Students research modern DNA discoveries provided by the teacher as well as student selected discoveries. After summarizing each discovery, students reflect on the nature of science and identify and explain which NOS tenets are demonstrated in the DNA discoveries.

This module specifically focuses on Cellular Respiration, both aerobic and anaerobic. The breakdown of nutrient molecules provides energy to the cell. This energy is stored in specific chemicals that are used to carry out the life functions of the cell (BIO.2 e). This module was developed by Teresa Ballou as part of a Virginia Commonwealth University STEM initiative sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education.

There is a lot of science to discover in your backyard! Check out this collection of activities to learn about wind, animals, plants and more.

Why does a balloon stick to your sweater? Rub a balloon on a sweater, then let go of the balloon and it flies over and sticks to the sweater. View the charges in the sweater, balloons, and the wall.

This is a Biochemistry Pre-test or Review, matching exercise. In the form of a one page Word document. It is the first unit in AP Biology with these terms being used throughout the rest of the year, so it is essential learning for that course.

Our goal is to present the key observations and unifying concepts upon which modern biology is based; it is not a survey of all biology! Once understood, these foundational observations and concepts should enable you to approach any biological process, from disease to kindness, from a scientific perspective. To understand biological systems we need to consider them from two complementary perspectives; how they came to be (the historic, that is, evolutionary) and how their structures, traits, and behaviors are produced (the mechanistic, that is, the physicochemical)

Students will use key features (such as cell type, DNA, and structural similarities) to classify organisms into modern domains . They will also create and read model representations of classification to organize and demonstrate their understanding of evolutionary history. This module was developed by Liz Ashby as part of a Virginia Commonwealth University STEM initiative sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education.

It is often difficult for students to remember the functions of the cellular organelles because they cannot see, feel, or touch them. Presenting the analogy of the "Cell As A City" helps them realize that each organelle has an essential function. There is also a small section at the bottom of the resource asking the students to recall which cell parts are in a eukaryote, prokaryote, or both.

This worksheet will help your students demonstrate understanding of the concept after a lecture. It could also be used after a traditional organelles lecture, but before you have presented the analogy as a non-graded exercise.

In this unit, students will be given a chance to study and view different types of cells, compare and contrast the features of the major cell types, learn about the function of specialization and differentiation in multicellular organisms, and review/learn the major organelles that will become the foundation of later units.This module was developed by Liz Ashby as part of a Virginia Commonwealth University STEM initiative sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education.

Wildfires are occurring more frequently and increasing in size in the western US; in this lesson students will explore this concept by analyzing environmental data to find patterns and practice communicating their findings.

With your mouse, drag data points and their error bars, and watch the best-fit polynomial curve update instantly. You choose the type of fit: linear, quadratic, cubic, or quartic. The reduced chi-square statistic shows you when the fit is good. Or you can try to find the best fit by manually adjusting fit parameters.

Why do objects like wood float in water? Does it depend on size? Create a custom object to explore the effects of mass and volume on density. Can you discover the relationship? Use the scale to measure the mass of an object, then hold the object under water to measure its volume. Can you identify all the mystery objects?

Evaluate student ability to complete and analyze a dihybrid cross using a black rhino case study.

In this lesson, students identify the sun as the source of energy and understand how energy flows through an ecosystem.

The structure of enzymes moderates their function in chemical reactions in living things. Enzymes are a group of proteins that function to moderate the rate of metabolic reaction by acting as catalysts (Enduring Understandings of BIO.2c).This module was developed by Kristin Scheible as part of a Virginia Commonwealth University STEM initiative sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education.

In this unit, students will study the evolution of whales from four-limbed, land dwelling, mammalian ancestors to modern, two-finned, aquatic mammals through a virtual or in-class simulation lab. This activity will teach them more about how fossils, homologous structures, and DNA analysis provide evidence for macroevolution, evolutionary theory, and modern classification. This module was developed by Liz Ashby as part of a Virginia Commonwealth University STEM initiative sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education.

In this MS/HS unit supported by NASA, students engage with online interactives, authentic datasets, and citizen science protocols to construct models and explanations for the unit driving question, "How do landscapes recover after a wildfire?"

Build a gene network! The lac operon is a set of genes which are responsible for the metabolism of lactose in some bacterial cells. Explore the effects of mutations within the lac operon by adding or removing genes from the DNA.

The HEART Force curriculum builds understanding of wildfire, flood, or drought in the context of place-based community resilience.