Curated OER
How Does Evolution Work?
Students investigate how natural selection influences evolution. They complete a hands-on lab simulation of natural selection, and replicate a real experiment and examine the interplay between selection factors in a population of guppies.
Curated OER
Artificial selection
Students brainstorm a list of improvements they might make to a picture of a skinny cow to improve its milk yield. They draw ideas on the board and compare these pictures with the original and ask the students which cow they would use...
Kenan Fellows
Unit 1: Introduction to Biotechnology
Biotechnology is big! Introduce the uses of biotechnology to science scholars with a fascinating, fact-filled unit. The first installment in a series of four biotechnology units covers the role biotechnology plays in human and...
Curated OER
The Bottom Line
Seventh graders assume the role of stockholders in a fictitious biotech company. After investigating the cloning of pets, the effects of cloning on the health and well being of the cloned animal, and the ethical issues involved, groups...
Curated OER
Beyond Mendel's Laws of Inheritance
Mendels laws of Genetics are extended here with examples of traits that are completely controlled by just one gene. Malfunctions such as albinism and baldness can therefore be tracked and will demonstrate inheritance patterns to your...
Curated OER
Catch Up On Tomato Technology
Students explore the ways in which technological advances have benefited tomatoes as a commodity. In a small group, students review information related to the selective breeding and genetic engineering of tomatoes. Groups compose a...
Curated OER
Peanut Butter Broccoli
Students explore selective breeding and genetic engineering. They illustrate that produce items have a wide variety of traits that can potentially be combined to produce a new food by creating a class graph.
Curated OER
Kernels of Wisdom: Investigating Natural Variations in Corn
Here is a brain-popper! Corn, or more appropriately, maize, was intentionally domesticated by humans around 9,000 years ago and over a period of hundreds to thousands of years! Genetics and botany researchers have collaborated to find...
Curated OER
Biotechnology
Students explore biotechnology through various activities. In this biology activity, students analyze its pros and cons. They study and read informative articles about biotechnology.
Curated OER
The Theory of Evolution
In this theory of evolution worksheet, students review vocabulary words associated with evolution including the different types of evolution patters. This worksheet has 5 true or false and 5 matching questions.
Curated OER
Cotton and Cabbage
High schoolers note how given traits could be achieved by selective breeding and by transgenesis. They identify different uses of GEO. Students recognize that the use of letters (Bt) before an organism's name means that the organism has...
Curated OER
Doggy DNA: The Power of PCR
Pupils listen as the teacher lectures about Polymerase Chain Reaction, and the technical information about its uses. They collect dog saliva and run/analyze a gel electrophoresis. Students use a computer to integrate information, and...
Curated OER
Breaking News English: Scientists Discover Gene to Waterproof Rice
For this English worksheet, learners read "Scientists Discover Gene to Waterproof Rice," and then respond to 47 fill in the blank, 7 short answer, 20 matching, and 8 true or false questions about the selection.
Curated OER
A PRICELESS Collection
Young scholars read a story about the life of Russian plant breeder Nikolai I and Vavilov and the national seed bank he established. They research the Irish Potato Famine of the late 1840s and identify the cause for this famine and make...
Curated OER
Eugenics Worksheet
Students become familiar with the vocabulary associated with treatment of disabilities. In this Eugenics instructional activity, students complete a worksheet on Eugenics and discuss the treatment of people with disabilities in the past...
Agriculture in the Classroom
A Rafter of Turkeys
How did that turkey get from the early Aztec culture to your table? Learn about the history of wild and domesticated turkeys in North America, as well as their inclusion in Thanksgiving traditions, with a two-part agricultural science...
Chicago Botanic Garden
Calculating Your Carbon Footprint
Unplugging from technology for one day per week will decrease your carbon footprint—are you up to the challenge? Part two in a series of three allows individuals to explore their personal carbon footprints. By first taking a quiz at home...
Chicago Botanic Garden
Calculating Your Ecological Footprint
You can lower your ecological footprint by recycling! Lesson four in this series of five has individuals, through the use of a computer, calculate their ecological footprints. Through discussions and analysis they determine how many...
Curated OER
Tracking Down Traits
Sixth graders list traits that all sixth graders share. They receive worksheets "Tracking Down Traits," working in groups to complete the chart. Students share results with the class and a class summary is tallied. Students discuss the...
Curated OER
Lesson 16: DNA Technology
Students research different areas of biotechnology. In this biology lesson, students create a presentation about their research. They debate the topic presented and share their views on the subject.
Curated OER
Taxonomy Project
Students act as a taxonomist and, given a certain situation, classify existing organisms.
Curated OER
English Exercises: Open Cloze: Why Dogs Bark
In this language arts worksheet, learners complete an online interactive exercise in which missing words are filled in to make a text complete. Students read the text about why dogs bark and fill in a word of their choosing in each of...
Curated OER
Wilderness
Students examine the dynamic between animals and humans in the wilderness. They work together in groups share their journal entries when asked to reflect on natural areas.
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.