Towson University
Mystery Tubes
How do scientists know they're right? Truth be told, they don't always know. Explore the scientific process using mystery tubes in an insightful activity. Young scientists discover how to approach and solve problems in science, how ideas...
Curated OER
What Killed the Dinosaurs?
High schoolers demonstrate how scientists use evidence to formulate hypotheses. They write an essay describing the Cretaceous and Paleocene time periods from the point of view of someone living in that time. In addition, they formulate...
Curated OER
Cyclic Universe: Worlds Without End
Students compare and contrast the Big Bang Theory and the Cyclic Universe Model. They explain basic properties of the univers which make life possible. They evaluate ideas about the origin of the universe as to their scientific value.
Curated OER
Wild Kingdom
Students research and discuss the natural habitats and various evolutionary theories of giraffes and other animals imported into ancient Rome.
Curated OER
Evolution of Observation
Pupils develop an awareness of the evolution of the scientific method. They facilitate the student's knowledge of looking at variables from different perspectives. Students develop their abilities to defend their ideas with facts or...
Curated OER
Who Was Charles Darwin?
High schoolers complete two activities to study Charles Darwin's Theory of Natural Selection. They read Darwin's journal from the voyage of the Beagle and look at the scientific ideas that influenced the development of his theory.
Curated OER
Who Was Charles Darwin?
Students examine how Darwin used the processes of science to support his theory. They distinguish between artificial and natural selection, recognize Darwin's contribution to science. They produce a newspaper describing the times in...
Curated OER
Primate Characteristics and Exaptation
Students compare the features of gorilla to humans. In this biology lesson, students simulate adaptation using materials found in the classroom. They explain what exaptation means.
Curated OER
Charles Darwin's Hardware Shop
Students construct an evolutionary tree representing specialization, diversity, and selection using easily obtained materials. They use at least twenty pieces of hardware to classify then develop "evolutionary" relationships between the...
Curated OER
The Opposable Thumb
Students explore the physical importance of the opposable thumb among primates. They discover which of their simplest daily activities are possible only because of their opposable thumbs.
Curated OER
13 Ways to Tell Time Backwards
Learners explore different ways geological time can be measured: comparing the time dimensions for each method, the mechanisms of each method, and the materials used.
Curated OER
Why Do We Need Vitamin C in Our Diet?
Students compare/contrast the DNA sequence data of the rat GULO gene to the inactive human GULO gene. They translate and align the sequences, and propose a scenario to explain the occurrence of an inactive DNA sequence to that of an...
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
Bermuda: Search for Deep Water Caves 2009: Out of Darkness
Students analyze the three models on the origin of troglobitic fauna. In this life science lesson, students also consider how the Zonation model explains the fauna's origin. They also use the Internet to research solutional and volcanic...
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
Physics at the Zoo
Students visit a local zoo and answer physics questions that are a part of zoo life. In this zoo physics lesson students answer questions that have to do with the physics of animal size, their center of gravity and how animals travel.
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...
Curated OER
Natural Selection in Action
Students demonstrate natural selection through a lab activity. In this biology instructional activity, students explain how natural selection leads to speciation. They complete their lab report and discuss results in class.
Curated OER
Scientific Theories
Ninth graders compare and contrast how different models can be used to represent scientific understandings. They evaluate the use of data when considering scientific claims. Students debate a variety of socio-scientific issues and the...
Stanford University
Scopes Trial
Students review information about religious movements in the United States. In this Butler Act instructional activity, students view a video and read in their textbook about the Butler Act. Students review documents about the Scopes...
Ballet Austin
The History of Modern Dance
The evolution of modern dance, and the dance history of many of the key figures in the development of this uniquely American form, are the focus of a 13-page packet that includes photos of revolutionaries.
Curated OER
Adapting to the World
Middle schoolers consider dog breeds that are helpful to humans and their hereditary link to wolves. In this biology lesson, student research a dog breed for traits that make it useful to humans. Students write a report of how these...
Curated OER
Mother Nature's Laboratory
Students research how various plants and animals adapt over time to specific habitats and for specific purposes. Students produce a pictorial report on an example of an animal or plant's adaptation.
Curated OER
Inspired Science
Students explore the history of inventions and their difference from discoveries. They create timelines of inventions, demonstrating their connections to each other.