This video describes the role of the brain in regulating body temperature and how sometimes fever is employed to fight off infection.
This video segment from the teacher video series Learning That Works uses a case study to highlight the effectiveness of a project-based, real-world approach to teaching science.
This activity is takes place in nature and in the classroom. Students are gathering different types of leaves and naming characteristics of each then sorting them by those characteristics. Students then make a picture with leaves and writes 2-3 sentences about their picture using the characteristic words.
This guided inquiry activity is designed to help students understand that people get all of their knowledge from their senses, and that is why our senses are so important.
Students are presented with an engineering challenge that asks them to develop a material and model that can be used to test the properties of aortic valves without using real specimens. Developing material that is similar to human heart valves makes testing easier for biomedical engineers because they can test new devices or ideas on the model valve instead of real heart valves, which can be difficult to obtain for research. To meet the challenge, students are presented with a variety of background information, are asked to research the topic to learn more specific information pertaining to the challenge, and design and build a (prototype) product. After students test their products and make modifications as needed, they convey background and product information in the form of portfolios and presentations to the potential buyer.
Description of blood through the heart
This activity is a guided inquiry by students into balancing ecosystems through food chains and webs.
Prior to this lesson learners engage in the Arcadia Earth app’s Keep the Great Lakes GREAT section to build their understanding of the Great Lakes and its importance to all animals that call this area home, including humans. Next learners explore food chains with a hands-on activity, Linking the Chain. Students then synthesize what they know about the Great Lakes, food chains and how human behaviors can affect both.
Estimated time required: 1 class period.
Technology required for this lesson: Tablet or Smartphone.
Learners start by using the “Freshwater” section of the Aurelia app. This helps them glean base knowledge of freshwater fish adaptations and their habitats. Students then extend their knowledge to consider how fish have to adapt seasonally, namely in the winter when surface water freezes over. They’ll discover how fish have to physically and spatially respond to those changes within their environment. Although this activity could translate to other freshwater habitats, for this lesson, fish from the North American Great Lakes will be utilized.
Estimated time required: 1 class period.
Technology required for this lesson: Tablet or Smartphone.
This activity is a classroom activity to invistigate seeds and plants.
This video segment adapted from NOVA scienceNOW shows how the common wood frog freezes solid every winter, an adaptation that allows the organism to survive the cold winter.
This activity is a classroom and field activity in which students record observations of birds in their natural habitat and make connections between the structure and function of the bird feet.
This is a field activity where students explore different types of gardens comparing how they are the same and different.
How can you tell different animals of the same species apart? This activity is designed to start your students in recognizing themselves as scientists and thinking critically about problem-solving. The goal is to teach concepts through discovery and to encourage using scientific thought processes. As with all lessons provided, please feel free to adapt them according to your students’ abilities. You may find it more successful to lead activities and discussions as a whole group rather than using individual Research Plan sheets. Certain scientific vocabulary may or may not be appropriate for your students’ level of understanding. Take these ideas, make them your own and your students will have a greater chance at success.
How difficult or easy would it be for a Zoo to choose which animals to breed? This activity is designed to build confidence in your students recognizing themselves as scientists and thinking critically about problem-solving. The goal is to teach concepts through discovery and to encourage using scientific thought processes. As with all lessons provided, please feel free to adapt them according to your students’ abilities. You may find it more successful to lead activities and discussions as a whole group as opposed to having your students’ work in small groups. Certain scientific vocabulary may or may not be appropriate for your students’ level of understanding. Take these ideas, make them your own and your students will have a greater chance at success.
In this episode, we hear from George Church, a true pioneer of synthetic biology and genomics. George will share possible silver linings of the COVID-19 pandemic, draw parallels between personalized medicine and personalized learning and explore what it means to really think outside of the box. A new virtual interview series from LabXchange at Harvard University, the Xchange showcases the diverse roles, projects, and initiatives that make up the intersecting fields of science, education, and health. Hosted by LabXchange Faculty Director Robert Lue, our first season features a range of perspectives on the impact of COVID-19.
Links to resources and information about giraffes, their health, and conservation from the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.
Student teams learn about engineering design of green fluorescent proteins (GFPs) and their use in medical research, including stem cell research. They simulate the use of GFPs by adding fluorescent dye to water and letting a flower or plant to transport the dye throughout its structure. Students apply their knowledge of GFPs to engineering applications in the medical, environmental and space exploration fields. Due to the fluorescing nature of the dye, plant life of any color, light or dark, can be used unlike dyes that can only be seen in visible light.
This activity gives kindergartners the chance to get outside collect, observe and sort leaves. They will also try to differentiate between MN native leaves and non-native leaves to MN.
Students collect protein electrophoresis data comparing goldenrod gall flies, analyze class data, and write a lab report in the format of a scientific paper.