Curated OER
I, Robot, Can Do That!
Assign groups of middle school oceanographers to research one of the following underwater robots; ABE, Herculues, ROPOS, RCV-150, Tiburon, or general purpose ROVs. An included handout guides them through information to be gathered. Each...
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
A Lesson on the Nature of Science
If you are looking for a great way to present natural selection in humans, look no further. This handout is intended to accompany the 14-minute video The Making of the Fittest: Natural Selection in Humans, which can be found on the...
Curated OER
Pollution in the Anacostia River
Seventh graders are introduced to Earth day--- what is it and why do we care, ease into topic of pollution, where have they seen pollution in their community, steer conversation in the direction of the Anacostia. They are reintroduced...
Curated OER
DNA, Protein Synthesis and Mutations
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.
Curated OER
Who's Who and How Do You Know for Sure?
Learners investigate the applications of DNA fingerprinting, They read crime scenarios and using the details of the crime and laboratory experimentation decide the suspects guilt or innocence.
Curated OER
Developing and Assessing the Intelligence of a Kindergartner: A Practical Approach
Students name objects that are the same size, shape, and weight as the human brain. They touch the model brain, feeling the folds, etc. They make connections to the chart displaying the brain-like objects. They touch the 'potato flake'...
Curated OER
Strange Bugs
As individuals or in small groups, marine biologists research and discuss archaea and their unusual behavior as compared to bacteria. Teach them about the chemical makeup of the cell membrane of these strange organisms. This complex...
Curated OER
What's That?
Meant to be a simulation of a deep-sea exploration, this requires that another lesson be completed first. In that lesson, titled "Animals of the Lost City," marine biology buffs construct murals of benthic communities. For this lesson,...
Curated OER
Investigating DNA
Students engage in a variety of activities designed to facilitate the understanding of DNA. Activities include preparing human chromosome spreads, separating a mixture of dyes using gel electrophoresis and extracting DNA from onion cells,
Curated OER
Life in a Drop of Water
High schoolers examine the structure, function, and characteristics of microscopic organisms that inhabit freshwater through collection of water samples and observation through microscopes.
Curated OER
Summer: Getting the Bugs Out
Learners compare and contrast classification systems used throughout the world. They also examine the importance of preserving biological diversity.
Curated OER
Socioeconomic Implications of Fetal Transplantation An Exercise in Bioethics
High schoolers explore ethical problems. In groups, students examine and study a given ethical problem. They practice techniques for making ethical decisions and interact with each other in the resolution. High schoolers support their...
Curated OER
Inquiry-based Investigations into Pond Water Microorganisms
Students become familiar with common microorganisms and experience exploring the microbial world.
Curated OER
Diffusion & Osmosis with Data Analysis
Students explore principles governing diffusion and osmosis. Students perform a dialysis tubing experiment. They obtain core samples of potato in varying concentrations of sugar-water to measure water potential of the potato cells....
Curated OER
Evolution
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.
Curated OER
Discovering New Species
Students identify animals observed by Lewis and Clark while evaluating the animal's habitat and describing the animal's behavior. Students construct a food web mobile to illustrate the animal's position in the food web in the 19th...
Curated OER
Weathering Landforms
Fifth graders brainstorm a list of ways the Earth's surface can change. As a class, they are introduced to the concepts of erosion and weathering and discover how wind and water cause changes to the surface of the Earth. To end the...
Curated OER
Become an Expert
Students practice their researching techniques by preparing a presentation with little notice. In this information research lesson, students utilize the Internet to research one of several subtopics concerning panthers....
Curated OER
Case Study: Should the Results of the Human Genome Project be Sold for Profit?
Students investigate a case study and discuss whether scientists working on the Human Genome Project should be allowed to patent their work. They consider ethical and legal issues, and determine who owns genetic information.
Curated OER
Goobers. Goobers? Goobers!
Students begin the lesson by noting the many ways in which to use peanuts. In groups, they use the internet to research the work of George Washington Carver. They discover the allergies and nutritional information of the peanut and...
Curated OER
Where Should We Place Archaeopteryx?
Learners classify Archaeopteryx using pictures of actual fossils and scientist representations of how the animal might have looked. They compare Archaeopteryx's characteristics to those of the five extant vertebrate groups to...
Curated OER
Fossils-Where Should We Place Archaeopteryx?
High schoolers explore an interactive computer activity that provides the opportunity to look at features of various groups of animals and determine where an extinct organism might be classified.
Curated OER
Extraction of DNA from Onion
Students experiment with DNA by isolating it from plant tissue. They investigate whole onions to prepare DNA. They complete the experiment to examine the structural characteristics of DNA.
Curated OER
Life is Weird!
Students describe major features of cold seep communities, and list at least five organisms typical of these communities. They infer probable trophic relationships among organisms typical of cold-seep communities and the surrounding...