Curated OER
Nasonia Genetics-A Jewel of a Wasp
Students investigate the inheritance pattern of eye color in Nasonia wasps. In this genetics and inheritance lesson plan, students read about the life cycle of Nasonia wasps and hypothesize about the possibilities of eye color inherited...
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Pharaoh Mountain Hike: Investigating Adirondack Life Zones
Students hike a local mountain and examine its life zones. They measure various components at each zone and collect leaf litter at the sites. At the mountain top, students make descriptive observations and complete a handout about the...
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Cell Division
Learners describe the cell cycle. They make a connection between DNA replication and cell division. Students describe the parts of the cell that participate in cell division and the steps of cell division.
Curated OER
Stream Chemistry Monitoring
Learners become familiar with real-world gathering of chemical data. The experience how the science is done: the nature of analysis, data collection, interpretation, and presentation. They study a nearby body of water for their experiment.
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DNA Fingerprinting: You Be the Judge!
High schoolers 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...
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Sea Urchin Embryology
Learners explore the process of evolution. They examine examples of how homeotic genes may work and obtain gametes. Using a microscope, students observe the fertilization of sea urchins. They video tape the process and write a...
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Macro-DNA: Doing DNA Fingerprinting
Students explore gel electrophoresis using paper models. They model DNA sequences and shade the boxes on their Gel Electrophoresis Sheet which represent the individual fragments.
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Patterns of Heredity
Students describe the differences between incomplete dominance and codominant alleles, and between multiple alleles and polygenic inheritance. They describe how internal and external environments affect gene expression. They then...
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Family Traits
Young scholars investigate the study of pedigree designs and human genetics. They construct the pedigree representing two, three, or four generations. They investigate their family members' traits for ear lobe attachment, tongue...
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Active Ingredient Screening Test for Plants
Students determine if various plant materials contain active ingredients which will inhibit the growth of bacteria. They identify plant materials and their degree of sensitivity.
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Studying Living Organisms
Students discover and discuss the differences between prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Using a microscope, they examine various prepared slides of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms.
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Field Experiments on Succession
Student develop a hypothesis regarding the effects of either mowing or fertilizer upon the diversity of plant species in a grassland ecosystem. They set up experiment field plots and measure species richness.
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Oil Spills
Third graders examine the San Francisco oil spill and the effects it has had. In this investigative lesson students view a demonstration on oil clean up and how it works. They see how wildlife is rehabilitated, how the oil is cleaned...
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Sequence Alignment
Young scholars explore the uses of sequence alignment. In this DNA instructional activity students complete several experiments on sequencing and algorithms.
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CULTURING PLANTS FROM EMBRYONIC PLANT TISSUE
Students use this laboratory exercise as a growth medium that contains the macronutrient and micronutrient needs of plants. They observe the effects of different hormones on tissue cultures and must use variations of the basic growth...
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Ecology of the Dump
Middle schoolers recreate landfills in petri dishes, observe relative biodegradability in a year-long project, and isolate a cellulose degrading bacteria while discovering the need for recycling and the serious problem waste management...