SciVibes

This is an activity for modeling different kinds of connective tissue. I give students large beakers or small fish bowls and a variety of craft materials (see materials list on doc), and they choose what to use to represent different fibers and cells and explain why. Then they build models. You can have groups each make a different model and share, or they can all make each kind. This is appropriate for an Anatomy and Physiology class.

This is a fun lab where students try to make 'rockets' with alka seltzer with film canisters (you can buy these online). It is a good opportunity to apply concepts about collision theory and rate of chemical reactions. It can be noisy and unpredictable, so goggles are a must, and students who are sensitive to loud noises may need to sit this out or at least be forewarned.

In this activity, students will read an article about abiogenesis and then share with other students in small groups. This is best done during a unit about evolutionary history, after they have learned about the Miller-Urey experiment and RNA world hypothesis. They should also have learned about macromolecules, metabolism, and protein synthesis. This is best suited for an advanced or AP biology class. These articles explore some of the current theories about abiogenesis. What I like about this i

This is the form I give students at the end of a class to give me feedback on my teaching. It is best for this to be anonymous, so they feel more free to be open. I consistently get lots of good feedback that informs my teaching practice, and I think students appreciate that I care what they think. There is a mix of multiple choice and open-ended questions, so students aren't overwhelmed by all open-ended questions.

This is a great lab for a Zoology class, Biology class, or the AP biology lab 11. This is organized towards exploration and inquiry, where students can design their own labs around their own experimental questions. Crickets are easy to obtain (buy from any pet store), and will display a variety of behaviors. This can take between 2-4 45 minute class periods, depending on if you want to give more time for lab observations, and if you want to have them read the articles in class or as homework.

I designed this for students to give me feedback at the end of units. Sometimes I do it at the end of the quarter as well. I find it is helpful to hear what students think anonymously and when they have time to think. Students also appreciate knowing that their voice is important to me, and that I am continually trying to improve and make their experience better. This is a short, 5-10 minute paper, printing into a front/back half sheet. There is a mix of open-ended questions and multiple choice.

This is a short webquest exploring topics in forensics. I typically have students do this before they do the great activity, 'mystery of the bones' from biologycorner.com. This is a fun mini-unit to do after students have studied the basics of the skeletal system.

This is a a worksheet for the free online lac operon lab through PHET. I have set it up to give directions to students on how to use the online lab, and also ask comprehension questions. This is best used after some introduction to protein synthesis, including RNA polymerase.

In this lab, students will try to make the best elephant toothpaste. They will test different variables to try to make a reaction that shoots up fast and produces lots of bubbles. You may want to introduce it showing a video of a particularly exciting reaction. I limit students to regular 3% hydrogen peroxide for safety reasons, so they won't have anything super dramatic, but they can produce a good result with the right combination of factors, and it is a fun challenge. It can be messy, I recom

This is a worksheet that goes along with the gene expressions lab on PHET. It includes directions for students and guided questions, as well as post-activity questions. Students will learn and model the activity of transcription factors and mRNA destroyers. This is a great component to an AP biology class, and can be done for homework or in class.

In this lab, students will use glucose test strips and iodine to test for the presence of glucose and starch. They make predictions, and use terms control, indicator, and known substance. You can bring in a range of foods to test, or have students bring things. They enjoy using the mortar and pestles and mixing.

This bundle includes two versions of games (a board game and virtual), an internet learning activity, graphic organizer, a group activity practicing functions and foods of macromolecules, an assignment analyzing a specific diet and relating it to concepts about metabolism, and a scaffolded writing assignment to summarize key facts about metabolism. I have also included 3 versions of a cellular respiration in yeast lab. This is appropriate for an introductory biology class. NOT INCLUDED: I have

This is a simple lab with analyzing questions, which explores how yeast will metabolize different carbohydrates over time. This is best done as part of a biomolecule/metabolism or cell unit, after students have learned about simple and complex carbohydrates. If you do not have vernier gas sensors, I have another lab which only requires test tubes, pipettes, and bromothymol blue.

I like to use this lab to introduce how different factors effect the rate of a chemical reaction. I like using the familiar baking soda and vinegar because it is safe and familiar. Students know what 'should' happen, so they can easily tell if the results are different. Students test particle size, temperature, and concentration. There are easy to follow directions and data tables to fill out, and then a wrap up analyzing results. I usually follow this lab with some instruction on the collision

This is the handout I provide students when we're studying predicting products. This unit is best after learning about balancing equations (they should be solid on this) and types of chemical reactions. This is best used after you go over examples together, and then they can practice using this guide on more practice problems.

This is an assignment I created for students to explore careers in in chemistry, as well as the branches of chemistry. This is a great assignment that can fit anywhere in the year, whenever you have 2-3 class periods . Links are provided to many chemistry careers at the end of the doc. I usually put these on google classroom, but you can share a doc with them if you prefer.

This is an inquiry lab where students design and create an instant cold pack. They apply knowledge of endothermic reactions and bond energy and do multiple iterations to make a good model. Because I do not have them use any very dangerous chemicals, the cold packs tend not to have a very large change in temperature. However, it is a good way to practice the scientific method, testing different variables, etc. If you are rushed for time, you could just use the first 3 pages, which involves tes

This virtual lab has students make a phylogenic tree based on physical traits (looking at pictures), and then using a molecular database of proteins (uniprot). This is appropriate for AP biology (lab 3) or a general biology class. Pictures for animals are not included but can be easily searched. This is best used after an studying DNA and protein synthesis, evolution, and some instruction on reading phylogenic trees (cladograms).

In this activity, students learn about how race is a social, not biological construct, what genetic testing does and does not tell us, and explores how science was used in the Eugenics movement, and the relevance of these issues today. This is a heavy topic but important. I recommend exploring these topics yourself first, and be ready for student questions. You might also want to ask your social studies teachers what they have done regarding these topics as there is some crossover. This lesson

In this lab, students will test the rate of cellular respiration for yeast with different carbohydrates: sucrose, glucose and starch. They will look for a color change in bromothymol blue. This is best after students have an intro to different carbohydrates, during a biology unit on metabolism or cells.