Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mussel Movements

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students consider the impact of invasive species on local environments. In this ecology lesson plan, watch the video, Arizona Wildlife Views, which focuses on invasive species. Students develop vocabulary, relate to meaningful...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Insect Biology and Ecology: A Primer

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students explore insects and closely related organisms. They examine the growth and development of a lady beetle. Students classify insects and organize them. They investigate pest management.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gene Action and Mutation

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students review terms related to DNA structure and function. They complete a variety of worksheets in small groups or in pairs reflecting the unit's concepts regarding DNA. They submit their worksheets for grading.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Karyotype Puzzle

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars identify chromosome pairs based upon band patterns and location of centromere. They order chromosome pairs based upon size. Students differentiate normal karyotypes from abnormal karyotypes. They correctly record karyotype...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Candy DNA Model Lesson

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Young scholars explore DNA structure using materials such as Twizzlers, small colored gumdrops and/or toothpicks.
Unit Plan
Curated OER

Evolution, Genes, and Behavior

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students examine the roles of genes and evolution on behaviors. In groups, they identify the relationships among DNA, genes and chromosomes. They evaluate the different theories of language acquistion and how evolved tendencies interact...
Website
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Genetic Variation

For Students 9th - 10th
This video segment from NOVA: "Cracking the Code of Life" explores the genetic similarities and differences among organisms.
Website
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Sweaty T Shirts and Human Mate Choice

For Students 9th - 10th
This video segment from Evolution: "Why Sex?" explores the "sweaty T-shirt experiment," which showed that humans may unconsciously be drawn toward a specific kind of genetic variation in a mate.
Interactive
University of Utah

University of Utah: Learning Center: learn.genetics: Making Sn Ps Make Sense

For Students 9th - 10th
Find out how tiny variations in DNA can help scientists predict humans' response to drugs or to disease risk.
Website
University of Utah

University of Utah: Genetic Science Learning Center: The Basics and Beyond

For Students 9th - 10th
This website offers a clear definition of the science of Genetics, highlighting DNA and genes. There is a neat, easy-to-understand animated tour of the basics and an opportunity to go inside an animated cell. Student can build a DNA...
Lesson Plan
Indiana University

Ensi: Comparison of Human: Chimpanzee Chromosomes Lesson

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This is a great lesson plan that combines Karoytypes and evolution. Young scholars will recognize that the chromosomes of chimpanzees and humans are remarkably similar, then correlate that to their evolutionary relationship.
Handout
Other

University of Illinois: Population Genetics [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the University of Illinois at Chicago provides an in-depth article on Human Genetics, with a focus on primarily population genetics. The article is factual and informative full of charts, formulas, and extensive text. A...
Lesson Plan
University of Washington

Genome Sciences Education Outreach: Genetics of Taste (High School Level) [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Multi-activity lesson plan in which students will use the scientific method to examine human variation in the ability to taste different substances.
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Variation of Traits

For Teachers 11th - 12th Standards
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the variation of traits built into human DNA. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Website
BioEd Online

Bio Ed Online: Genes, Health, and Society

For Students 9th - 10th
A web-based course which allows students to explore the fields of genetics and genomics. The three course modules are transmission genetics, the nature of genetic material, and medical genetics and genomics. Use of this resource requires...
Handout
Other

Human Ecology and Human Adaptability

For Students 9th - 10th
Describes eccrine and apocrine glands and relates them to heat tolerance. Also includes some information on sebaceous glands.
Lesson Plan
National Health Museum

Access Excellence: Molecular Biology/primate Phylogeny

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This lesson plan involves comparison of amino acids to create a phylogenetic tree of primates. Young scholars will also use other species information to draw conclusions about evolutionary relationships.
Graphic
Curated OER

Smithsonian Nmnh: What Does It Mean to Be Human, Human Evolution Evidence

For Students 9th - 10th
What does it mean to become human? This brilliant and detailed resource examines early man's behavior, including information on stone tools he used, burial, clothing, and shelter. Find information on genetics including human skin color...
Handout
BiologyWise

Biology Wise: Incomplete Dominance Examples

For Students 9th - 10th
Explains what incomplete dominance is in heredity, and what it looks like in plants, animals, and humans.
Activity
University of Arizona

Actividad No. 2 Con El Adn De La Familia Blackett

For Students 9th - 10th
How can you use data from STR close relatives to create a genetic profile of a missing person? How much genetic diversity exists between brothers? These and other questions will be answered with these activities.