Students will build models of animal, plant, and prokaryotic cells. Using a toolbox of organelles, students can build models from scratch, and receive adaptive feedback.

Estimated time required: 1-2 class periods.

Technology required for this lesson: Laptop/Desktop, VR Headset.

Students will turn the generic cell models into real world specialized cells, including: red blood cell, melanocyte, plant epidermis, root hair, blue-green algae, and e-coli.

Estimated time required: 1-3 class periods.

Technology required for this lesson: Laptop/Desktop, VR Headset.

Students will move, add, and modify cell parts to progress the cell through the stages of Mitosis.

Estimated time required: 1 class period.

Technology required for this lesson: Laptop/Desktop, VR Headset.

This activity is a field investigation where students begin to generate ideas about what is living and nonliving by observing and recording what they see in a defined area outdoors and later sharing things that they think are living and why.

This activity is designed to help students understand the importance of observations in science. It encourages them to work on the skill of observation and communicating those observations to others in the process of scientific inquiry. Based on an original activity from Schoolyard Ecology Explorations.

This lesson will focus on marine mammals! While exploring in Aurelia, you may have seen two different marine ecosystems — the pelagic ocean and coral reefs. In the pelagic ecosystem, we explored how vast and wide the open ocean is, making it the perfect home for marine mammals! In this lesson, we will dive into the pelagic ecosystem and explore how marine mammals are adapted to living in the water, how they communicate, what they eat, and how we can work to conserve them.

Estimated time required: 1-2 class periods.

Technology required for this lesson: Tablet or Smartphone.

Matt Meselson takes us on a journey through his long and storied career, including 60 years as a Harvard biology professor. From memories of his earliest science experiments as a small child to his non-traditional learning path, which included service learning during WWII, to musings on the spirit of cooperation in managing a pandemic and the future of biology and humanity, this episode gives us an insight into a legendary figure in biology. 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. View this video (and more like it) on LabXchange: https://www.labxchange.org/

A one page assignment that uses online tutorials to give students a first exposure to the components of a cell and membrane.

The Merck Manual describes the human heart and shows how the heart pumps blood. Includes interactive 3D models.

Tour the museum's famed exhibition hall dedicated to ocean life at this online recreation. Find videos, maps, species specimens, and images that let you experience many of the museum's resources on ocean life right from your desktop.

The activity is a field trip to Minnehaha Falls where students will observe and record their findings in a science notebook.

This activity is a classroom guided inquiry lesson where the student will sort, identify, and classify Minnesota fish.

This activity is a classroom and field investigation where students will group Minnsota fish families and create their own pop can fishing rods.

In this biology field experience, students will explore trees of Minnesota. Working in cooperative groups, students will discover biodiversity of trees and determine populations of tree species through observation and use of dichotomous keys.

Read about how plants adapt to survive in different biomes. Includes a song, game, photos, and lesson plans.

Drawings and animations, are used to help participants understand the differences between and steps involved in mitosis and meiosis. The cell cycle as well as individual steps of mitosis and meiosis are included in this learning material.

This video from Nature features the start of the monarch butterflyŒë_í_Œ_ northward trek.

This video from Nature features the start of the monarch butterfly's northward trek. [3:02]

How can squirrel monkey adaptations inspire the design of better and safer high-rise construction equipment? 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.