California Academy of Science
Human Evolution
As the great and hilarious Tim Minchin once said, "Science is simply the word we use to describe a method of organizing our curiosity." Science is more than just a guess; it is based on questions, observations, and evidence. High...
Curated OER
Mystery Boxes: Uncertainty and Collaboration
Students manipulate boxes with unknown internal structure and contents to become familiar with the concept of uncertainty in science.
Curated OER
Nature of Science and Ecology
Students identify the different biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem. In this ecology instructional activity, students perform a case study on current environmental problems. They write a position statement about their chosen...
![Story Behind the Science: Search for Life's Origins [Pdf] Article](https://d15y2dacu3jp90.cloudfront.net/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/FPO-knovation.png "Story Behind the Science: Search for Life's Origins [Pdf] Article")
Story Behind the Science
Story Behind the Science: Search for Life's Origins [Pdf]
Article describing research done by scientists in their quest to understand the origins of life. Questions are posed throughout about the nature of scientific research.
University of California
Ucmp: What Is "Good Science"?
A very good explanation of the scientific process and the differences between science and non-science. This is a concise and clearly written description.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Science as Storytelling for Teaching the Nature of Science
For this activity, students first read an essay entitled Science As Storytelling, then respond to the questions accompanying it. The purpose of the lesson is for students to develop a deeper understanding of science as more than just...
Estrella Mountain Community College
Estrella Mountian College: Introduction to Genetics
This site explains genetic beliefs before and after Mendel, and also includes a section on Mendel himself and his experiments, entitled, "The Monk and his Peas".
Palomar Community College District
Palomar College: Mendels' Genetics
This site from Palomar College provides a good background on exactly what Mendel did. Vocabulary links throughout make this a very good introduction article for genetics.
University of California
University of California Museum of Paleontology: Nature of Science
A great beginner's guide to examining the nature of science. Covers the basics of how science helps us to understand the surrounding world.
University of Hamburg
University of Hamburg: Deviations From Mendelian Laws And: What Is the Meaning of Dominance?
Upper level discussion of several of Mendel's experiments and laws.
Other
Montana State University: Strange Dead Bird
An online interactive mystery where students use their science knowledge to solve the death of some strange birds. Use the clues given to use the scientific method to figure out why the animals are getting sick.
Vision Learning
Visionlearning: Culture of Science: Nature of Scientific Knowledge
Explore what science really is with this explanation of scientific knowledge.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Rutherford's Enlarged: A Content Embedded Activity on Nature of Science
Through a study of Ernest Rutherford's experiments with atomic structure, students develop a deeper understanding of the nature of science. The activity is taken from a linked article by the author that was published in the Journal of...
NASA
Nasa: Mars and Earth: Science Learning Activities for Afterschool
This set of activities teaches learners about the big picture of science using Mars as an example: how to collect data, use evidence, and look at models.
NASA
Nasa: Mars and Earth: Science Learning Activities for Afterschool
This set of activities teaches students about the big picture of science using Mars as an example: how to collect data, use evidence, and look at models.
American Association for the Advancement of Science
Science for All Americans Online: The Nature of Science
A detailed overview of how scientists look at the world. Written in a way that the average person can understand, it opens up the world of science to everyone.
Other
Denver Museum of Nature & Science
This resource is the homepage of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Find out everything you'd want to know for planning a visit and see what exhibitions are currently showing.
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Ucar: The Nature of Science
This teaching box engages middle and high school students in the Nature of Science - what it is and what it isn't - along with activities to ensure engagement and enhance science understanding explicitly.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Super Scientists
Grab your science tools and explore with PBS KIDS. Through hands-on activities and exciting media that transports you to space and in the Earth, this collection will bring science to life in your classroom. These resources help students...
Indiana University
Indiana University: Science vs. Non Science
This mini-lesson at the Evolution and Nature of Science Institute site from Indiana University provides a criteria by which students can evaluate an idea or explanation for scientific credibility.
Indiana University
Indiana U./ensi Sensi/better Biology Teaching
The paper "Better Biology Teaching by EmphasizingEvolution & the Nature of Science" includes Modern Science & Uncertainty as one of the four major themes the authors advocate in the teaching of biology.
Indiana University
Ensi: The Great Fossil Find Lesson Plan
Students hear a story as they "find" bones that you have put in an envelope for them. Their job is to begin assembling the bones as best they can. The students will invariably come up with different configurations--just like scientists...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: A Colorful Hypothesis
Use "Dinosaur Train" to illustrate and excite your students about creating a hypothesis. Website includes a video of "Dinosaur Train", a lesson plan, and student's handout. Lesson plan includes a lab where students can practice making...
Estrella Mountain Community College
Online Biology Book: The Nature of Science and Biology
Use the scientific reasoning and critical thinking to take an in-depth look at the basics of biology.