Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reading the Dna Code: Making Protein

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students study DNA decoding and protein synthesis. They use the amino acid table to translate DNA, break DNA strands into three nucleotide codes, and translate nucleotides into amino acid protein codes. They research the importance of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

DNA Fingerprints

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students interpret different DNA fingerprints, then do a jigsaw activity to explore other uses of DNA forensics. They listen to a radio program about using DNA as evidence and discuss the limitations of and problems with DNA testing.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

DNA-B-C's

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students review what they already know about DNA. After reading an article, they discover a new technique to map the course of evolution. In groups, they create ways to present this material to younger children and research DNA's uses.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Controlling the Code: Molecules at Word

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students investigate how cells determine which genes will be expressed and which will be silent. In this genetics instructional activity, students use on-line resources to complete a worksheet and gather information about gene...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

(Clues to) Copying the Codes: Examining the Evidence

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students view animations of DNA replication and transcription and complete a worksheet. In this genetics lesson, after watching on-line video clips to gather information about DNA replication and transcription, student teams identify...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cracking the Genetic Code

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine an article, "Genome 'Treasure Trove'" and participate in a class discussion prior to researching further information in order to write their own feature article on the Human Genome Project.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Island Biogeography and Evolution: Solving a Phylogenetic Puzzle With Molecular Genetics

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners engage in solving a logic problem based on real organisms and real data. They develop phylogenies for seven related populations of lizards living on the Canary Islands.
Activity
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Stalking the Genetic Basis of a Trait

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Need an a-maize-ing lesson to show your class how regulatory genes work? If you use the well-written resource, they'll be all ears! Biology scholars discover the gene responsible for the evolution of the modern-day corn plant through a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Genetic Engineering

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discuss the risks and benefits associated with biotechnology. In this biotechnology activity, students discuss the role of genes in the body and brainstorm ethical issues relating to biotechnology. They read about an ethical...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

DNA, Protein Synthesis and Mutations

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders investigate the chemical composition of DNA and RNA and how they work together to synthesize protein. They discover genetic codes, gene chromosome theory, and how the environment influences our appearance.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Genetic Disorders

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders discuss traits, traits that are inherited and how genes and chromosomes carry the code for traits. They research genetic disorders and their link to chromosome abnormalites and write a report on their findings. which...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Human Origins: The Prehistoric Human Race

For Teachers 9th - 12th
When it comes to the origin of the human species learners are full of misconceptions. Clear up the hominid confusion with this evolutionary activity focused on assisting students in understanding prehistoric man and his family tree....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Model Organisms: The Genes We Share

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students gather information about gene banks. For this biology lesson, students work in groups to complete an activity sheet about genetic databases and organism genomes. Lesson includes extension ideas.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gene Action/Mutation Worksheet

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students define the following terms: mutation, mutagen and give examples of how they work. They also define and illustrate a point mutation. Students define and illustrate a frame shift mutation and name two types of frame shift...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cut-Off Genes

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explain the concept of gene sequence analysis. In this gene lesson, students draw inferences about phylogenetic similarities of different organisms.
Website
American Museum of Natural History

All About Cloning

For Students 6th - 12th
Start seeing double. The American Museum of Natural History website provides pupils with information about Dolly, the cloned sheep. Learners find out the procedure used to create Dolly along with why scientists clone animals.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Genetic Basis of Neurological Disorders

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students describe some aspects of known genetic defects on the human neurological condition. They participate in a variety of exercises including drawings, games, and analogies.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Molecular Evidence for Evolutionary Relationships

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students compare the amino acid sequences in cytochrome-c for a variety of organisms and use this information to infer evolutionary relationships. Students investigate the role of homeobox genes and what this indicates about the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Spanish Omelet

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners use analogies to show the relationships among cell, nucleus, genes, chromosome, ribosome, replication, mitosis, transcription, translation, DNA, RNA, amino acids and proteins, genotype, phenotype, and genetics vs. environmental...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Scientific Advances Could Bring Back the Dodo & Mammoth

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students reflect on the possibility of bringing extinct species back to life.  In this ESL lesson, students debate the pros and cons of extinction reversal then complete several activities centered around the topic.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Animals and Humans Say the Darnedest Things

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students explore and analyze human and animal communications and create a short film that illustrates their findings.