Curated OER
Standard 4 Review Sheet-Key Ideas Biology-The Living Environment
In this living environment worksheet, students answer a variety of questions about living organisms, the processes they go through to make food and break down food, absorb nutrients, and release toxins. They explain homeostasis, they...
Curated OER
Strawberry DNA Extraction
Students explore the DNA of strawberries. In this science lesson, students extract the DNA of strawberries. Students complete a lab report.
Curated OER
DNA Fingerprinting: You Be the Judge!
Students explore DNA fingerprinting. Students discover how DNA fingerprinting is done and judge the validity. They evaluate the use of certain prints in courts and address the ethics of establishing a national database of fingerprpints.
Curated OER
Electrophoretic Analysis: DNA Fingerprinting and Evolutionary Divergence
Students examine the principles of electrophoresis. They evaluate both the agarose and polyacrylamide system of molecular separation. In order to bring the concepts of genetics and evolution full circle from DNA to protein, students...
Curated OER
Genes: The Building Blocks of Life
Students examine various topics on genetics. Students explore the Internet to gather information on genetic testing, genetically engineered food, forensics, DNA and cloning. They research and determine the best way to fund each of the...
Curated OER
Teaching the Chemical and Structural Properties of DNA
Young scholars work together to answer questions about DNA. They identify where DNA is found and its function in the cell. They note any physical similarities they have with their family members
American Society for Microbiology
”Build a Bacterium” Scavenger Hunt
An exciting activity has scholars use cell parts to build bacteria through cooperation with other groups. Each group has some of the cell parts needed, but they must trade with other groups to be able to fulfill their function as a...
Curated OER
Plant Reproduction
Students plant seeds in order to investigate and explore the questions: "How do seed companies develop varieties of plants?" and "What is the ideal plant?" Students will study related vocabulary and sketch seeds as they emerge. Students...
Curated OER
Edible DNA
Learners use multicolored soft candies (gumdrops and candy orange slices) and toothpicks to create models of DNA structures. They discuss the fact that DNA must copy itself before splitting into two cells. Students demonstrate this by...
Curated OER
Temperature and the Tomato
You will need a photovoltaic system and monitor at your school in order to obtain all of the data required to thoroughly implement this lesson. Your class monitors daily temperature and insolation amounts over a two week span of time....
Curated OER
Using Amino Acid Sequences to Show Evolutionary Relationships
Compare protein fragments, count amino acids, and use the information to explore common ancestry. The resource mentions a student worksheet, however, a separate printable worksheet is not provided. The exercises are written into the...
Curated OER
DNA Fingerprinting through a Chemistry Lens
Students explore DNA and restriction enzymes using fragments of DNA separated by electrophoresis on an agarose gel. They analyze the results to see "whodunit".
Curated OER
Trichinella Forensics
Students engage in DNA manipulation using forensics techniques. Students investigate topics involved in forensics studies such as cloning, electrophoresis, gene mapping, replication, and transcription.
Curated OER
Not Just a Bag of Beans
Students determine the types of natural selection and variation that exists in a population, using beans.
Curated OER
Embryology as Evidence of Evolution
Learners observe the two major developmental pathways (protostome and deuterostome). They analyze data regarding differences in nucleotide sequences and construct a phylogenetic tree. They observe the similar evolutionary history shared...
Serendip
From Gene to Protein - Transcription and Translation
Learners identify the different steps involved in DNA transcription. In this genetics lesson, pupils complete a worksheet and model the translation process with a paper chain activity. They watch a video on sickle cell anemia and explain...
Curated OER
Transcription, Translation, and the Genetics of Microbes
Students construct various virus models using Fruit loops and Alphabits to represent nucleotides and molecules. They constructs capsomeres using shoes as the capsomeres and discuss various viruses.
Curated OER
Pliable Proteins
Students make models of protiens using wire and paperclips. They are given step by step instructions with lots of information about proteins throughout the directions. They make the three basic structual elements of proteins;...
Curated OER
Protein Synthesis Activities
Students participate in a teacher-guided activity to teach about protein synthesis. Student roles include one person as the DNA molecule, another is a single stranded sequence of complementary mRNA.
Curated OER
Reaching Into Your Genes
Learners interact with a video to explore the basis for the science of chromosomes. They perform a chromosomal analysis called a karyotype and explore how seemingly minute errors in chromosomes can lead to devastating illnesses.
Curated OER
DNA Extraction From a Variety of Tissue Samples
Students, working in cooperative groups, extract very impure samples of DNA from a number of tissue samples. They determine how the samples can be preserved and how they are similar.
Serendip
Soap Opera Genetics – Genetics to Resolve Family Arguments
Did she cheat on her husband? Did the hospital switch the babies? Should they have children? As much as this sounds like the plot for a soap opera, all of these questions fit into a single lesson on genetics. Scholars read about three...
Curated OER
Dealing with DNA Controversy
Pupils research controversial statements about biological applications and write a persuasive essay. In this biology lesson plan, students are assigned a controversial statement as a research topic, then they use this topic to create a...
Curated OER
Cells
Students explore the cell and cell processes. They create "cytoplasm", make a model of the cell and its organelles, and simulate the osmosis and the diffusion of materials into and out of the cell.