AdrianeS

Want a project that will help your AP Biology students deeply understand the process of transcription, mRNA editing, and translation in eukaryotic cells? Following learning about the steps and concepts of protein synthesis (you choose how you want to do this!), this summarizing project solidifies student understandings, elucidates students misconceptions, and helps them see how they can design and create a model of protein synthesis. This project started started because I realized my students

Looking for a great way for students to practice identifying macromolecules and have fun? My AP Biology students loved playing Macromolecules SPOONS (renamed BEARS for my classes) (thanks to the AP Biology community on Facebook for the idea!). Content includes 58 images/phrases related to the four macromolecules, covalent bonds formed by dehydration synthesis (ester, glycosidic, peptide, and phosphodiester), functions, elements, directionality (5' --> 3'; N-terminus/C-terminus), and two wil

Ever have a hard time explaining bacterial transformation to your students? I have seen many student misconceptions over the years of doing bacterial transformation labs with students: confusing ampicillin in a bioengineered plasmid and ampicillin in agar, confused if the ampicillin in the plate is causing the ampicillin resistance; many also struggle with the difference between the bacteria and the plasmid itself. In this lesson, I give the students the directions and then go around table b

Looking for a fun way for your students to review cell organelles, cell membrane proteins, and membrane transport? This game was originally designed much like the beloved Memory game where students have to not only make their pair (match the image to the description) but with a little twist: in order to get the pair, they have to name the organelle/membrane component/transport. Students can also use the image cards to play a game similar to "Headbands" (I bought the actual game for the apparat

Resource includes: worksheet that proposes several incidences of academic dishonesty and students have to explain why the action was dishonest and propose alternatively academic honest actions. After experiencing several instances of cheating and plagiarism in my classroom, I decided to start the year off with an up-front conversation about what was academic dishonesty (and how to prevent it). While this has not fully curbed instances of academic dishonestly, it has decreased the instances an

Engage your students in creating a 2-dimensional model of DNA (and extra-credit opportunity to create a 3-D version). I found that many of the DNA model projects with templates online or in textbooks were overly simplistic; because the pieces fit together, students could intuit how the pieces went together but not actually think deeply about the structure of DNA. In this project, I ask students to create a 2-D model using only paper and forming each piece as a different color. When I first d

Engage your students in practice sex-linked problems with two examples of genes on the X Chromosome (Color-blindness, Hemophilia) and one gene on the Y chromosome (Hairy Ear Rims). Includes answer key.

Are you tired of using pea plants or inaccurate science (e.g. tongue-rolling) to introduce your students to autosomal dominant and recessive traits? This resource is an 8-page practice that includes: 1) an introduction about proper and kind terminology associated with genetic conditions, 2) human autosomal dominant conditions (achondroplasia, Huntington's and ACHOO), 3) human autosomal recessive conditions (albinism, sickle-cell anemia, cystic fibrosis, and PKU), and 4) embedded web-links for s

Want a project that will help your students deeply understand the process of transcription, mRNA editing, and translation in eukaryotic cells? Following learning about the steps and concepts of protein synthesis (you choose how you want to do this!), this summarizing project solidifies student understandings, elucidates students misconceptions, and helps them see how they can design and create a model of protein synthesis. This project started started because I realized my students needed to m

Resource Includes: Sample teacher letter (customize for yourself; I have had several colleagues model their letter off mine) and student assignment (including requirements for a professional email). Each year, I have students introduce themselves to me via a letter. I provide them a sample letter about myself with which to model theirs. I then provide a list of what is required in their letter. Students submit their letters as an attachment in a professional email (this provides me an oppo

Need a straight-forward way to talk about protein synthesis? I don't often give notes but haven't found a better way to describe the difference between RNA/DNA, process of transcription, mRNA editing, and translation at an introductory level? Try out these notes with accompanying key.

Simple Introduction to incomplete dominance problems using snapdragon flowers. Answer Key Included.

Students conduct a two-part lab: Part A investigates what happens when gummy bears are left in distilled water for 24 hours; Part B asks students to conduct their own investigation to determine the percent of sugar in gummy bears. Using several stock solutions (which are fairly easily made by the teacher), students can mathematically predict the amount of sugar in a gummy bear based on their data collect. Stock solutions are presented in % sugar and M sugar. The lab is one of my earliest in t

One of the most helpful tools I have used used in my teaching of genetics is this progress graph. Students self-assess using this basic bar graph template and designate what percentage they believe they know each kind of genetics problem (I ask students to rate themselves at 100% if they know the content so well they could ace a test or quiz, but 110% if they know the content so well they can teach a peer). As students update their progress graphs, I see who has rated themselves at "110%" and

I give this study guide out at the beginning of every unit. It has objectives that match what we are learning in class-- and to the right, a place where students indicate resources that help them understand the objective.

Included in this resource: a template for students to draw the classroom and write down their classmates names. Provide blank for students on first day and then provide similar structure for actual Seating Chart Quiz. At the beginning of every year, I want to make sure my students not only know my expectations and my name, but to know each others names and something about them. As a high school teacher, I know that time is really limited and I need to pack a lot into any classroom environment