Cephalopod Lesson Plans
This collection of lesson plans, created by the Bermuda Biological Station for Research, highlights color change in cephalopods. This page provides links to each lesson plan, which are in PDF format and feature an informative, image-rich introduction followed by a hands-on laboratory activity. The lesson plans highlight cephalopod color change, vision, light quality, and light quantity.
Single-Celled Organisms Unit
This Project Oceanography lesson plan (PDF) explores the symbiotic relationships of single-celled organisms. In this activity, students will compare and contrast three types of symbiotic relationships, describe the relationship between zooxanthellae (a dinoflagellate) and coral, and explain the effects of nitrogen-fixing bacteria on their symbiotic partners. It begins with an introduction to symbiotic relationships, the dinoflagellate/coral system, and cyanobacteria, and then features an interac
Protist Image Data
Protist Image Data (PID) is an online database that provides pictures and short descriptions of selected Protist genera, especially those genera whose species are frequently used as experimental organisms or are important in studies of organismal evolution. Up-to-date information is provided on the morphology, taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships of these organisms. Information on PID pages is arranged by the following: Introduction, Appearance, Ultrastructure, Reproduction and Life History,
NCBI: Education
This Web site from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) offers a set of detailed tutorials to help users make full use of NCBI's bioinformatics tools. The tutorials, which target both new and veteran users, cover NCBI's BLAST and PSI-BLAST, Entrez data retrieval system, Cn3D molecular structure software, and more. Additionally, the Science Primer tutorial offers a "basic introduction to the science underlying NCBI resources" geared more toward the general reader.
NCBI More Information: Similarity
This page summarizes the basic concept and vocabulary of sequence similarity searching. It is included for those new to the field who may not appreciate the importance of this technique in biology, who lack the vocabulary to understand the BLAST guide and tutorial or who require a basic rather than a sophisticated understanding of the methods involved. Sections include introduction, premise, terms, general approach, the BLAST algorithm, quantification, gaps, significance, and databases. Users ca
The Goldilocks Zone
This is an article from "Teachable Moments in the News," a newsletter that takes recent Earth and space science related news stories and places them in a context relevant to the science curriculum. This particular edition describes the Goldilocks Zone, a range of environmental conditions that can support life. Teachers are provided a brief introduction, relevant news links, and developed lesson plans. Some lessons are in PDF format. Activity themes include: exploration of environmental condition
Creatures that "glow" in the night
This Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education activity (PDF) encourages students to practice experimental design and scientific writing through the study of bioluminescence. Students observe and experiment with bioluminescent dinoflagellates (Pyrocystis fusiformis), learning how and why they produce light. The activity includes information for teacher preparation, an introduction to bioluminescence, defined vocabulary terms, a list of necessary materials, procedure, assessment questions, and
Alternative discussion formats: museum exhibit design
Designing museum exhibits encourages students to think creatively and to use a wide range of thinking skills.
Incorporating oral history into the K-12 curriculum
Oral history techniques for use with students at all levels, from kindergarten through high school.
Ten questions for planning an oral history project
Plan ahead to avoid frustration and to ensure that your students get as much as possible out of an oral history project.
Choosing books that are "just right"
This teacher research study examines how students select books for independent reading and how teachers can help them make choices more appropriate to their reading levels.
Teaching about Thanksgiving
Resources and activities to help you bring historical accuracy, cultural sensitivity, and a broader context to discussions about the quintessentially American holiday.
CivilWar@ Smithsonian
This site examines the Civil War through collections of artifacts. Topics include slavery and abolition, Abraham Lincoln, the first Union officer killed, soldiering, weapons, leaders, cavalries, navies, life and culture, Appomattox, Winslow Homer, and Mathematics and Statistics. A Civil War time-line is included.
Water Sourcebooks
The Water Sourcebooks contain 324 activities for grades K-12 divided into four sections: K-2, 3-5, 5-8, and 9-12. Each section is divided into five chapters: Introduction to Water, Drinking Water and Wastewater Treatment, Surface Water Resources, Ground Water Resources, and Wetlands and Coastal Waters. This environmental education program explains the water management cycle using a balanced approach showing how it affects all aspects of the environment. All activities contain hands-on investigat
Calisphere Themed Collection - California Local History Mapped: Civic Buildings
Historical images on a map of California show the development of civic buildings--missions, courthouses, city halls, and the State Capitol building--throughout the state.
Calisphere Themed Collection - 1950s-1970s: Social Reform: Everyday Life
The images in this topic provide a glimpse into the daily lives and changing lifestyles of Californians during the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, as the country moved from postwar to protest. From birthday parties and family meals to homecoming rallies and political protests, these photographs reflect how life looked during those years. Two images show Californians interacting with political figures who shaped those decades.
Calisphere Themed Collection - 1780-1880: California in Transition: Californio Society, 1830s-1880s
This is a primary source photo collection on Californios, elite families that received large land grants from Spain and Mexico, flourished during the 1830s to 1880s. The hand-drawn diseño maps underscore their vital connection to land ownership. The more formal surveyed maps that followed US acquisition of California show changing values regarding land ownership. As Californios lost land and power in the late 19th century, they tried to adapt to these changes by using social networks to maintai
Experimental Design and Testing: Hatching and Development in Brine Shrimp
This scientific investigation uses hatching and development in brine shrimp as the biological system in which to demonstrate the laboratory model of teaching experimental design.
Blooming prickly pear cactus (Opuntia) from the Sonora desert
Cacti are often overlooked as flowering plants. In fact, cacti bloom with colorful flowers and reproduce like all other angiosperms.
Birds' beaks: a special adaptation
The size and shape of a bird's beak is telling of its diet. Bird's beaks are special adaptations to get food and vary according to if the bird eats plants, animals, or seeds.
