Author: Shannan Muskopf
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Modeling Osmosis
This basic lab uses Deco-cubes to show how they change in size when soaked in salt water, distilled water, and tap water.
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Reinforcement: Genetics
This exercise was created for an intro bio class though it would also be appropriate for other levels or students who struggle with basic vocabulary. The word list includes terms such as: phenotype, genotype, heterozygous, dominant, and recessive. Also included on the list are several genetic disorders like hemophilia and sickle cell. The worksheet was…
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Anatomy and Physiology Lesson on Tissues
Phenomenon based unit where students examine the case of a child with the epidermolysis bullosa.
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Reinforcement: Cell
This is a practice worksheet for students who are learning structures found in the cell. A list of terms can be matched with descriptions and definitions. The same terms can be used to label a diagram of an animal cell. I use reinforcement worksheets for review or remediation. I will give students 10 minutes to…
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Falling Cats – CER
Students practice Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning (CER) while examining the relationship between falling height and cat injuries. The graphs show that cats who fall 2-7 stories often suffer more injuries than cats who fall from greater distances. Not much information is given about how the data was collected, though the original source is included, I…
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Early Discoveries – CER
Explore historical scientific discoveries, like Pasteur’s experiments to learn about the scientific method.
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Investigation: Earthworm
This earthworm lab is a revised version of the observation lab that I have used for years. I wanted to make the lab more open-ended and include terminology within the lab instead of expecting them to know it from their notes or textbooks. Taxonomy chapters on annelids and other invertebrates are being phased out, and…
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The Martian and the Car
This worksheet is one of the older ones in my collection, and was recently updated to include a Claim-Evidence-Reasoning section (instead of short response/essay). This a a great way to introduce the topic of life and how we define whether something is living or not. In this scenario, a Martian is observing earth and decides…
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Investigation: Model Enzyme Activity with Toothpicks
Use toothpicks to model enzymes. Explore substrate and enzyme concentrations by changing toothpick numbers. Model competitive inhibition by taping fingers.
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DataClassroom
High school biology classrooms often lack the time and resources to do long term studies and data collection that researchers engage in. Luckily for us, many projects make their data available for use by schools. Organizations like HHMI and Data Nuggets have created student resources that focus on analyzing real scientific data. One of these…
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Exploration: An Inquiry Activity on the Dubia Roach
A short activity for day one in the science class. Give students a live animal to observe, like a dubia roach. They write observations, questions, and make inferences to share with the class.
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OpenStax Reading Guides
I use Openstax Biology 2e as a textbook for my AP Bio and dual credit class. Students can download this text for free, view it on their devices and print it out. You can even purchase a bound copy from Amazon for around $60, which is very reasonable for a textbook. This is the book…
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Experimental Design
Students in most science classes start with an overview of scientific processes. For advanced students, I use this cheat sheet to remind them of the major features of the scientific method, such as a control group, dependent and independent variables. AP Bio students are also introduced to the concept of the null and alternative hypotheses…
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Storylab: Diffusion
This story is written from the perspective of a student who in experiencing the real lab. It describes how the lab is set up, by placing a bag filled with starch in a beaker full of iodine. The teacher in the story explains relevant terms, such as semipermeable, diffusion, and indicators.
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The Desperate Dozen
This is an introductory lesson for anatomy and physiology that I use as an icebreaker during the first few days of school. Students start learning classroom norms, particularly how to work in groups and what group expectations are. In this activity, students must decide the order in which hearts will be allocated to people needing…