Lesson Plan
Beyond Benign

Lucky Brand Genes: Genetic Traits

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Explore single-gene traits in humans. After viewing a video introducing genetic vocabulary, individuals identify their phenotype and possible genotypes of specific traits. They consider both dominant and recessive traits. This is the...
Lesson Plan
Beyond Benign

Gelin’: Gel Electrophoresis Simulation

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Take a look at a DNA fingerprint. Scholars run a gel electrophoresis simulation to examine the DNA of potential father cats in the eighth installment of an 18-part series. The lesson continues the series that explores DNA and its...
Lesson Plan
Beyond Benign

Who’s Your Daddy? Finding the Father

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Time for the reveal! The nineth lesson of the series of 18 has scholars compare DNA fingerprints of cats to their samples to identify the father of Sparky's kittens from previous lessons. They analyze the DNA bands to determine the match.
Lesson Plan
Beyond Benign

Crossing Hairs

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Can you breed the perfect cat? Scholars study how to control genetic traits through breeding. The 15th lesson in a 18-part genetics unit considers the process of cross-breeding to develop a cat with a specific set of predetermined traits.
Lesson Plan
Beyond Benign

Great Expectations Through Modification

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Explore the changes genetic modifications make just to make it in our world. Scholars track the production of insulin over time and discover how genetic modifications make the treatment of diabetes possible.
Lesson Plan
Beyond Benign

What is Biotechnology

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Examine the sequence of key events in the history of genetics. An engaging lesson asks scholars to sort events to create a timeline of biotechnology milestones. Arranging the events gives learners a perspective on the development of...
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Beyond Benign

12 Principle Match Up

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Can you find a match? Scholars review the 12 principles of green chemistry by playing a matching game. The second lesson of the series reinforces the principles from the first lesson. Individuals play the matching game and also complete...
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Beyond Benign

Orb-It

For Teachers 6th - 8th
How do the products you use rate on a greeness scale? Scholars use a tool to analyze shampoos and cars for their sustainability. They consider factors that affect the environment, the economy, and equity. This is the ninth lesson in...
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Beyond Benign

In Your Bathroom

For Students 6th - 8th
How toxic is your shampoo? The 20th instructional activity of the chemistry series of 24 examines the ingredients in common shampoos. Learners tally the number of toxic ingredients and create graphical representations to communicate...
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Beyond Benign

Puzzler

For Students 6th - 8th
Are some packaging materials superior to others? Using sustainability as a guide, scholars analyze different packing materials to describe their life cycles. They create puzzles to communicate their findings.
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Beyond Benign

Packed Up Properties

For Students 6th - 8th
Determine physical properties of potential packaging materials. Continuing from previous lessons in the series, the resource asks groups to identify physical properties of the substances. They test for conductivity, solubility, water...
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Beyond Benign

The Story of Cosmetics Video Assessment

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Does your shampoo contain carcinogens? Scholars learn how cosmetic companies create and market their products, many of which contain toxic chemicals. They examine the bias and consumer responsibilities in the industry.
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Beyond Benign

The Heat Is On

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Explore an exothermic reaction with a quick lab investigation. The activity builds on the previous lessons by examining an ingredient in many shampoos. Scholars record temperature data as sodium hydroxide and water interact.
Lesson Plan
Beyond Benign

Diagnosing Sparky

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Be a vet for a day! Scholars test their veterinarian skills by assessing symptoms and making a diagnosis. They then evaluate biotechnology tests to verify the diagnosis. 
Lesson Plan
Beyond Benign

Kitten Creation

For Students 6th - 8th
Your pupils become geneticists as they create cat offspring. The next instructional activity in a series continues an exploration of genetic makeup as scholars consider parent traits to build their offspring. Using household items, they...
Lesson Plan
Beyond Benign

ACNE (Another Cat Needs Exfoliation)

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Take solace, teens ... cats get acne, too! After making a diagnosis in the previous lessons in the series, learners must now decide on a treatment to complete the sixth installment of this biotechnology unit. The typical treatment for...
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Beyond Benign

PPM

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
The 15th lesson in the series of 24 helps your classes understand the ppm (part per million) unit of measure. First, scholars experiment with food coloring to determine concentrations before applying their findings to calculate...
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Beyond Benign

In a Lather

For Students 6th - 8th
Time to come clean! Scholars continue preparing the shampoo they created in the previous two lessons. The purpose of this stage is to calculate the perfect amount of additive to make the shampoo lather. 
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Beyond Benign

The Green Zine

For Teachers 6th - 8th
It's time for your class to advertise what they've learned! The culminating lesson in the 24-part series asks scholars to use their newfound chemistry knowledge to create advertisements. Their magazine advertisements describe the health...
Lesson Plan
Beyond Benign

What's In a Window?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Take a peek inside a window to heat efficiency. Scholars watch a demonstration to investigate how heat dissipates from several different cups of hot water. Scholars then relate the exchange to how heat escapes from the windows of a...
Lesson Plan
Beyond Benign

House Project Overview

For Teachers 6th - 8th
What does your perfect house look like? Pupils design a sustainable house given certain specifications. They create concept maps that detail the math skills they need to use while considering their designs.
Lesson Plan
Beyond Benign

Whose House Is It?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
The rich and famous sure have interesting houses. The first installment of a 15-part series has scholars look at provided images of houses in an attempt to match them to their owners. They then generate of a list of features important to...
Lesson Plan
Beyond Benign

Urine Jeopardy

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Urine can tell us a lot about what is happening in our bodies. In a hands-on activity, scholars administer pH, glucose, ketone, and protein tests to a sample of "urine" solution made from household ingredients. Their results lead them to...
Lesson Plan
Beyond Benign

The Final Floor

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Finally, the final floor plan. The 11th installment of a 15-part series looks at floor plans for houses. Scholars try their hand at creating a scale drawing for the floor plan of their dream houses.