Proteins carry out the essential functions of life processes through systems of specialized cells. The structure of DNA serves as a code for the production of proteins through the process of protein synthesis. Protein synthesis is a biochemical process that uses information coded in DNA to construct proteins.  The central dogma illustrates the flow of genetic information in this process:  DNA-->RNA-->Proteins.  (Enduring Understandings of BIO.2d).This module was developed by Kris Scheible as part of a Virginia Commonwealth University STEM initiative sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education.

Explore what makes a reaction happen by colliding atoms and molecules. Design experiments with different reactions, concentrations, and temperatures. When are reactions reversible? What affects the rate of a reaction?

Add different salts to water, then watch them dissolve and achieve a dynamic equilibrium with solid precipitate. Compare the number of ions in solution for highly soluble NaCl to other slightly soluble salts. Relate the charges on ions to the number of ions in the formula of a salt. Calculate Ksp values. Arabic Language.

I am attaching an article that might be useful for high school biology teachers. It uses raw data to lead students through an open inquiry into Covid-19 cases. Enjoy!

This simulation lets you see sound waves. Adjust the frequency or volume and you can see and hear how the wave changes. Move the listener around and hear what she hears.

Explore some activities you can do at home to learn more about your world. These activities use materials that should be readily available if you don’t already have them at home!

Explore stretching just a single strand of DNA using optical tweezers or fluid flow. Experiment with the forces involved and measure the relationship between the stretched DNA length and the force required to keep it stretched. Is DNA more like a rope or like a spring?

All cells, organs and tissues of a living organism are built of molecules. Some of them are small, made from only a few atoms. There is, however, a special class of molecules that make up and play critical roles in living cells. These molecules can consist of many thousands to millions of atoms. They are referred to as macromolecules (or large biomolecules).

This project is the culmination of a grant working to share with students the VCU/Richmond East Marshall Street Well Project. Over the last year, the following curriculum has been presented to students in Richmond and surrounding counties five times. Dr. Simmons and students in the Department of Forensic Sciences taught the lessons. Victoria Solana, Dr. Edmondson, and Dr. Simmons developed the lessons. They were refined by the Department of Forensic Science students and Ms. Solano after being taught in each of the classrooms. The feedback that we have received from the students has been reflective of the need for lessons that showcase local and historical issues that have arisen in our own backyard.

Lesson Length: 1-2 hoursGrade Level: 6-8Students will explore population interaction and impacts on an ecosystem through a breakout box activity grounded in engineering design thinking. Students will learn about how bees are interrelated within an ecosystem by solving clues to save a hive from a breakout box and they will engineer a plan to incorporate bees into a community that addresses concerns, benefits and trade offs for the bees and the humans.This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1657263. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

Views of the National Parks can be used in the classroom in many different ways. Most simply, it can be made available for students to explore on their own. Lesson plan available: Biodiversity Right Outside – Biodiversity is the abundance and variety of life-forms (animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms) at all levels of organization (ecosystems, species, and genes). In this activity students will learn about biodiversity, the importance of biodiversity to ecosystems, and will conduct their own biodiversity study.

This lesson uses a matching game to build students' understanding and familiarity with different terms used in the world of resiliency planning.

This is a streamlined lesson for students to prepare for a Community Resilience Expo, focusing on wildfire.

Test the pH of things like coffee, spit, and soap to determine whether each is acidic, basic, or neutral. Visualize the relative number of hydroxide ions and hydronium ions in solution. Switch between logarithmic and linear scales. Investigate whether changing the volume or diluting with water affects the pH. Or you can design your own liquid!