Nanobacteria: Are They or Aren't They Alive?
This California State University lesson plan contains materials for a five-part activity regarding whether or not nanobacteria are alive. The case-study based activities include: What does it mean to be alive?; What evidence is there that nanobacteria are alive?; More evidence of life; Corroborating evidence (?); and The final chapter (or is it?). The website contains pertinent general information articles and resource lists for students as well as homework assignments based on readings. An answ
Invertebrate Anatomy OnLine
This online laboratory manual features original anatomical descriptions of 112 species for use in invertebrate zoology teaching or research laboratories in North America. The collection was prepared over a period of many years to facilitate and encourage the study of invertebrate animals. It is a smorgasbord of species intended to provide a selection suitable for courses taught in most parts of North America. Many species, or their close relatives, also occur in other parts of the world, especia
Algae Experiments
The material found at this site provides original, multidisciplinary, inquiry-based ideas to help enrich science teaching using the world famous Great Salt Lake as a springboard theme. During the lesson students will have the opportunity to view two types of algae (fresh water and Great Salt Lake species) under 400x magnification with a compound microscope. Students will make observations and record their observations on a recording sheet where they will describe what they see through drawing a
Bird Beak Accuracy Assessment
The purpose of this resource is to quantitatively evaluate the accuracy of a classification system. Students sort birds into three possible classes based on each bird's beak: carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores. Students compare their answers with a given set of validation data.
A First Look At Phenology
The purpose of this resource is to increase students' awareness of the qualitative changes in plants during green-up and green-down from which they will be collecting quantitative leaf change data, and to develop an understanding of the patterns and differences among plants at the same location. Students will observe, compare, and classify plants during green-up or green-down and then make inferences based on the patterns they observe.
ReSciPE Workshops: Scientific Inquiry in the K-12 Classroom
This half-day workshop was developed especially for scientists and science educators interested in contributing to K-16 science education. Workshop activities provide participants with an overview of the research base behind inquiry teaching and learning, an introduction to national standards for inquiry-based K-12 science education, and some hands-on examples of how inquiry can look in the classroom. This workshop is sponsored by the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences
Givology: Using Social Networks to Connect Education with the Developing World
Nine months ago, a group of Wharton students launched an online site called Givology.org, whose purpose is to raise money for scholarships and education projects in the developing world. Givology's vision, according to chief development officer Catherine Gao, is that of a global community of individuals connected through their belief in the power of education to change people's lives. The group, which so far has attracted more than 200 lenders, has partnerships in China, India, Uganda, Ecuador a
Crash Scene Investigation Activities
Help the highway patrol recreate a deadly crash by examining the evidence and calculating the forces. Edheads helps students learn through educational games and activities designed to meet state and national standards. Teacher guides, lesson plans and classroom handouts available.
Mathematics and Science Partnerships (MSP)
This webpage describes the purpose of the US Department of Education's Mathematics and Science Partnership (MSP), a program intended to increase the academic achievement of students in mathematics and science by enhancing the content knowledge and teaching skills of classroom teachers. Partnerships between high-need school districts and the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) faculty in institutions of higher education are at the core of these improvement efforts. Other part
GEOLogic: The Three Stooges and Their Pet Dinosaurs
GEOLogic questions are puzzles that were developed to support students understanding of geoscience concepts while challenging them to develop better logic and problem solving skills. In this exercise, students are asked to match up each of the Stooges with their favorite group and species of dinosaur based on clues given about which order and group each Stooge prefers. This activity is appropriate for a high school science class or an introductory level undergraduate geoscience course, and can b
GEOLogic: The Big Five Mass Extinctions
GEOLogic questions are puzzles that were developed to support students understanding of geoscience concepts while challenging them to develop better logic and problem solving skills. In this exercise, students are asked to match up the five largest mass extinction events with their relative dates, approximate duration, and severity (percentage of species that became extinct) based on clues given from various perspectives. This activity is appropriate for a high school science class or an introdu
GEOLogic: State Fossils
GEOLogic questions are puzzles that were developed to support students understanding of geoscience concepts while challenging them to develop better logic and problem solving skills. In this exercise, students are asked to identify states with their state fossil and the year in which it was declared, based on clues given from various points of view. Learning goals, context for use, teaching tips, materials, assessment tips and related resources are provided.
GEOLogic: Dinosaur Trackways
This in-class or homework exercise asks students to associate different dinosaur trackways with their geographic locations and rock formation names based on clues given from various points of view. Learning goals, context for use, teaching tips, materials, assessment tips and related resources are provided.
Determining Dinosaur Speeds
This exercise has students determine how fast a dinosaur was moving based on the tracks it made. It allows students with minimal quantitative background to become motivated and begin to develop an appreciation for dimensional analysis as they see whether or not they could outrun the track-making dinosaurs. Measurements from any dinosaur track site can be used in this activity. Learning goals, context for use, teaching tips, materials, assessment tips and related resources are provided.
20.441J Biomaterials-Tissue Interactions (MIT)
This course covers the principles of materials science and cell biology underlying the design of medical implants, artificial organs, and matrices for tissue engineering. Methods for biomaterials surface characterization and analysis of protein adsorption on biomaterials. Molecular and cellular interactions with biomaterials are analyzed in terms of unit cell processes, such as matrix synthesis, degradation, and contraction. Mechanisms underlying wound healing and tissue remodeling following imp
Maintain a chainsaw
This resource is designed based on New Zealand Qualifications Framework. It is intended for professional users of chainsaws in the forestry and other industries.
Lessons in Learning
Are current approaches to education and development fit for purpose? In his inaugural lecture, Professor Simon McGrath argues that current official policies to education and development are over-simplistic and over-ambitious.
After 20 years of work in Africa, he concludes that developing appropriate approaches for a critical dialogue with those in poverty is prefe
Professor Simon McGrath
Anthropology seminar: Indigenous capitalism in Upland Indonesia (5 Feb 2010)
Based on numerous field research trips over the last 20 years, Prof. Li (University of Toronto) describes how much attitudes and horizons have changed in this remote, mountainous area.
Smithsonian Source: Civil Rights
This section is intended to supplement the curricula, textbooks, and materials you currently use for lessons on the civil rights struggle. The teacher-developed resources in the section will enhance the classroom experience for both you and your students.
Explore the variety of teaching strategies and guidelines, lesson plans and document-based questions (DBQs), and information about museum objects and other primary sources. You might get started by showing the video, in which Smithsonian curato
Electronic Statistics Textbook
This Electronic Statistics Textbook offers training in the understanding and application of statistics. The material was developed at the StatSoft R&D department based on many years of teaching undergraduate and graduate statistics courses and covers a wide variety of applications, including laboratory research (biomedical, agricultural, etc.), business statistics and forecasting, social science statistics and survey research, data mining, engineering and quality control applications, and many o
