Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Carnivorous Plants: A Bugs Nightmare!

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students research carnivorous plants and how they trap insects. They role play as botanists to write a research field guide about a newly discovered imaginary carnivorous plant.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Much Land Does It Take To Produce Your Food?

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Young scholars calculate the amount of land required to produce the food eaten by an individual for one year and compare the amount of land required to produce animal versus plant products. They use calorie counting resources to compile...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Extraction of DNA from Onion

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students study DNA by isolating it from plant tissue. They determine the purpose of each step in the isolation procedure as it relates to the physical and biochemical characteristics of the genetic material
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Habitat Unit - Day 2

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Learners explore abiotic factors that affect habitats. After a class lecture, students work in groups to answer questions about plant tissue, production and growth. They share answers, complete a crossword puzzle, and create a habitat...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Molecular Approaches to Evolution

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Pupils are introduced to working with molecular data. The first activity does both simulated and original data are used to compare amino acid, protein or DNA differences to construct phylogenetic trees or cladograms. These activities...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Spring Migration, Milkweed Monitoring

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students watch for milkweed plants from the previous fall and choose several new plants to monitor. Then make observations and measurements about the plants. The connection with the weather is also made with the monitoring of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson 4, Spring Migration. Milkweed Monitoring

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students monitor the growth of milkweed plants. The observations are made to help make conclusions about growth and development.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Global Warming--Points of view

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students are introduced to global warming through analysis of political/editorial cartoons dealing with the subject. They discuss the cartoon and what the feel it means and then discuss the mechanics of and the concerns about global...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

We All Start Somewhere

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students demonstrate an understanding that the same data can lead to different interpretations and conclusions and that different interpretations and conclusions are not necessarily wrong, but can be useful in developing other scientific...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Growing Barley for Use in Biosynthesis Experiments

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students attempt to determine the optimum growing conditions for barley. They assess the effects of a number of substances such as ammonium chloride and urea on the plants
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Window Gardens

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars use a plastic sandwich bag containing a damp paper towel taped to a window as a model system to observe the germination and early growth of radish seeds. They are challenged to pose a question about seed germination and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Every Breath You Take

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners study acids and bases and the uses of indicators. They interpret the actions of an indicator to conclude that bromothymol blue turns yellow in the presence of a weak acid.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Publication" of Scientific Papers And Posters

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students create and display a scientific poster in the same format that scientists use at a research symposium. They compile data and make conclusions about the classification of the Arizona Hedgehog Cactus as an endangered species. ...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Photosynthesis

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students recognize the importance of plants as they perform an experiment involving photosynthesis. Students determine the optimum wavelength of light for photosynthesis by exposing plants to different colors of light, collecting data,...
Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

Citizen Science to the Rescue!

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
You don't have to be a scientist or even out of high school to contribute to scientific research. In the 12th lesson in the series of 21, scholars use this opportunity to add to the growing body of scientific knowledge and consider the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Edible GMOs?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
The debate over genetically modified organisms is on! Young biologists imagine that they have been asked to choose which corn chips will be sold for a fundraiser, one made with GMOs or one without. This four-day lesson plan requires...
Lesson Plan
Nuffield Foundation

Microbes Ate My Homework

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Now you have a new excuse not to do your homework. A long-term experiment has learners explore cellulose-digesting enzymes. They simulate how paper breaks down in a compost bin. There's no need to blame your dog for eating your homework...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

WET Science Lesson #5: Pass the Salt Please! (How Road Salt Affects Wetlands)

For Teachers 7th - 12th
As an anticipatory set, biologists listen to the story of Ruth Patrick, a scientist who used algae to detect water quality. They observe a demonstration of osmosis and diffusion. In their lab groups, they place Elodea stalks in...
Lesson Plan
Nuffield Foundation

Identifying the Conditions Needed for Photosynthesis

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Budding biologists often ask how scientists know what they do about different topics. In the lab described here, they have a chance to find out first-hand about the requirements for photosynthesis. Three sequential investigations are...
Lesson Plan
Nuffield Foundation

Investigating the Effects of Biochar on Soil Fertility

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Breathe some new life into charcoal. Scholars use biochar to improve soil fertility. They test the effectiveness of this addition by conducting an experiment with soil having 0%, 2%, and 4% biochar.
Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

A Salt Marsh Ecosystem

For Teachers 9th - 12th
What a web we weave. Pupils use yarn as the primary resource to create a web depicting the intricacies of a salt marsh ecosystem. They participate in a question and answer session, which leads to an in-depth facilitated discussion...
Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

Organisms in Symbiosis

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Searching for an activity that allows emerging biologists to explore symbiosis up close and personal? Pupils collect samples and view lichens through a microscope and conclude with a discussion about the relationship they have...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cut-off Genes

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Investigate the relationships between different deep-sea organisms by DNA sequencing. A worksheet provides instructions for DNA sequencing and space to work. They simulate gel electrophoresis by cutting out paper "DNA strands."...
Lesson Plan
Serendip

Genetic Engineering Challenge – How Can Scientists Develop a Type of Rice That Could Prevent Vitamin A Deficiency?

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Brown rice contains vitamins B and E, while white rice lasts longer in storage. The availability of rice around the world makes it a great candidate for genetic engineering. Scholars apply their knowledge of genetic engineering to solve...

Other popular searches