Category: Worksheets
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Explore the Microscope with a Brain-Eating Amoeba Case
A summer swim turns into a medical mystery in this activity about amoebas. Students begin with a short case study about Naegleria fowleri, often called the “brain-eating amoeba.” Then they examine a preserved amoeba under the microscope. The lesson connects a real event with cell structures students can observe and additional practice with the microscope.…
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Learn the Types of Joints in the Human Skeleton
When students first learn the skeletal system, usually they focus their attention on naming the bones. Knowing the names of the bones is important, but bones are only part of the story. Joints are what allow the skeleton to move. You can also discuss sports injuries that are common to joints, like an ACL tear…
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Learn to Measure Blood Pressure – Systole and Diastole
Understanding blood pressure is a great way to connect the cardiovascular system to a familiar medical procedure. In this activity, students learn what blood pressure measures and how to measure blood pressure. Then they explore what the systolic and diastolic numbers represent. Students begin with a short reading that introduces important terms such as systole,…
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Investigation: Human Cheek Cells and Body Cells
This cell activity introduces students to cell size, scale, and specialization through a hands-on microscope investigation. Students prepare and observe a slide of their own cheek cells with simple laboratory instructions. Basically, students use a toothpick to gently scrape the inside of their mouth. Then, they swirl the toothpick in a drop of methylene blue…
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Learn the Anatomical Regions of the Body
Learning anatomical terminology is one of the first challenges students encounter in an anatomy class. Before students can describe the location of a bone or organ, they need a common language for identifying areas of the body. This Body Regions Anatomy Activity gives students a visual and approachable way to learn these important terms. Rather…
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Investigation: Heart Rate Challenge and Homeostasis
Engage students with a heart rate challenge lab exploring exercise, pulse rate, recovery time, experimental design, graphing, and homeostasis.
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Identifying Fish Species with a Dichotomous Key
When students think about fishing, they often imagine catching the biggest bass or the most colorful trout. But for wildlife biologists, identifying a fish correctly is an important part of conservation. This Fish Identification activity gives students the opportunity to practice classification skills while exploring how scientists and conservation agencies protect native species. I focused…
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Case Study: Understanding Cyclospora Infection
Inspired by the ongoing 2026 Cyclospora outbreaks linked to contaminated fresh produce. Foodborne illnesses often make headlines, but students rarely get the opportunity to explore the biology behind these outbreaks. This Cyclospora Case Study uses a current food safety event to help students connect microbiology, anatomy, physiology, and public health through the story of a…
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Reinforcement: Overview of the Body Systems
One of the biggest challenges when teaching anatomy is helping students move beyond memorizing lists of organs and instead understand that every body system works together to keep us alive. Students may know that the lungs belong to the respiratory system or that the kidneys are part of the urinary system, but they often struggle…