Curated OER
Invasive Species in the News
Students explore how invasive species can change an environment. In this critical thinking lesson, students study how invasive animals can change an environments population. They will discuss the implications of an invasive species and...
Curated OER
Lichen Looking
Students explore plant biology by participating in field trip activities. In this botany lesson, students identify the term "lichen" and discuss where lichens can be found as they explore a nature area on their class field trip. Students...
Curated OER
Summer Camp in the Classroom
Students explore wildlife plants and summer activities. In this natural science lesson, students identify plants and animals and create a scrapbook of their findings.
Curated OER
Sticklers
Students explore biology by participating in a habitat identification activity. In this sticklers lesson plan, students utilize land markers as part of an organism simulation in which they examine the habitat of a specific species....
Curated OER
Ethical Decision Making in Biology
Students explore a model that illustrates the spread of HIV through an adolescent population. Acting in the role of epidemiologists, students explore the dilemmas of HIV infection presented by a simulation. Students produce a play, skit,...
Curated OER
Science Happens in a Social Context
Students discuss how the same data is viewed differently between historians and scientists. Using the data, they compare and contrast the vocabulary used and the focus of attention. They analyze the conditions that help spread diseases...
Curated OER
Hickory Dickory Dock: The Biological Clock
Students investigate the effect of day length on animal migrations. They view a Powerpoint presentation, identify their own personal migrations and cues, answer discussion questions, and test a hypothesis about seasons.
Curated OER
Natural Selection
Students practice calculating allele and genotype frequencies in the framework of a simple simulation using hard candy, calculators, and a worksheet. This lesson includes a three-page worksheet and an assessment question for conclusion.
Curated OER
Biological Control of Purple Loosestrife
Students examine the role of Purple Loosestrife in Illinois and Indiana rivers. In groups, they collect a wide variety of plants in a wetland and raise beetles in a controlled environment. They introduce the loosestrife into the...
Curated OER
Biology: Natural Selection
Students explore evolutionary processes and theories using the spotted fish applet. They observe what happens to fish in a closed environment with both food and predators. Students run the model several times and answer questions about...
Curated OER
Exploring Evolution Lesson Plans
There are evolution lesson plans that can help teachers get past the controversy to increase student understanding of natural selection.
Curated OER
Our Schoolsyard is Full of Biology
Students study the habitats found in their schoolyard. They apply firsthand, what they have learned in the classroom to something familiar to them. Students look at biotic, abiotic habitats. Small groups will present their findings to...
Curated OER
Bringing Forestry into the Classroom
Here are ways to incorporate science, math, and language arts while learning more about the forests that sustain us.
Curated OER
Applying the Laws of Inheritance
Biology and mathematics can be integrated through a study of Mendelian Genetics.
Curated OER
Immune, Lymphatic System
A fantastic slideshow that has images, details, definitions and trivia to accompany each structure and response involved with the immune system. The slides are very useful for all levels of the immune response. A complete sets of notes...
Channel Islands Film
Human Impact on the Food Web of Santa Cruz Island
What happens when a non-native species is introduced onto an island? Santa Cruz Island, part of the Channel Island chain located off the coast of southern California, provides the perfect laboratory for young environmental scientists to...
Curated OER
DNA Replication
After viewing this presentation, students create a complete set of notes to support their learning of DNA replication. Each slide has information on a step in DNA synthesis process. The slides focus primarily on the processes rather than...
Curated OER
Acid Rain
Simulated acid rain, a dilute sulfuric acid solution, needs to be prepared for this demonstration. After a condensed lecture on acid rain, you will apply the solution to a sample of granite and a sample of limestone. Your young...
Chicago Botanic Garden
Seasons of a Plant
The third in a series of six lessons is an engaging three-part activity defines that discusses phenology, focusing on the cyclic seasons of plants. Pupils then observe phenology outside before determining how climate change can...
Curated OER
Measuring Evolution of Populations
The Hardy-Weinberg principle is the focus of this concise slideshow. Some vocabulary definitions are given on the first 2 slides, and the rest are given over to examples of the Hardy-Weinberg theorem. Calculations of the H-W principle...
Curated OER
Measuring Evolution of Populations
The five agents of evolutionary change are reviewed in this slideshow. Definitions of common terms involved with populations and equilibrium are given, and there are some presentations of Hardy Weinberg equations for common examples of...
University of Minnesota
What's the Deal? Addiction Card Game
Addiction is a big deal! Playing a game of cards helps learners understand the concept of addiction. Through their analysis, they examine the potential for addiction and how it varies for each individual.
Cornell University
Let’s Raise Lacewings
Young entomologists explored beneficial insects and how they help control pests in the first lesson of the series. Now class members take a close look at the lacewing, which is a beneficial insect.
Curated OER
From Curiosity Cabinet to Museum Collection
Learners study binomial nomenclature and museum-based research. They create a curiosity box, label the objects in their curiosity box , develop a classification scheme for the objects, and create a database of all objects collected by...