Activity
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Fact Patterns: A Film Guide

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
What does it take to create a scientific theory? Learners attempt to answer the question by studying the work of Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace. While watching a video, they track observations from each scientist and then look...
Lesson Plan14:52
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Howard Hughes Medical Institute

The Making of the Fittest: Got Lactase? The Co-evolution of Genes and Culture

For Teachers 8th - Higher Ed Standards
Got milk? Only two cultures have had it long enough to develop the tolerance of lactose as an adult. Learn how the responsible genes evolved along with the cultures that have been consuming milk. This rich film is supplied with a few...
Activity
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Following the Trail of Evidence

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
One important skill in analyzing scientific evidence is identifying facts versus opinions. Scholars identify pieces of evidence from the film The Day the Mesozoic Died and then discuss this evidence in small groups at the end of each act...
Lesson Plan
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

The Making of the Fittest: The Birth and Death of Genes

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Adaptations must be made as environments change. This fabulous presentation features Icelandic icefish, a transparent, scaleless specimen that even has colorless blood. Genetics and adaptations concepts are explored as scientists study...
Lesson Plan15:27
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

The Making of the Fittest: Evolving Switches, Evolving Bodies

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed Standards
How did the stickleback fish, which was once ocean bound, evolve to be able to persist in freshwater lakes? Hear from the scientists who identified the genes and related switches that allowed these survivors to adapt. In addition to the...
Lesson Plan
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Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Got Lactase? The Co-Evolution of Genes and Culture

For Teachers 8th - 12th Standards
Does the human body evolve as quickly as human culture? With a stellar 15-minute video, explore the trait of lactose intolerance. Only about 1/3 of human adults seem to still have the enzyme lactase and therefore, the ability to digest...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Basics: Earth Science

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners define terms and watch a segment from a film.  In this scientific theory lesson plan students work in small groups and draft a theory that was discussed in the program. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Characteristics of Living Things

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explore the characteristics of living things. In this living things lesson plan, 8th graders review as a class the cell theory and the characteristics of living things. They answer questions about how to determine if...
Lesson Plan13:10
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

The Making of the Fittest: The Birth and Death of Genes

For Students 8th - Higher Ed Standards
After watching an engaging 13-minute video about the colorless blood of icefish, future ichthyologists examine icefish blood and non-icefish blood (blood samples are simulated with Karo syrup mixtures) to determine advantages of...
Lesson Plan10:25
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

The Making of the Fittest: Natural Selection and Adaptation

For Students 8th - Higher Ed Standards
The pocket mouse can be light brown like the sands of the desert, or dark brown like the volcanic lava flows that are interspersed throughout New Mexico's Valley of Fire. It seems that predators have weeded out light colored mice in this...
Lesson Plan
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Channel Islands Film

Island Rotation: Lesson Plan 3

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
How far have California's Channel islands moved? What was the rate of this movement? Class members first examine data that shows the age of the Hawaiian island chain and the average speed of the Pacific Plate. They then watch West...
Activity
Teach Engineering

Bubbles and Biosensors

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Bubbles aren't just for children. In the third installment of a seven-part series, teenagers use bubble solution to create bubbles and observe patterns of refraction on the bubble surfaces. Application of this concept to thin films in...
PPT
Science Geek

Atomic Structure

For Teachers 9th - 12th
The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) was formed in 1919 and was crucial for allowing scientists to discuss findings during the Cold War. A presentation offers an introduction to atomic structure including the...
Lesson Plan
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Channel Islands Film

Island Rotation: Lesson Plan 1

For Teachers 4th - 12th Standards
How do scientists provide evidence to support the theories they put forth? What clues do they put together to create these theories? After watching West of the West's documentary Island Rotation class members engage in a series of...
Unit Plan
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Curated OER

Volcanoes: Fourth Grade Lesson Plans and Activities

For Teachers 4th Standards
Young geologists begin exploring volcanoes of different structures and states: active, extinct, or dormant. During the lab, they make three models and compare different types of volcanoes, including composite, cinder cone, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Historical Perspectives

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders watch episodes of Star Trek and analyze the works of it that pertain to the theory of relativity.  In this creative lesson students also write and illustrate a children's book about the special theory of relativity.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Evolution

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research the theory of evolution and the controversy.  In this evolution lesson students view a film on Charles Darwin then they write an essay about whether or not intelligent design should be taught in science class. 
Lesson Plan
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Survival of the Fittest - Variations in the Clam Species Clamys sweetus

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
It's not often that you come across a clever laboratory activity that is both imaginative and comprehensive! Using M&M's and Reese's peanut butter candies to represent two different clam species, young biologists test for "relative...
Activity
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Using DNA to Explore Lizard Phylogeny

For Teachers 6th - 12th
In a fun and interactive two-day lesson, learners sort anole lizard pictures by appearance. Next, they watch a video about the anoles and re-sort based on the information in the video. In addition to physical characteristics, budding...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Apes To Man

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students study primates and their evolution history.  In this role play instructional activity students view a video on evolution then demonstrate how primates walked and other observations they noticed in the film. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Beans, Beaks and Bears

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students explore evolution. After watching a video on evolution, students perform a variety of experiments using beans which illustrate the concept of evolution.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Environmental Security and Ecological Intervention

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners examine environmental changes .  In this investigative activity students view a film then complete and activity that includes a debate. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

HI-02-01 Somalia: A Failed Intervention?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners study ethics and the importance on humanitarian interventions.  In this lecture lesson students read case studies and answer questions regarding the importance of government and humanitarian interventions then watch a film...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mystery : Structure of the Atom-A Case for Indirect Evidence

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate the structure of the atom through hands on activities. In this atomic structure lesson, students perform 4 activities showing indirect evidence of the structure of the atom and the parts of the atom. They also list...

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