+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Edible DNA

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students 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...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

DNA and Genes

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students analyze the structure of DNA. They describe how the structure of DNA enables it to reproduce itself accurately. Students discuss genes and the sequence of nucleotides occur in DNA.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

DNA Extraction From a Variety of Tissue Samples

For Teachers 9th - 12th
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.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How is Foreign DNA Inserted into Organisms During the Genetic Engineering of Crops?

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Young scholars examine the positive benefits and negative consequences of genetically modified organisms following a lecture covering key biotech concepts and techniques. Students then conduct and experiment comparing the travel rate of...
+
Lesson Plan
1
1
University of Colorado

Punnett Squares with Piebald Deer

For Teachers 5th - 10th Standards
Explore the science behind Earth's amazing diversity of life with this lesson on genetics. Looking at specific traits in piebald deer, carnations, and roan cattle, young scientists use Punnett squares to determine the possible genotypes...
+
Activity
Serendip

Mitosis, Meiosis and Fertilization Vocabulary Review Taboo Game

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Can you describe a gamete without using the words sperm or egg? Scholars play a vocabulary review game where they try to get other players to guess their words. Each card has the target word as well as two related words they must not...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Race for the Double Helix

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Students participate in an ethics-based simulation. In this ethics lesson, students role play research scientists working to decipher a code. Students work in small collaborative groups and must interact with other small groups to...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gene Action/Mutation Worksheet

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students define the following terms: mutation, mutagen and give examples of how they work. They also define and illustrate a point mutation. Students define and illustrate a frame shift mutation and name two types of frame shift...
+
Lesson Plan
American Society for Microbiology

”Build a Bacterium” Scavenger Hunt

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
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...
+
Graphic
A Mighty Girl

Rosalind Franklin

For Students 5th - 12th
Rosalind Franklin, the Dark Lady of Science, is featured in an intriguing poster that is sure to inspire young scientists.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Get a Life!

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students read a New York Times article associated with the issue of the decoding for genomes, the creation of life in scientific laboratories and various genetic engineering topics. They present speeches of the pro's and con's of these...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Island Biogeography and Evolution: Solving a Phylogenetic Puzzle With Molecular Genetics

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students engage in solving a logic problem based on real organisms and real data. They develop phylogenies for seven related populations of lizards living on the Canary Islands.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ethical Decision Making Model

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students consider the factors that relate to decisions regarding genetic disorders. They read case studies and complete a provided Bio-Ethical Decision-Making Worksheet.
+
Website
American Museum of Natural History

The Tree of Life

For Students 6th - 12th
Groups of species can have more in common than meets the eye. An interactive cladogram shows some of the connections between important groups of species. Learners click on sections of the diagram to learn more about the connections or on...
+
Activity
Macmillan Education

A Wrinkle in Time Discussion and Activity Guide

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
As you work through Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time, try out some or all of the 20 questions and activities included here. Useful for discussion questions, group assignments, or individual projects, this resource covers plot as...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

iDNAvestigation Exploration

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students investigate DNA Fingerprinting techniques and applications. They participate in a scenario to analyze blood to discover who shattered a plexiglass backboards. In addition, they explain why the DNA fingerprint of blood from the...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Genetics and Molecular Biology

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students create DNA models using colored construction papers. In this biology lesson plan, students identify enzyme restriction sites. They model how DNA plasmids replicate when taken up by a bacterial cell.
+
Worksheet
Curated OER

Chromosomes and Genes in Action: Microviewer

For Students 9th - Higher Ed
In this chromosomes worksheet, students understand the make up of a DNA molecule and compare the different ways chromosomes are connected. This worksheet has 35 fill in the blank questions and 6 drawings.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Labs on A Chip

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students are introduced to DNA microarrays. They discuss how scientists and doctors use them and how they work. They complete a worksheet and discuss their findings.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Job Hiring...Who's the best candidate?

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students, working in teams, assume they are the newly hired research director of a biotech firm interviewing the top two candidates for the position of research scientist. They evaluate the candidates and decide who should be hired based...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding: The Power of Genes

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars study genes and the new information on genetics.  In this genes lesson students write essays on their information on genetics. 
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding the Power of Genes

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars research the impacts of genetic research on homes, research laboratories, and hospitals. For this genetics lesson, students use the Internet to investigate the ways that genetics has affected our way of life. They present...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ethical Decision Making Model-Dealing with Genetic Disorders

For Teachers 9th - 12th
In groups, learners read a case study of a couple who produced a child with hemophilia. Although tthe reading breifly mentions how a hemophiliac child is produced, the focus of this lesson is the ethical implications. This lesson is more...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Is Anyone Out There? Examining Astrobiology and the Value of SETI

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Blow their minds with a instructional activity on the search for life outside of our planet! A brief video proposes the question of how to define life. A couple of articles investigate the possibility of alien existence. Finally, the...