It's About Time
Natural Selection
Are you the predator or the prey? Student groups participate in an activity to demonstrate the process of natural selection in a contained environment. After scholars complete the activity and questions, they apply their knowledge to a...
Biology Junction
Characteristics of Life
Life exists in many different forms from tiny nanobes to the Humongous Fungus, the largest form of life. Scholars learn the definition of life and the shared characteristics of these greatly varied organisms. They demonstrate knowledge...
Curated OER
Allele Frequencies and Sickle Cell Anemia Lab
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...
Curated OER
Who Stole My Salad?
Eighth graders explain how protein is made in the cell. In this biology lesson, 8th graders translate RNA and DNA using an internet database. They determine the thief based on evidence collected.
Curated OER
Peter Rabbit Meets Charles Darwin
Students start to think of evolution in terms of populations. The class follows a cartoon scenario of a rabbit population in which there is selection and change of gene frequency. They receive copies of the scenario or the whole thing...
Curated OER
A Dog's Life
Middle schoolers get a look into the life of dogs-from their origins and basic biology, through selective breeding, and into how dogs have become intricate parts of everyday life for many people worldwide.
Curated OER
Beans and Birds: A Natural Selection Simulation
Young scholars solve the following problem concerning the evolution of seed color in pinto bean plants: "How does natural selection change the frequency of genes or traits over many generations?" They use the constructivist approach to...
Curated OER
Life Has A History
In this biology worksheet, students identify and match various classes of species found today. Then they explain why biodiversity exists today on earth and define evolution. Students also describe who a paleontologist is and what they do.
Curated OER
Evolving Resistance
Students examine antibiotic overuse and the evolution of antibiotic resistance in bacteria.
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
Sea Urchin Embryology
Students explore the process of evolution. They examine examples of how homeotic genes may work and obtain gametes. Using a microscope, students observe the fertilization of sea urchins. They video tape the process and write a...
Curated OER
Survivors on the Ocean Ridge
High schoolers discover the uniqueness of deep sea hydrothermal vent organisms through an exploration of the NOAA Galapagos Rift Expedition. They study the genetics and evolution of a shrimp species that lives near the vents then they...
Curated OER
No Escape
Via four student handouts, marine biology learners examine the topography and circulation cell of the Fieberilng guyot. Then they examine the number of individual hydroids counted at each depth. Pupils use the information to relate water...
Curated OER
Sexual Selection in the Animal Kingdom
Students research how sexual selection plays a role in driving evolution. They experiment how variation exists within not just obvious physical traits, but metabolically and behaviorally. They write a letter describing a problem, and a...
Curated OER
Exploring Learned and Innate Behavior
Compare and contrast learned and innate behaviors between humans and primates. Your biology class members read articles and participate in discussions about the use of tools and communication methods. That's about it, you'll probably...
Curated OER
Human Evolution
High schoolers make and use observations of Laetoli footprints to provide clues to life in the past. They collect and analyze data to study the relationship between foot length and body height.
Cmassengale
Bacteria: Structure and Function
For as small as they are, there sure is a lot of information for young scientists to learn about bacteria. Help simplify the subject with this instructional presentation that explores the structure, nutrition, and reproduction of...
Curated OER
From Genes to Memes
Pupils explore changes in evolution. In this evolution instructional activity, students define genes and memes. Pupils read an article to recognize the difference between genes and memes. Students explain what a meme is and what factors...
Curated OER
Experimentation with Teratogens on Zebrafish
High schoolers compare mitosis and meiosis with regard to chromosome number in parent cells versus daughter cells, types of cells produced, total number of cells produced, and the number of divisions. In groups, identify and...
Curated OER
Lamarck Is Dead!
Students read Lamarck's obituary and respond to questions. They discuss the four laws from Lamarack's studies. Students apply this information to scientific theories in general.
Curated OER
Comparative Embryology Using Japanese Medaka Fish
Students conduct an experiment to control the breeding of Japanese Medaka fish. They collect the fertilized eggs and view and record the fish's embryological development daily to compare the stages to human development.
Curated OER
Creative Ways To Teach Evolutionary Concepts
Students explore evolutionary concepts in cartoons and lab activities. They describe and explain evolutionary concepts featured in a cartoon and participate in laboratory activities.
Curated OER
Why Don't Whales Have Legs?
Students are given a variety of materials and are asked to design a heat loss experiment that results in a reasonable explanation of "Why don't whales have legs?" students work with the theory of natural selection.
Curated OER
Exploring the Uses of Beaks
Students explore the uses of bird beaks in the wild by participating in experiment stations. In this bird adaptation lesson, students work in groups and complete experiment stations that represent different types of bird beaks. Students...