University of Minnesota
Virtual Neurons
It's electric! Young anatomists use Virtual Neurons software to build, control, and analyze complex nerve circuits within the body. Colorful and packed with content, class members enjoy interacting with the nervous system...
Curated OER
Brain Awareness Week Lessons
Students explore the human brain and nervous system. In this brain awareness activity, students examine specific terms with regards to the human brain. Students discover the brain's structure and function and how it functions as the...
Curated OER
What's Inside
Students become more familiar with life science in the context of the scientific method which helps them to become familiar with the various kinds of life science diagrams they may see on a GED science test.
Curated OER
THE LAUGHING BRAIN 2: A GOOD LAUGH
Students explore various theories about laughter, laughter's effects on our mental health, and the benefits of laughter to our immune system.
Curated OER
Sizing Up the Supersize Croc
Students examine and compare traits of humans and crocodiles. In this crocodile lesson plan students use a ratio to estimate the height of a person and compare that to a crocodile.
Curated OER
Lub Dub
Learners name the vessels and parts of the heart. They trace the path of blood through the heart. Students examine the function of the circulatory system. They recognize the differences between a hear when the body is at rest opposed to...
Curated OER
Circulatory Circles
Students investigate the circulatory system. In this circulatory system lesson, students complete a WebQuest and explore all the areas of the heart. Students determine the functions of different parts of the circulatory system and...
Curated OER
Kidney Filtering
Students investigate how kidneys function. They discuss how a dialysis machine works, and conduct an experiment in which they filter different substances through a plastic window screen, various sizes of hardware cloth, and poultry...
Curated OER
T's Alive! Or Is It?
Young scholars explore data on the bone, muscle, and skin of living systems and then create a list of characteristics of these systems and relate these characteristics to bone, muscle, and skin.
Curated OER
I Need Air
Middle schoolers examine and research the organs of the respiratory system. They participate in a vocabulary card matching game, create a graphic organizer, and participate in an experiment titled, Floating on Air.
Curated OER
Stop the Bleeding
Learners explore various parts of the heart and blood vessels . They begin with an overview of the components of the cardiovascular system. They see a cross section of an artery and watch how a blood clot develops.
Curated OER
Nervous System
Get to know the body's central nervous system through an engaging game of nervous system telephone. But this isn't your average game of telephone. Here, pupils must find a way to communicate a message to the brain without speaking....
Curated OER
The Strongest Pump of All
Students examine how the heart functions and the concept of how electrical currents can affect muscle contractions. In this cardiovascular lesson students identify P, QRS and T complexes.
Curated OER
Skeletal System
Students discuss the need for humans to have a skeletal system and what would happen if we did not have bones. In this skeletal system lesson, students label each bone in the human skeletal system as a group, and then...
Curated OER
Body Organization
Seventh graders explore how the body is organized. They create flashcards of key terms and visit stations to view levels of organization in the human body. They examine themselves and rearrange their flashcards in order of increasing...
Curated OER
The Skeletal System - Bones
Seventh graders identify the common bones in the human body. In this biology instructional activity, 7th graders research two bones assigned to them. They explain why bones are important to us.
Curated OER
Brain Awareness Week
Students explore human anatomy by completing a list of activities over five days. In this brain science lessons, students examine images of brains and identify the different parts. Students complete an in-class quiz regarding brain...
Curated OER
Nutrition 1: Food and the Digestive System
Students are introduced to how the digestive system works in their body. In groups, they discover they need energy and water to live a healthy life. They discover how the body repairs itself and how it grows. They also examine how...
Curated OER
Anatomical Female Reproductive System
Students dissect internal female reproductive organs and take digital pictures that are exported onto a disc for use with power point technology.
Curated OER
Reproductive System
Fifth graders identify and define parts of the reproductive system. In this health activity, the teacher introduces the parts of the reproductive system, then students match body part cards to the corresponding definition cards.
Curated OER
The Human Body: Focusing on Respiratory and Circulatory Systems
Students study the components and functions of the respiratory and circulatory systems. They take blood pressure using a stethoscope and investigate ways to maintain a healthy respiratory system.
Curated OER
How Big is a Breath?
Students demonstrate how to use math skills to measure their lung capacity. In this human biology lesson, students use a clear plastic container, measuring cup and rubber balloons to demonstrate how the lungs work. Students estimate the...
Curated OER
Know your Heart Parts and Functions
Middle schoolers put together a 3-D interactive "heart" puzzle and learn the names of heart parts.
Curated OER
Digestive System
Students explore the parts of the digestive system. Using interactive spreadsheet software, students observe, name and describe the function of each part of the digestive system. Students may work individually or in pairs.