K20 Learn
Bavaria Has Issues...Experimental Components
New ReviewDo you want to be a detective by analyzing situations? An engaging lesson provides young historians with the tools to help them understand the difference between data types and how to analyze them to draw conclusions. Scholars complete...
US Department of Energy
Thermal Expansion of Water: Rise of Sea Level
New ReviewUsing bunsen burners, Erlenmeyer flasks, thermometers, hollow glass tubes, stoppers, and rulers, learners experiment with and measure how water expands when heated. The activity connects the expansion of water when heated to global...
Biology Junction
Chemiosmosis - The Mechanism of ATP Synthesis in Chloroplasts
In this biology worksheet, scholars color and label the chemiosmosis process and complete four short answer questions on ATP synthesis.
Biology Junction
Cells and Their Organelles
This series of handouts and images asks young scientists to read short informational paragraphs, answer identification questions, and color and label diagrams of animal and plant cells. This is a complete resource that could be given as...
Biology Junction
Cell Membrane Coloring Worksheet
A simple coloring activity reinforces learning of the cell membrane structure. In addition, junior biologists answer fill-in-the-blank and short-answer questions detailing the function of the cell membrane. This worksheet is five pages...
Biology Junction
Cell Reproduction Concept Map
For this cell reproduction worksheet, scholars complete a concept map using different vocabulary words that describe the different phases a cell goes through in the reproduction process.
Biology Junction
Photosynthesis
Why do leaves change color in autumn? A presentation and worksheet walk through many details of photosynthesis. They explain where photosynthesis occurs, why plants are green, the changing colors in autumn, energy usage, and CAM plants.
University of Minnesota
Brain Zoo
Who doesn't love a day at the zoo? Use an observation and inference lab to get young anatomists to recognize similarities between mammalian species based on brain structures. You provide the brains; this lesson provides set-up...
University of Minnesota
Inquiry Cubes
How do you teach kids to "science" effectively? Inquiry cubes are a "sort of" puzzle with no answer—promoting even more questions! Group members work together to use the evidence on the visible sides of each cube to infer what lies on...
University of Minnesota
WebQuest: Structure of the Nervous System
What could be more natural than learning about learning? Scholars research the central nervous systems and the learning process through a well-designed WebQuest. They study the structure as well as discover the functions of those...
University of Minnesota
Motor Learning and Memory
What do our brains have to do with reaction timing? Everything! In a hands-on learning activity, young scientists participate in four card activities that measure reaction timing. Each activity gets progressively more complex, and...
University of Minnesota
Close-up of the Nervous System
Make sure your class gets on your nerves! Learners of all ages practice peering into the nervous system to see what's inside. Groups examine prepared slides of mammalian nervous system tissues, all while gaining microscope skills. The...
University of Minnesota
Attention and Sensory Processing
Ever wondered how your brain manages all of the information it receives every second of every day? The sights, the sounds, the smells ... each one filed away for later use or moved to the front of the line so your body can react. Through...
University of Minnesota
Your Incredible Memory
Test the efficiency of your memory! Scholars test each other's memory as they explore factors that affect memory retrieval. Through experimental analysis, they discover there are different types of memory, which has an impact on the...
University of Minnesota
Makes Me Sweat
Never let them see you sweat ... unless you can't help it! Scholars design an experiment to determine the effects of stress on the body. They monitor sweat production under different conditions and relate the response to the function of...
University of Minnesota
Bead Neuron
What do you call a skull without neurons? A no-brainer! A hands-on activity asks scholars to build a model of a neuron using beads. They use their models to study the parts of the neuron and their functions.
University of Minnesota
C. elegans and Alcohol
Investigate experimental design through a hands-on exploration. A creative lesson allows learners to design an experiment to monitor the effects of alcohol on the C. elegans worm. After conducting the experiment, individuals analyze...
Biology Junction
Cell Reproduction
Cycles exist throughout nature, and the cell cycle compares to a life cycle of any other living being. A worksheet and presentation discuss the concepts of cell reproduction through the cell cycle. They cover each phase individually and...
Teach Engineering
Cosmic Rhythm
Young engineers turn poets with a hands-on activity that challenges them to apply the concept of rhythm to crafting a poem.
University of Minnesota
Mindflex Activity
Control a ball with your mind! Using a headset with an electrode, learners adjust the movement of a ball. They develop an experiment that tests the involvement of the central nervous system in controlling the ball. The activity helps to...
University of Minnesota
Ways of Knowing: Apples as Models
Use apples as a way of thinking about models. Young scientists consider how the word apple, a two-dimensional drawing, a three-dimensional image, a photograph, and plastic apples all model real apples in preparation for developing models...
University of Minnesota
Manduca sexta: Caterpillar Dissection
Caterpillars have an amazing, yet tough job to perform in their short lives — eat much, avoid predators, and try not to let all those comments about being the unattractive stage of the life cycle get to them. How do they handle it all?...
University of Minnesota
Neuropathfinding: Kinesthetic Model
Playing follow the leader has never been so interesting! Get the class up and moving while they take on the roles of nervous system components. Through trial and error, they learn the importance of the "pioneer" growth cone that leads...
Curated OER
Open Inquiry Using C. elegans
Ever wondered what motivates a roundworm? Introduce your biology class to C. elegans, a non-parasitic model organism that can help them understand behavioral stimuli. Paired pupils design an experiment to test the worm's reaction to...