Personal Genetics Education Project
Genetics and Reproduction
Disease prevention or designer babies? Use a set of slides to introduce the growing practice of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, or PGD. Teens read related articles and then break into groups to address different scenarios. Afterward,...
American Psychological Association
Using Psychological Perspectives to Answer Questions on Behavior
Perspective is everything when it comes to assessing human behavior. Class members examine a series of statements and identify the perspective represented by each to demonstrate their understanding of different psychological perspectives.
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Mendelian Genetics Cannot Fully Explain Human Health and Behavior
The breakthrough of Mendelian genetics solved many puzzles for biologists. Then, scientists decided to apply the theory to human behavior. Learn the story and struggle of finding a genetic explanation for hobbies, interests, and mental...
Curated OER
Why Do People Fall in Love?
Students discuss human behavior, sexual selection and the underlying genetic and evolutionary reasons for mate selection. The, in groups, they rate the attractiveness of certain individuals and measure facial features for symmetry.
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
DNA Is Only the Beginning for Understanding the Human Genome
Mario Capecchi requested funding for a new procedure targeting genes and was rejected. Four years later, after he proved it worked, the NIH apologized and funded his research. Use an online interactive to learn about his research and the...
Curated OER
Animals and Humans Say the Darnedest Things
Students explore and analyze human and animal communications and create a short film that illustrates their findings.
American Museum of Natural History
Nature or Nurture Quiz
Eighteen questions ask pupils whether certain behavior or trait is based on nature or nurture. Scholars take a quiz, reflect on their answers, then challenge a friend or family member to complete it.
Allen & Unwin Book Publishers
In the Skin of a Monster
Kathryn Barker's In the Skin of A Monster explores how a school massacre impacts a community. Unfortunately, the events depicted are all too familiar to many. This teacher's guide for Barker's novel offers activities that enable readers...
Curated OER
Mammals: Mammals and Their Ways
Learners study the difference between innate and learned behaviors. They observe the adaptations and behaviors of mammals in this series of lessons.
Curated OER
Cell Wall Recipe: A Lesson on Biofuels
Biotech engineers discover that changes in the DNA code for cell wall formation can help create crops better suited for biofuel production. They extract DNA from wheat germ. They decode paper strips with codes and relate the activity to...
Curated OER
Teaching About Inherited Human Disorders Through Case Studies
Students explore case studies involving human disorders. They identify options and consequences of each decision. Students interview a family member with a disorder. They create a presentation of their interview.
Curated OER
Genes, Environments, and Behavior 1
Students examine how scientists study the genetic and environmental factors that interact to produce variation in behavior across a population.
Serendip
Cell Differentiation and Epigenetics
Pregnant women exposed to PAH air pollution increase the risk of obesity in their children. The example of epigenetics, along with others, builds the basis for understanding the process of cell differentiation. Scholars view a video,...
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Some Types of Mutations Are Automatically Repaired
Does natural light damage or repair DNA? Learn the answer discover the scientists who researched the topic with an online interactive. Scholars read through an online animation presenting the content at their own pace. Then, they read...
Curated OER
Are You Susceptible?
Students play a game to explore the relationship between genetic variation and environmental factors in the onset of heart disease. They consider the implications for disease prevention of increased knowledge about genetic variation.
Curated OER
It's Genetic--Or Is It?
Students identify examples of the interplay between genes and environment on certain traits and discuss how the Human Genome Project has led to a greater understanding of the role of genes on complex traits.
Curated OER
Using Abiotic and Biotic Parameters to Monitor Air Quality
Students identify the abiotic factors that influence a river or stream and the organisms that live in it. They measure several abiotic and biotic parameters to gauge water quality. Students examine the biotic environment by identifying...
WK Kellogg Biological Station
Sounds of Selection
Do you want a creative and fun way to teach about natural selection? Hop to it by turning your middle school princes and princesses into frogs trying to catch as many bugs as possible in a Hungry Hungry Hippos style game. For high...
Curated OER
Managing Wildlife
Learners discuss the current conditions of wildlife in New England. Students explore how animals are tracked and how their population is managed.
Serendip
How Eyes Evolved – Analyzing the Evidence
Octopodes existed for hundreds of thousands of years before humans, yet our eyes share many similarities. Scholars analyze the evidence to determine if the evolution of eyes best fits a homology or analogy model. They discuss the issue...
Curated OER
Cancer Causes
Students explore why people get cancer. They explore human cells by taking a close examine their own. take a small sample of the epithelial cells that line the inside of their mouth. They glimpse how scientists investigate inside cells.
Curated OER
Studying Birds in the Field
This is a well-designed science activity which helps students learn the behavior of different species of birds. Working with partners and in small team, students learn to scientifically observe birds.
Curated OER
Risk Factor Roulette
Students examine "multiple chemical sensitivity" and how it relates to genetic variation and environmental factors. They read an article, conduct research, and identify risk factors related to chemical sensitivity, asthma, breast cancer,...
Curated OER
Hazardous Chemicals in Your Neighborhood
Students examine the effect of hazardous chemicals on humans. They discover how the chemicals are cleaned up and the facilities in their neighborhood. They identify federal and local agencies that oversee environmental hazards