in the molecule. They experiment with molecular model kits to...
Tutor 2 U
Plan for the Murder Solving Lesson
It's a classic case of whodunnit - with a forensic twist! Learners observe a crime scene and compile evidence, along with emergency phone calls, fingerprints, and interview statements to find the criminal and solve the crime.
Zebrafish in the Classroom
Worksheet on Genetics for Kindergarteners
Introduce the concept of genetics to your kindergartners with a science experiment about chromosomes in fish. After a quick overview of what chromosomes are, learners color different chromosomes to show that they come from the mom or the...
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...
Ask a Biologist
Neuron Anatomy Activity
Reinforce the neural connections in the brains of your young biologists with a simple anatomy worksheet. Looking at the provided diagram of a neuron, students are asked to correctly identify and describe the function of...
Field Museum
The Case of Darwin's Finches
One of the most striking pieces of evidence for Darwin's Evolution of Species was his observations of finches and how their beaks differed from island to island, depending on their primary food sources. So what would happen to the theory...
Curated OER
Were the babies switched? – The Genetics of Blood Types
Human biology or genetics learners apply their knowledge to a unique situation: two newborn baby girls being possibly switched in the hospital. The engaging activity ends with a Punnett squares assignment in which pupils...
Forest Foundation
Forests, Carbon & Our Climate
To conclude their examination of forest ecosystems, class members consider the role forests play in the carbon cycle and how forests can offset climate change.
Curated OER
Cancer and the Cell Cycle - Biology Teaching Thesis
Identify the different stages of mitosis and what occurs in each stage with a straightforward biology lesson plan. Young scientists identify the importance of the cell cycle control in maintaining homeostasis, and then match the...
Curated OER
Mitosis Cookies Activity
Reward biology learners for working hard in their mitosis lesson with a sweet snack at the end! They begin by twisting apart creme-filled cookies and using the icing as a cytoplasm. Colored candy sprinkles make up chromosome pairs,...
Personal Genetics Education Project
Genetics, Jobs and Your Rights
Your class will read an overview of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, passed in 2008 and address the question of whether or not genetic information should be used to influence our career paths. In jigsaw style, they then are...
Curated OER
AP Biology Lesson Outline
Ninth graders research the different field of bioengineering. In this biology lesson, 9th graders differentiate meiosis and mitosis. They discuss the pros and cons of using radiation in medical diagnostics.