Search results for: “ass”
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Modeling Ecological Pyramids
Looking for a way to include hands-on activities in an ecology unit? I’ve struggled with student engagement in this unit, mainly because so many of the concepts involve models. In this activity, students use beads to model the three types of ecological pyramids: pyramid of numbers, pyramid of biomass, and pyramid of energy. Each group…
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Case Study – Sea Otters and Kelp Forests
What if one small, furry animal could decide the fate of an entire ecosystem? That’s the story of the sea otter, a species once hunted nearly to extinction for its valuable fur, and now celebrated as a hero of the ocean. This case study resource is designed to bring that powerful story into the biology…
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Investigation – Amylase and Carbohydrates
Are you looking for a way to give students a hands-on activity on biological macromolecules? This unit can be daunting for biology students because there is so much chemistry. This activity gives students a break from the vocabulary emphasis of the chapter and gets them into the lab and working with carbohydrates. Though I don’t…
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Lab: How Do Enzymes Work
Explore how enzymes work with this engaging lab. I redesigned this lab with freshman students in mind. The directions are simple. Students drop hydrogen peroxide onto raw liver, and observe the bubbling. The bubbles are oxygen as it is being released in the reaction. The lab handout includes a background section that explains how enzymes…
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Requirements of Life – Alex’s Trials
When it comes to teaching the requirements of life, most textbooks keep it pretty dry. Listing oxygen, nutrients, temperature, and atmospheric pressure. Important, yes, but not exactly the kind of material that gets high school students leaning in. That’s where this worksheet comes in. Instead of listing facts, it follows the story of Alex, an…
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Stem Cell Therapy for Type 1 Diabetes
Teaching stem cells and medical applications can be tough, and students often struggle to connect it to the real world. That’s why I created this worksheet about a new treatment for Type 1 diabetes. Zimislecel, a cell therapy that uses lab-grown islet cells to restore insulin production. This stem cell therapy could reduce the need…
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Case Study – The Placenta, MS, and a Viral Past
What if we told your students that a gene critical to human pregnancy came from a virus? And what if that same gene, when turned on in the wrong place, might play a role in multiple sclerosis? This is the real and fascinating story behind Syncytin-1, a protein that reveals just how tangled the relationship…
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Case Study – Measles, Immunity, and Vaccines
How do you teach students that measles isn’t just “a childhood rash”? That it can erase years of immune memory—and even lead to serious complications like brain inflammation? Meet Maddie, the fictional but research-based subject of a new classroom case study. This resource brings science to life through narrative, helping students understand the biology of…
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Case Study – The Cricket that Stopped Singing
Imagine this: on a quiet night in Hawaii, the usual symphony of chirping crickets suddenly vanishes. But it’s not just a natural lull — it’s the sound of evolution in action. This real-life phenomenon is the centerpiece of a ready-to-use biology case study perfect for your unit on evolution, natural selection, or animal behavior. It’s…
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Case Study – The Island of the Colorblind
Looking for a high-impact, real-world genetics case study to bring recessive inheritance and population genetics to life? Let me introduce you to Pingelap Atoll, a remote island in Micronesia with a powerful story that blends biology, history, and human resilience. 🧬 What’s the Story? Pingelap is known as “The Island of the Colorblind”, thanks to…
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Case Study – Sleepless, Not Tired
Ever wish your students were as engaged with biology as they are with Netflix? What if you could teach them about brain anatomy, genetics, and sleep regulation—all through the story of a real-life “super sleeper”? Enter “Sleepless, Not Tired”, a classroom-ready case study that follows Lena, a college freshman who only needs five hours of…
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Solving Crimes with DNA and Electrophoresis
DNA analysis has become a cornerstone of modern forensic science. Because every individual (except identical twins) has a unique DNA profile, scientists can use DNA evidence from crime scenes to help identify suspects or eliminate individuals from suspicion. One common method for comparing DNA samples is gel electrophoresis, a technique that separates DNA fragments based…
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How Does CRISPR Work? A Coloring Activity
Gene editing might sound complex, but what if you could color your way to understanding it? CRISPR-Cas9 is a gene-editing tool that allows scientists to precisely cut and modify DNA. Inspired by a natural defense system in bacteria, CRISPR uses a guide RNA (gRNA) to direct the Cas9 protein (a molecular scissor) to a specific…
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Why Can’t We Be Friends – Isolating Mechanisms
Are you teaching evolution, speciation, or mechanisms of reproductive isolation and need an engaging, ready-to-go resource? I’ve got you covered! Introducing “Why Can’t We Be Friends: Species Isolation Scenarios”, a student-friendly worksheet designed to help your class master the concepts of behavioral, geographic, and temporal isolating mechanisms. 🎯 What Are Isolating Mechanisms? In simple terms,…
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Case Study – Huntington’s Disease
Discover an engaging case study on Huntington’s disease for biology classrooms. This free resource explores genetics, inheritance patterns, and treatment options while following a real-world patient case. Perfect for teaching neurological disorders and genetic testing.