Curated OER
Genetic Disorders
Students examine how living cells create new cells and how genetic mutations can cause disorders and be inherited. In this genetic reproductionn lesson students create their own PowerPoint presentation.
Curated OER
Sun and Weather
How is the Earth's weather created? Middle schoolers will explain how the Sun's energy is transformed into different forms. They will perform mathematical calculations of volume, mass, and temperature. They they will explain the...
Curated OER
Invertebrates
Students identify insect body parts and look for local insect life. They create an insect using recycled material and design a classroom mural with bug facts. They study Monarch butterflies and dragonflies.
Curated OER
Feeding Paramecia
Students prepare a slide of Paramecium cultures and observe (through a microscope) the organism's thin transparent membrane and what happens as they "feed" them stained yeast cells. They sketch the path the ingested yeast takes as it...
Curated OER
Struggle for Existence and Population Growth in Aphids
Students examine the population of aphids. They identify adaptations they have made for their environment. They make predictions, test their hypothesis and collect information that either proves or disproves their theory.
Curated OER
Moisture Lesson Plan
Students investigate the effects of moisture and dampness on homes, clothing, and mold growth. In this moisture lesson, students discuss which certain cities are damper than others based on location and geography. They talk about the...
Curated OER
Building a Clay Neuron
Middle schoolers investigate and then build neurons in this instructional activity. They are examined as key parts of the brain and nervous system and seen as different from normal cells.
Curated OER
Diversity of Life
Students compare the different classifications and explore how organisms are grouped. In this classification instructional activity students study images of organisms and answer questions.
Curated OER
Climate Change Challenge
Students explore the issue of climate change through participation in an interactive game show. They explore climate change issues in the news. Students write and discuss their own questions about climate change.
Curated OER
DNA Fingerprinting: You Be the Judge!
Students explore DNA fingerprinting. Students discover how DNA fingerprinting is done and judge the validity. They evaluate the use of certain prints in courts and address the ethics of establishing a national database of fingerprpints.
Curated OER
Isopod Activity
Students enter information and compare relationships that they are measuring.
Curated OER
Oat Seed Lab: A Model Scientific Experiment
Pupils investigate seed germination. In this lesson on scientific prediction, students conduct a scientific experiment using oat seeds.
Curated OER
Be A Nutritional Entrepreneur
Students research and define nutrition. They choose a definition of nutrition or a nutritional theme around which they design a restaurant. This activity helps students answer the question "What is a nutritionally balanced meal?"
Curated OER
Ten Important Hardwoods
Students discuss ten important Pennsylvania hardwood trees, examine characteristics of each tree species, evaluate economic and ecological importance of hardwood trees, and recognize at least two characteristics of each species.
Curated OER
This Life Stinks
Students study how organisms that live in cold seep communities get energy from methane. In this organism lesson students write a brief report and identify oxidation reduction reactions and explain if these are dependent of...
Curated OER
Microarrays: Chipping Away at the Mysteries of Science and Medicine
Students research microarrays on the internet in cooperative groups. Students write an essay describing the use of microarrays in environmental research and in medicine.
Curated OER
Ecology and the St. Lawrence River
Ninth graders complete a unit of lessons on ecosystems, organism interactions, and energy flow. They create a key for known species of fish, diagram the movement of energy through an ecosystem, and create and present food chains and food...
Curated OER
Fossils and Geologic Time
High schoolers explore the development of the geologic time scale. They examine the major time periods in earth's history. Students discuss the role fossils play in helping us understand history.
Curated OER
DNA Replication
Students create a model of DNA and simulate replication with their models in an activity that uses licorice, colored marshmallows, and toothpicks. Students also label a diagram of replication and indicate major parts of the DNA molecule.
Curated OER
BINGO with Greek and Latin Roots: Unit 1 Narrative Writing
Play BINGO! Reinforce knowledge of word roots with an adaptation of this classic board game. The teacher draws a root word from a bag and learners fill in a square with a word that has the same root base. Instructions and Bingo cards are...
Curated OER
“Pardon This Interruption-Columbus Has Landed!!!”
Students research, design, rehearse, record, and present a 60 second Public Service Announcement, based on Columbus' arrival in the America. The students, working in groups, utilize the design process in creating their PSA. This lesson...
Curated OER
Whale Migration - The Long Journey
Marine biology learners examine right whale sighting data from the WhaleNet website. They plot the data on a map and write down the number of adults and calves spotted. Questions accompany the data analysis activity, making this a...
Curated OER
Protein Assays: Bio Rad and Page Gels
Students conduct the Biuret Test and the Bio Rad Protein Assay. They examine the spectrophotometer and graph molecular weights and the concentrations of the proteins investigated. They prepare solutions for the Bio-Rad test and use the...
Curated OER
Winter
High schoolers explore the nature of water and water molecules. They examine the role of ice on organisms.