NGSS and Feedback Loops
High School Students Doing Field Biology
HIV Coloring
What Does NGSS Say About Cells?
Are You Still Teaching Taxonomy?
Why I Teach Pathology in Biology
Precision Versus Accuracy
Teaching Evolution Using Animal Models
Biology is the study of life and living organisms, from the smallest bacteria to giant sequoias. Biologists use observation and experimentation to gain an understanding about the natural world. Branches of biology include anatomy, biotechnology, botany, cell biology, ecology, genetics, medicine, microbiology, molecular biology, and zoology. Many people entering the field of biology become specialized in a particular area.
As a course, biology encompasses four main themes:
1. The process of evolution drives the diversity and unity of life
2. Biological systems utilize free energy to grow, reproduce, and maintain life functions
3. Living systems store and transmit information essential to life processes
4. Biological systems interact with each other, and those interactions possess complex properties.
The Biology Corner is a resource site for biology and science teachers and students. It contains a variety of lessons, quizzes, labs, web quests, and information on science topics for all levels, including introductory life science and advanced placement biology. You can find lessons related to biology topics in the links listed under “topics” on the sidebar as well as specific curriculum for biology classes taught in high school.
The top menu contain links to classes for students currently enrolled. Teachers may find the resources on those pages useful for designing their own curriculum. All work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Teachers are free to modify lessons and worksheets to suit their classroom needs.
This site also contains resources to align a biology curriculum to the Next Generation Science Standards and prepare students for standardized tests. Resources have been compiled and can be adjusted for any class or age group; teachers are free to modify any of the lessons or worksheets on this site. Browse the “Worksheets by Topic” menu to find lessons specific for your class and curriculum.
Spotlight Lessons: Cells
Cheek Cell Lab – observe cheek cells under the microscope
Plant Cell Lab – microscope observation of onion and elodea
Animal Cell Coloring – color a typical animal cell
Plant Cell Coloring – color a typical plant cell
Observing Osmosis – use an egg, vinegar, corn syrup, will take a few days
Salt and Elodea – quick lab to observe the effects of salt water on elodea cells
Why Are Cells So Small? – measure the surface area and volume of boxes as a cell model
Cell Labeling – plant and animal cells to label, detailed illustration of cell structures and their roles in protein synthesis
Cell Size Experiment – use agar and a basic solution to illustrate how fast fluids can diffuse into a cell, dependent on cell size
Case Study: The Cyanide Murders – explores cellular respiration and why we need oxygen
Case Study: Cystic Fibrosis – for AP Biology, examines the role of cell membrane proteins in clearing mucus from the lungs
