Curated OER
Genetics: Who are you?
Study, manipulate, and research genetic traits. Discuss how genetic traits are passed from one generation to another. Classmates explore how they look like their parents and debate whether or not they can do anything about it? They...
Curated OER
Genetics: Mice Rule! (Or Not)
Learners explore genetics and evolution by examining a hypothetical mouse population. Using coin tosses, they determine mouse traits of parents and offspring. Finally, they consider the outcomes of changing environmental conditions on...
Curated OER
Variety is the Spice of Life
Students explore Gregor Mendel's work with genetics. They complete a survey of their friends and family in order to identify dominant and recessive traits. Once their surveys are complete, students discuss the ways in which dominant...
Curated OER
From Restriction Maps to Cladograms
Biology aces analyze restriction maps to determine the relationships among different primate species and then complete a cladogram. Preface this lesson with an explanation of how restriction enzymes are used to create the DNA maps....
Curated OER
Cell Wall Recipe: A Lesson on Biofuels
Biotech engineers discover that changes in the DNA code for cell wall formation can help create crops better suited for biofuel production. They extract DNA from wheat germ. They decode paper strips with codes and relate the activity to...
American Museum of Natural History
Around with World with DNA
A mammalogist, ornithologist, ichthyologist, and a conservation geneticist share their work and their hopes that their research will help protect and save endangered species and their habitats.
Nuffield Foundation
Following Gene Transfer by Conjugation in Bacteria
After the lab, you'll be able to solve this analogy: Natural selection is to vertical transfer of genes as ___ is to the horizontal transfer of genes. Young biologists conduct an experiment on E. coli bacteria to explore the process of...
Channel Islands Film
Island Cattle Ranching
Is cattle ranching on Santa Rosa island viable or non-viable? Rather than focusing on the issues of the transition of Santa Rosa island from a privately owned island cattle ranch to a national park, class members are asked to consider if...
Novelinks
Things Fall Apart: Problematic Situation
If you could pick characteristics you would want your child to possess, what would they be? To better understand Okonkwo, one of the key characters in Things Fall Apart, class groups engage in an activity that asks them to consider this...
Curated OER
A STEP IN SPECIATION
Students place different subspecies of a CA salamander are placed on grid map of CA according to where samples were collected. Then discuss patterns of their distribution, their likely evolutionary relationships, and probable sequence of...
Curated OER
Lamarck vs Darwin: Dueling Theories
Pupils, in groups, study cheetah, blind cave organisms, and naked mole rats to explain facets of evolution.
Curated OER
Adaptation Worksheet
Adaptation or acclimation? Young ecologists determine which is being exemplified in twenty questions. When teaching about adaptations, make sure to talk about acclimation, a short-term learned response to a change in the surroundings....
Serendip
Using Molecular and Evolutionary Biology to Understand HIV/AIDS and Treatment
HIV mutates rapidly, making treatments challenging to find. Scholars learn about why it mutates so quickly and how scientists race to find treatments. The resource approaches the issue from both a molecular and evolutionary perspective...
Curated OER
Cell (Biology)
Students conduct a series of activities to explore the nature of cells. In this biology lesson, students observe plant and animal cells under the microscope and compare them. They differentiate osmosis and diffusion.
Curated OER
Natural Selection
Learners observe, measure and record variations that may be due to genetic inheritance. They look at the length of seeds for germinating pinto and lima beans and measure the distance between eyes in humans. They graph and discuss the...
Curated OER
Mechanisms of Evolution
In this evolution worksheet, students will answer questions about population genetics and the theory of evolution of species. This worksheet has 15 true or false, 6 fill in the blank, and 4 short answer questions.
Curated OER
Genetic Engineering/Biotechnology
Pupils create a paper model of a plasmid and insert a DNA molecule that contains a specific gene into the plasmid. They complete an actual transformation involving E. coli bacterium and relate the two activities to one another.
Curated OER
Red Mangroves Of Southern Florida
Students engage in a unit plan to examine the ecological background for the Mangroves of southern Florida. They conduct research using print and computer technology sources. They use the information in a number of other extension...
Curated OER
Nature And Nurture
Students develop an understanding of the role both nature and nurture play in determining an individual's traits. Using a website, students answer questions about nature and nurture in order to solve the riddle, What do you call a smart...
Curated OER
Case of the Threespine Stickleback
Students examine why some freshwater populations of stickleback fish. In this macroevolution lesson students read a study packet then answer questions.
Curated OER
Diversity of Arthropods
In this arthropods worksheet, students will review the characteristics of the different types of arthropods including spiders, ticks, crustaceans, millipedes, and insects. Students will also understand the difference between complete and...
Curated OER
Selection and Variation in the Egyptian Origami Bird
High schoolers investigate genetics and evolution of species. They simulate the breeding of birds using origami birds. In addition, using dice they introduce genetic variation into the species.
Curated OER
Teaching About Inherited Human Disorders Through Case Studies
Learners explore case studies involving human disorders. They identify options and consequences of each decision. Students interview a family member with a disorder. They create a presentation of their interview.
Curated OER
Applying the Laws of Inheritance
Biology and mathematics can be integrated through a study of Mendelian Genetics.