Biology Junction
DNA and Replication
Enzymes proofread DNA, reducing the error rate to one in one billion base pairs. Learn about the important process and so much more with the help of a presentation. It opens with the history of DNA and the major scientific contributions...
Chicago Botanic Garden
What Can Tree Rings Tell Us About Climate?
Tree rings are slightly thicker on the south side of the tree because it receives more sunlight. Part two in a series of five lessons helps learners analyze tree rings to determine the environmental conditions that caused size...
Curated OER
Winter Play Pack
Uncover the magic of winter using this winter play pack. Fold it into a book for learners to work through as they explore wildlife during the cold months. They create winter ice art, go on a scavenger hunt for various plants and animals,...
Curated OER
Respiratory, Circulatory, and Urogenital Systems in the Rat
Here is a lesson which describes a lab activity in which a rat is dissected, and its heart is studied. The lesson has ample background information about three of the rats internal systems, and excellent lab sheets that support the...
Curated OER
Our Sky: Home of Stars and Planets
Pupils discover that astronomy is a branch of science that includes the study of planets, stars, and constellations.
Curated OER
Distinguishing Between Flowers
A branching key is a great way to classify different types of animals and plants! Fifth graders answer several yes/no answers about three different plants. They then create their own key to differentiate between an iris, a rose, and a...
Curated OER
Classification/Taxonomy/Statistics Review
"Does King Phillip Cry Over Flimsy Grass Stems?" You might not answer that question with this exhaustive instructional activity, but your biology class will get the full scoop on the hierarchy of biological classification with this...
Texas Heart Institute
Anatomy: How Does the Cardiovascular System Work?
How can the circulatory system compare to a city map? Pupils distinguish the "roadways" and "vehicles" of the cardiovascular system, compare the anatomy and function of veins and arteries, and review different types of blood cells with...
Desert Discoveries
What's For Dinner?
Youngsters compare the teeth of plant-eating dinosaurs with those of meat-eating dinosaurs. The concepts of herbivore vs. carnivore are also introduced. There is an excellent worksheet embedded in the plan which shows five skulls of...
Curated OER
Cartoons for the Classroom: Safety vs. Energy
Political cartoons are a poignant way to examine energy sources. This analysis handout has scholars examining a cartoon by Joe Heller (a link to his gallery is included for possible extensions). Background information reminds pupils of...
Curated OER
Classroom Cladogram of Vertebrate/Human Evolution
Students build a Colossal Classroom Cladogram of vertebrate evolution. After putting it together, they show the gradual, mosaic accumulation of the traits which we, as humans, possess.
Curated OER
Probability: The Study of Chance
Young scholars conduct an experiment, determine if a game is fair, and collect data. They interpret data, then display line graph. They conduct analysis of game for probability.
Curated OER
Endangered Species Act
Students spend the duration of this lesson examining the text of the Endangered Species Act. Individually, they complete a profile to determine where they stand on the bill and read excerpts from it. Some role-play the various members...
Virginia Department of Education
Weather Patterns and Seasonal Changes
Get your class outside to observe their surroundings with a lesson highlighting weather patterns and seasonal changes. First, learners take a weather walk to survey how the weather affects animals, people, plants, and trees during...
Curated OER
Pollution and Lung Health
Students investigate how pollution affects lung health. In this pollution and lung health lesson, students build lung models from a soda bottle and balloons, and then discuss how the emissions from fossil fuels can adversely affect lung...
Curated OER
A P Literary Terms
Is a list of literary terms found frequently on AP English exams of value to test takers? Now there's a rhetorical question. Here's a list that provides definitions for everything from allegory to vernacular. To say the list is...
Curated OER
Star Quest
Students review the concepts of the branch of science known as astronomy. They discuss stars and constellations and then view the night sky using a portable digital planetarium projector. They identify a variety of constellations using a...
Curated OER
Make a Model of a Tree
Students identify the parts of a tree. In this tree biology instructional activity, students create a tree model using tree parts and drawing the roots. Students label each part of the tree and maintain a tree journal during...
Curated OER
TE Activity: Pollution Politics
Students examine how a bill becomes a law in the US Congress. They investigate legislation about global warming. They determine the role of engineers as they educate Congress, the public and other government institutions about global...
Curated OER
Taking From the Giving Tree
Students explore the ways in which various American cities negotiate the protection of their "green infrastructure," gaining a broader understanding of proposed and enacted legislation as it relates to preserving and planting trees in...
Judicial Branch of California
Our Government Today…What A System!
A group of citizens in North Canada has decided to leave their country, and they are asking for help in setting up an American-style democracy. Using a carefully structured activity, pupils lay out the principles in the American...
Rainforest Alliance
Trees and Carbon
You'll find everything but the kitchen sink here ... or just a carbon sink. In the activity, pairs or groups of middle school learners go outside and measure a tree's circumference and height to estimate its carbon storage potential and...
Curated OER
Introduction to Adaptation
Tenth graders observe collections of specimens and discuss their answers to provided questions. They explore common ancestry, homology, analogy, adaptive radiation, and evolution, while formulating creative answers based on their...
Carson-Dellosa Publishing
Boho Birds Bulletin Board
Maybe you're studying the life cycle of a bird, or maybe you're doing an author study in language arts. Whatever the case may be, use a set of bulletin board ideas any time of the year. Tailor the provided ideas to make them your...