University of Minnesota
Sheep Brain Dissection
Bored with frog and earthworm dissections? Had your fill of fetal pigs? Anatomy students will be intrigued by the sheep's brain, and you will be prepared with guiding questions, extension activities, and pictures as they dissect one —...
Curated OER
Spider Safari
Today we are talking about one of the stealthiest, sneakiest, and most intriguing insects of all times, the spider. Learners will examine the predatory nature of these super bugs as they conduct a spider safari survey. Each child will...
Curated OER
Mapping the Homunculus
Students determine the relative number of nerve endings located in the skin. By calculating the reciprocal of these measurements, students have the appropriate data for predicting the relative size of the homunculus found on the cerebral...
Curated OER
The Drug Connection: Design-O-Synapse
Students study cholinergic neuromuscular pathway of acetylcholine release and develop a model for drug interaction at one specific neurological site. Working in teams, students can also research different drugs or poisons and produce a...
Curated OER
Broken Bones
Students listen to a lecture on broken bones. They review the proper first aid techniques and practice setting splints on one another. They observe X-rays and animal bones.
Curated OER
A Giraffe Debate
Students study the life, adaptations, and habitats of giraffes. They investigate the issue of giraffe survival in the wild or in a wildlife sanctuary. They conduct a class debate and present position papers.
Curated OER
U.S. History: Our Constitutional Amendments
Eighth graders conduct Internet research about Constitutional Amendments and present oral reports on their findings. Their reports also include visual representations depicting their chosen amendment's focal point. Students discuss the...
Curated OER
Tree Cycles
Fourth graders investigate the life cycle of a tree by researching the Internet. In this plant life lesson, 4th graders observe The Life of a Tree website and discuss the life of a tree from sprout to death. Students create a...
Curated OER
The Ultimate Predator
Students already know that the most effective predator on earth today. They pay close attention, because after the teacher have finished lecturing, their assignment is to design a new "Ultimate Predator." Students present their...
Curated OER
The Ultimate Predator
Students listen to a lecture by the teacher about the "Ultimate Predator." They design a new "Ultimate Predator." Students present their creations to the class and attempt to convince their classmates that their predator is indeed the...
Curated OER
Extensions - Biology Review Unit
Students engage in a variety of activities in order to review a Biology unit. For example, they research the Bird Flu, it's history, how it is spread, what has been done about it, what better options exist for controlling or removing it....
Curated OER
Sports Helmets and Impact Testing of Polymers
Students examine the importance of good quality safety gear. In this investigative lesson, students will tests various polymers, collect data, and analyze the data to determine which polymer is best for safety helmets. They will design a...
Curated OER
"Garden Springs Gardeners"
First graders ponder the question of how plants help their lives. They observe and compare properties of several different plants. Differentiate between living organisms and nonliving objects.
Curated OER
Live Well Now to Live Longer Later
Ninth graders select a topic to research, completing the sentence, "Are the effects of _______ really that detrimental to one's health?" They record information in a journal, including sources of information. Students work in groups with...
Curated OER
Discovering the Structure of the Atom
Students investigate atomic and nuclear structure of matter by researching historical atomic theories. Students examine Rutherford's studies and discover that many scientific conclusions change over time as new data is collected.
Curated OER
Hazard Mitigation: Bioterrorism
High schoolers discuss different ways to spread infectious diseases. In this bioterrorism lesson, students model the rate of smoke emission using CalRoad software. They analyze the effects of airborne release of...
Curated OER
Virus Tracker
Sixth graders will simulate the spread of a virus such as HIV through a population by "sharing" (but not drinking) the water in a plastic cup with several classmates. Although invisible, the water in a few of the cups will already be...
Curated OER
Pulse Rates
Students answer the question, "How will the intensity of exercise effect your heart rate?", using physical workouts and AppleWorks, or similar spreadsheet program. This lesson can conclude with the creation of a graph of data collected.
Curated OER
Vital Vitamins
Students study vitamins and who should take them and what ones to take. In this investigative lesson students plan a healthy diet after reviewing the types of supplements.
Curated OER
The Laughing Brain 1: How We Laugh
Students to rate themselves on a scale from 1 to 10 (10 being the happiest) as to how happy they feel and write their rating on a sheet of paper. They explore gelotology (the science of laughter) and its benefits to our social, mental,...
Curated OER
Can You Beat Jet Lag?
Learners examine the health condition of jet lag. Using mealworms, they test the effect of light on the development of them into adults. They answer discussion questions and examine the relationship of age and one's activity level.
Curated OER
The United Nations
Students are introduced to the role of the United Nations. Using the internet, they research its history and its influence on politics and peace. In groups, they create a timeline of significant United Nations conventions since World...
Curated OER
Diseases of the Eye
Fifth graders research diseases of the eye. In this science lesson, 5th graders discuss and research eye diseases and complete a worksheet using the information they find.
Curated OER
Mathematics In You
Young scholars construct ratios using the hand as data. They use examples of cortical and trabecular bone found in the long bones to measure circumference, diameter, length, and weight of long bones. They perform computations using...