Lesson Plan
Serendip

Golden Rice – Evaluating the Pros and Cons

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
More than half the world's population eats rice as a daily staple ... imagine if that rice could prevent illness. Scientists genetically engineered rice to include vitamin A for just that purpose. However, room for debate still exists....
Interactive
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Mendelian Laws Apply to Human Beings

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Why are so many inherited diseases more prevalent in populations of specified races? Scholars learn about pedigrees and genetics using a reading, an animation, primary sourced letters, a short video, a biography, a guided practice...
Activity
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Biochemistry and Cell Signaling Pathway of the Mc1r Gene

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
How do mice have so much fur color variation over generations? Scholars illustrate protein structures based on amino acid sequences. Then, they analyze the signaling pathway in different-colored mice populations. This allows them to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bears of Banff

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Learners pretend they have just entered a national park. They imagine that the park borders are all impassable mountains, and students will play the role of grizzly bears. Learners list three things every animal needs to survive, in this...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Beaks of the Finches

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students become birds and are given "beak-types". After completing the simulation, students relate results to adaptations and natural selection. Extensions of the simulation allow for comparative results and include population genetics.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

People Are Like Peas in a Pod

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students experiment with peapods to show the diversity of individual within a population. They examine dominant traits, recessive traits, genotypes, and phenotypes and show the process of making a Punnett Square.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Toothpick Fish

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Learners experiment with genes and environment for a population of "Toothpick Fish."
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Natural Selection Foldable

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students examine and identify examples of species that developed as a result of immigration, genetic drift, and adaptive radiation. They conduct Internet research and define key vocabulary terms, and use their species example on their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rock, Paper, Scissors

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore genetic traits. In this genetic traits lesson, 5th graders investigate dominant and recessive traits. Students identify similar traits between a parent organism and its offspring.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Variety is the Spice of Life

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners 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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Case of the Threespine Stickleback

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine why some freshwater populations of stickleback fish.  In this macroevolution lesson students read a study packet then answer questions. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

From Restriction Maps to Cladograms

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Biology aces analyze restriction maps to determine the relationships among different primate species and then complete a cladogram. Preface this instructional activity with an explanation of how restriction enzymes are used to create the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Genetic Pamphlet with a Purpose

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students design a human genetic condition pamphlet which they present to the class and then take to a doctor's or pediatrician's office.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Survival of the Fittest – Battling Beetles

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore natural selection. For this genetic adaptation lesson, students discover why certain traits continue and some traits disappear. Students discover how species evolve and change. Resources are provided.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Whale of a Problem

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners evaluate the possible causes contributing to the decline of the killer whale population from a number of differing perspectives. They present their findings in a talk show format and in letters of advocacy regarding
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate how Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium is established and what assumptions and conditions are necessary to reach Equilibrium. They model alleles using materials such as index cards, M & M's and goldfish.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Producing a Strain of E. coli that Glows in the Dark

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Learners observe the experimental process called bacterial transformation and demonstrate phenotype changes in bacteria that have been transformed with an antibiotic-resistance gene and a metabolic marker. They create a luminescent...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Punnett Squares/Genetics

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders complete a monohybrid cross and a dihybrid cross. In this biology lesson, 9th graders predict the traits of offspring using the Punnett square. They differentiate recessive and dominant genes.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Allele Frequencies and Sickle Cell Anemia Lab

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students investigate how selective forces like food, predation and diseases affect evolution. In this genetics lesson, students use red and white beans to simulate the effect of malaria on allele frequencies. They analyze data collected...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Clipbirds

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students attempt to pick up various objects with a wide variety of beaks, including scissors, spoons, etc.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Biotechnology/Bioinformatics Activity

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students demonstrate the genetic principles of Heredity. They discover that each species has a unique Genetic fingerprint and that people can use "Genetic fingerprints" to solve a number of problems. They discuss examples of uses of DNA...
Lesson Plan
National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science

In Sickness and in Health

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed Standards
Based on family history, how likely is it that a couple's children will have a recessive disease? In an in-depth, but easy-to-follow case study, future geneticists learn the story of Greg and Olga, who are hoping to have children, but...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Managing Wildlife

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students discuss the current conditions of wildlife in New England. Students explore how animals are tracked and how their population is managed.
Lesson Plan
WK Kellogg Biological Station

Sounds of Selection

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Do you want a creative and fun way to teach about natural selection? Hop to it by turning your middle school princes and princesses into frogs trying to catch as many bugs as possible in a Hungry Hungry Hippos style game. For high...

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