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A Peek at the Past: Gradualism vs. Punctuated Equilibria
Students consider two sets of simulated fossils (caminalcules) that are provided as cutouts. They arrange them on two time scales. One set produces a visual example of gradualism, the other shows punctuated equilibria.
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Genetic Jewels: Building the DNA Model
Young scholars construct segments of DNA to create a piece of jewelry. In this genetics lesson students create a DNA sequence that they turn into something to wear.
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Pseudogene Suite
Students use Biology Workbench to explore DNA sequence data for the GULOP gene in humans, chimpanzees, orangutans, and crab-eating macaques and the beta globin gene and its pseduogene in humans, gorillas, and chimpanzees.
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The Magic Hooey Stick
Students examine the use of a "magic hooey stick". They discover the concept of illusions and how science can reveal them. They answer discussion questions to end the lesson.
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How's Your Horoscope?
Students examine the concept of astrology. They compare their traits with those of standard astrological descriptions. They discuss their findings.
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Why Cladistics?
Students explore how biological classification is intimately associated with evolution.
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FOOTSTEPS IN TIME
Students measure and correlate their foot lengths and body heights, then use this data to estimate height of Laetoli hominids. They use metric measurement and graphing to determine these heights.
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Comparison of Human and Chimpanzee Chromosomes
Students actively engage in the careful analysis of chromosome banding patterns and identify examples of inversion in homologous chromosomes.
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Lamarck vs Darwin: Dueling Theories
Students, in groups, study cheetah, blind cave organisms, and naked mole rats to explain facets of evolution.
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Introductions and Conclusions
Ninth graders explore the techniques for writing an effective introduction and concluding paragraph in their academic essay. They create an outline of where they plan to take the reader and explore the methods for creating an...
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The Interconnectedness of Ancient Peoples Map Study
Seventh graders begin this lesson by viewing various maps of the Ancient World. As a class, they take notes on the changes of different areas in Europe and Asia as their teacher lectures to them. They answer questions about the...
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Water: Naturally Cleaned
Students use stream trays covered in different types of rocks or soil to investigate infiltrates and runoff. In this water pollution instructional activity, students work in groups with stream trays that have different substrates. They...
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Mystery of the Matching Marks
High schoolers view a Power Point and complete activities related to genetic evidence of human evolution. In this molecular evolution lesson, students view and discuss a provide presentation. They search for the "tell-tale telomere" and...
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Are You Getting Thirsty?
Students study droughts and how they affect communities and coastal ecosystems. In this ecosystems instructional activity students use data to examine drought conditions in certain areas.
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Images of Katrina
High schoolers use maps and online data to find specific geographic areas. In hurricane Katrina lesson students use aerial photographic imagery to see some impacts of hurricane Katrina.
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The First Thanksgiving: The Pilgrim’s Journey
Students discuss history. In this pilgrims lesson, students discover what life was like for people coming over to the New World on the Mayflower. They participate in class discussions as the teacher navigates through a Scholastic website...
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Hominoid Cranium Comparison
Students describe, measure and compare cranial casts from contemporary apes (chimpanzees and gorillas, typically), modern humans and fossil "hominids" (erect and bipedal forms evolutionarily separated from apes).
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Perception is Not Always Reality
Students view various types of illusions. Using one of the illusions, they try to determine how a scientist might explain them. They discover a t-illusion and use their own words to analyze them. In groups, they research a different...
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Crime Scene: The Case of the Missing Computer Chip
Students, in teams, attempt to solve a simulated crime scene.
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Women's Brains
Students experience an example of bias in science dealing with women and gender.
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The Natural Selection of Stick-Worms
Students discuss and role-play the elements of natural selection. They use toothpicks to represent Stick-Worms and discover the mechanisms of change of traits in populations.
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PATTERNS IN TIME
Students build a realistic sense of geological time, seek clues of transition fossils and find them. In this investigative lesson plan students complete several activities and worksheets on fossils.
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Case of the Threespine Stickleback
Students examine why some freshwater populations of stickleback fish. In this macroevolution activity students read a study packet then answer questions.
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Making a Karst Dictionary
Students practice using the correct vocabulary in geology and hydrology. They use the Internet to research topics and practice their researching skills.