Curated OER
They're more evolved that way
Students explore the notion of local evolution, or genetic selectivity among different continent-based human populations. They consider specific examples of local evolution, such as lactose tolerance, skin color, and cognitive capacity,...
Curated OER
Down, Dung and Dirty
Students observe the changes seen in succession and the biodiversity of a community through its species richness and evenness. They create a dung culture in a clear plastic cup from horse, goat or cow dung then observe the numbers of...
Curated OER
Drugged Out Daphnia
Young scholars make predictions and investigate (using a microscope) the effects of nicotine, caffeine, aspirin, alcohol, and sleeping pills on cultures of fresh water Daphnia.
Curated OER
Yo! Gert-making yogurt
Young scientists or chefs culture yeast to produce yogurt. The materials and a general description of how make yogurt are provided, but there is very little detail otherwise. You could use this as an activity when your biology class is...
Nuffield Foundation
Assessing Human Hearing
Young scientists explore hearing through multiple experiments, demonstrations, and activities. They focus on the changes in hearing over a lifetime, how we can determine where a sound is coming from, and the ability to filter noises.
Curated OER
Predicting the Growth of Microorganisms
Students determine where microorganisms might be found around their school. In this scientific investigation lesson, students collect cultures from various locations and place these in petri dishes. They incubate the cultures to see if...
Curated OER
Don’t Cry Over Spoiled Milk!
Seventh graders explore how milk spoils over time. In this biology lesson plan, 7th graders discover how pH changes as microorganisms enter the food and multiply. They explain the benefits of pasteurization process.
Curated OER
Vision Disorder
Students design a morning routine for a 60 year old female senior with vision disorder. In this biology lesson, students collaborate with their team to come up with possible solutions. They present at least two ideas of their design to...
Curated OER
Elegant Embryology
Students observe embryogenesis in action through early stages of development of eggs. They observe cultures with dissecting and compound microscopes. They draw their egg, record any details and observe for changes. They compare their...
Curated OER
Bacteria Pool Party
Students investigate the organisms of bacteria. They are given a culture of bacteria that can be observed under a microscope. The students make observations that are recorded. The lesson includes the mention of specific safety...
Curated OER
Development in Drosophila melanogaster
Learners study the least familiar aspect of development in Drosophila melanogaster; the development of the pupa. Students isolate and culture "First-day" pupae. They are dissected daily to study the progressive developmental changes.
Curated OER
Modeling African American Scientist Ernest Just's Experiment on Parthenogenesis
A multicultural science lesson, students read a brief biography of Ernest Just and create a talk show in which they will perform an experiment after Just's work. With this lesson, students are taught to appreciate the contributions made...
PBS
Stories of Painkiller Addiction: Contemplating Nature vs. Nurture
Does having an addict in your family make it more likely to become one yourself? Explore the genetic risk factors, as well as the prominent environmental influences, for substance addiction in a instructional activity that encourages...
Curated OER
Rainforests of Madagascar: Role Playing and Decision Making
Students examine reasons for deforestation and become familiar with Madagascar and its culture, while describing biological and abiotic components of a rainforest, and looking at aspects that must be addressed to resolve the issue of...
University of Minnesota
C. elegans and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life
Introduce the topic of astrobiology in a unit that's out of this world. Biology scholars examine the search for extraterrestrial life by culturing roundworms, a species that has been key in helping researchers understand the challenges...
Curated OER
Microbes & History: Microbial influence on the spread of Civilization
Students explore how to extract plant fibers from the flax plant Linum usitatissimum in the process of making linen fibers. Doing so spark interest in the importance of microbial action on the spread of human culture and civilization.
Curated OER
Introductory Microbiology
Students view a Reading Rainbow video on germs and discuss microbial diseases. They grow cultures of Staphylococcus aureus and then estimate and graph the count for their own bodies and those of the class.
Curated OER
Down, Dung and Dirty
Students investigate the stages of succession in animal dung communities. They create a dung culture using fresh cow, goat or horse dung then record data on the fungal species that appear over a two week period.
ARKive
Biodiversity and Evolution
Why is diversity in biology so important for an ecosystem? Explore biodiversity, evolution, and natural selection with a presentation for your biology class. It features clear information, activities for further understanding, and...
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Understanding Variation
Does where we live influence how our bodies express genetic traits? Explore variation in human skin color with an activity that incorporate video and hands-on learning. Individuals model the relationship between phenotypes and genotypes,...
Serendip
Should States Repeal Their Laws Banning First Cousin Marriage?
Around half of the states in the US ban first cousin marriage, but does science support that ban? Scholars work through genetic analysis of the risks to understand if more states should ban the practice—or if some should remove it. They...
Curated OER
Drosophila Melanogaster
Student manipulate flies, examine their external anatomy, begin a fly journal and make cultures of wild type flies. Students cross wild type flies and mutants, both purchased from a biological supply house (Carolina Biological Supply...
Curated OER
Microbiology Lab Safety
In this biology worksheet, students are introduced to the practices of safety as related to using a laboratory and then answer some questions as an assessment.
Curated OER
Cloning And b-Galactosidase
Learners investigate cloning using E coli cultures. Through laboratory exercise, they determine if E coli cells contain b - galactosidase.