This video and slideshow provides an overview and demonstration of the balances and glassware commonly used to prepare solutions in a laboratory. [24.08]
Most scientists use a common language of measurement, called the International System of Units, that is recognized in labs all over the world. In thie following video David Caprette, PhD, explains this language and its well-established physical quantities or standards. [10:36]
Christine Herrmann, PhD, discusses the history of disease research, infectious agents (or pathogens) that cause disease and their modes of transmission, and ways to reduce the spread of disease. [17:07]
What are the characteristics that define populations? What causes populations to grow or decline? In the following video you will learn how a population is a group of individuals of the same species living within a designated area at one time. Three important structural aspects of a population are: dispersion pattern, population density and growth rate. [14:24]
Do you know which foods have lots of calcium for your bones? How do your bones and muscles work together? What are you doing to keep your muscles strong? Students are exposed to 10 activities that will help them address the aforementioned questions and more!
This video introduces a set of lessons in physical activity based on an exhibition at the Children's Museum of Houston. The lessons can be adapted and can provide inspiration to help kids be physically active. The complete teacher's guide can be downloaded, or individual lessons. [3:02]
Many students panic when they must dilute something, but it is relatively easy to work out dilution problems once a solid frame of reference is established. In the following video David Caprette, PhD, explains the process, step by step, for you. [17:54]
With the help of videos and photos, students conduct open-ended scientific investigations to discover how gravity and microgravity affect the life cycle and web design of orb-weaver spiders on the International Space Station.
Static electricity is an electric charge on the surface of an object. When the difference between the charge on the object and the charge on a nearby object becomes great enough, a spark of electric current leaps between them. Learn about static electricity and watch the sparks produced by a Van de Graaff generator. Find out how lightning is created. See how static charges attract and repel. [10:58]
In this video students will learn about the different kinds and functions of stem cells, and about the medical possibilities and controversies surrounding stem cell research. [10:12]
Why do our ears pop? Why do we sneeze? What causes goose bumps? What causes hiccups? Find the answers to these questions and more on this fun, light hearted video. [1:11]
In the following video students will learn how the environment impacts human health and the ecosystems around us, on both a small/local and large/global scale. [15:42]
Students learn about the immune system and complete a crossword puzzle to practice vocabulary. The lesson and a set of PowerPoint slides can be downloaded. Includes an instructional video on immune system vocabulary terms [7:13]
This in-depth site provides middle and high school science teachers with a wide array of free instructional resources, such as slide sets, streaming video presentations, and laboratory activities. Information is provided that is supported by lessons and web-based materials.
Ecosystems are composed of all interacting organisms (biota) along with their physical and chemical environments. Physical aspects of an ecosystem, called abiotic components, include variables related to temperature, sunlight, soil, and other factors. [33:28]
In the following video you will learn how classification is a continually evolving scientific effort to group organisms based on knowledge gathered from different fields. You will also learn how it helps to define the relationships among organisms and between organisms and their environments. [12:01]
A biologist must be able to work with and understand a variety of mixtures. In the following video David Caprette, PhD, describes types of mixtures, and their properties, that might be encountered in a biological laboratory, and discusses basic equipment for solution making, terms and concepts related to formulas, and the concept of the mole. [25:04]
In the attached slideshow/video you will learn about the basics of genetic inheritance. Learn what determines the physical and biological characteristics of an individual organism, and how these traits are passed from one generation to the next. [19:05]
Mendel used experimental approaches to characterize a particulate model of inheritance. In doing so, he developed the three Laws of Inheritance. In this video/slideshow students will examine how Mendel made his important discoveries. [13:19]
Organisms are divided into each of five kingdoms based on defining characteristics. Learn about the classification kingdoms and the placement of organisms within them. [1:14:02]