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Bacteria Are Everywhere!
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Educational Use
Bacteria Are Everywhere!
Rating

Students are introduced to the concept of engineering biological organisms and studying their growth to be able to identify periods of fast and slow growth. They learn that bacteria are found everywhere, including on the surfaces of our hands. Student groups study three different conditions under which bacteria are found and compare the growth of the individual bacteria from each source. In addition to monitoring the quantity of bacteria from differ conditions, they record the growth of bacteria over time, which is an excellent tool to study binary fission and the reproduction of unicellular organisms.

Subject:
Engineering
Life Science
Biology
Chemistry
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
TeachEngineering
Provider Set:
TeachEngineering
Author:
Janet Yowell
Jasmin Hume
Date Added:
09/18/2014
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Bacteria Growth Inquiry: Bodily Bacteria and Healthy Hygiene Habits
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Bacteria Growth Inquiry: Bodily Bacteria and Healthy Hygiene Habits
Rating

In this inquiry activity, students generate investigable questions to explore the link between hygiene/cleanliness and bacteria growth/population. The students will present their conclusions, and video clips containing additional information will be discussed.

Subject:
Biology
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
Science Education Resource Center (SERC) at Carleton College
Provider Set:
Pedagogy in Action
Author:
Krista Keller
Date Added:
08/16/2012
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Biodomes
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Educational Use
Biodomes
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Students explore the biosphere's environments and ecosystems, learning along the way about the plants, animals, resources and natural cycles of our planet. Over the course of lessons 2-6, students use their growing understanding of various environments and the engineering design process to design and create their own model biodome ecosystems - exploring energy and nutrient flows, basic needs of plants and animals, and decomposers. Students learn about food chains and food webs. They are introduced to the roles of the water, carbon and nitrogen cycles. They test the effects of photosynthesis and transpiration. Students are introduced to animal classifications and interactions, including carnivore, herbivore, omnivore, predator and prey. They learn about biomimicry and how engineers often imitate nature in the design of new products. As everyday applications are interwoven into the lessons, students consider why a solid understanding of one's environment and the interdependence within ecosystems can inform the choices we make and the way we engineer our communities.

Subject:
Engineering
Biology
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Lesson Plan
Provider:
TeachEngineering
Provider Set:
TeachEngineering
Author:
Christopher Valenti
Denise W. Carlson
Malinda Schaefer Zarske
Date Added:
11/11/2008
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Biomimicry: Natural Designs
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Educational Use
Biomimicry: Natural Designs
Rating

Students learn about biomimicry and how engineers often imitate nature in the design of innovative new products. They demonstrate their knowledge of biomimicry by practicing brainstorming and designing a new product based on what they know about animals and nature.

Subject:
Engineering
Biology
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Lesson Plan
Provider:
TeachEngineering
Provider Set:
TeachEngineering
Author:
Denise Carlson
Katherine Beggs
Malinda Schaefer Zarske
Date Added:
09/26/2008
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Birds: How Do We Increase the Bird Population at our School?
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Birds: How Do We Increase the Bird Population at our School?
Rating

This activity is a field investigation of the bird population in the schoolyard and how the students will plan to attract more birds.

Subject:
Biology
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
Science Education Resource Center (SERC) at Carleton College
Provider Set:
Pedagogy in Action
Author:
Lori Huisenga
Date Added:
08/16/2012
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Buddy Biology: Observing Living and Non-living Components of An Ecosystem with a Partner
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Buddy Biology: Observing Living and Non-living Components of An Ecosystem with a Partner
Rating

This activity is a field investigation where students gather data on physical characteristics of the ecosystem surrounding their school.

Subject:
Biology
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
Science Education Resource Center (SERC) at Carleton College
Provider Set:
Pedagogy in Action
Author:
Paula Dahms
Date Added:
08/16/2012
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Buddy Biology: Observing Living and Nonliving Components of an Ecosystem with a Partner
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Buddy Biology: Observing Living and Nonliving Components of an Ecosystem with a Partner
Rating

This activity is a field investigation where students gather data on physical changes of the ecosystem surrounding their school habitat.

Subject:
Biology
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Lesson Plan
Provider:
Science Education Resource Center (SERC) at Carleton College
Provider Set:
Pedagogy in Action
Author:
Danielle Gile
Date Added:
10/04/2011
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Changes in a Monarch's Life Cycle
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Changes in a Monarch's Life Cycle
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This activity will include the students observing the monarch life cycle inside the classroom, a field experience observing monarch life on a milkweed plant and drawing it, and back in the classroom students will make a pop-up book of the monarch's life cycle with a short description on each page.

Subject:
Biology
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Lesson Plan
Provider:
Science Education Resource Center (SERC) at Carleton College
Provider Set:
Pedagogy in Action
Date Added:
01/20/2012
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Comparing Soil Samples from Different Locations
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CC BY-NC-SA
Comparing Soil Samples from Different Locations
Rating

In this field investigation, students compare various soil samples taken from specific locations. Students compare samples, record data, create a chart or graph, and journal.

Subject:
Biology
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
Science Education Resource Center (SERC) at Carleton College
Provider Set:
Pedagogy in Action
Author:
Chris Bakke
Date Added:
08/16/2012
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Comparing the Simple Structure of Plant and Animal Cells
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Comparing the Simple Structure of Plant and Animal Cells
Rating

The lesson is designed for fourth grade students using scientific investigation to identify and compare the basic parts of a plant and animal cells. This activity consists of several steps over a period of several days. It includes student use of microscopes for observations and journals to collect data to identify and classify the basic parts of plant and animal cells. The assessment has an individual component and uses student work.

Subject:
Biology
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
Science Education Resource Center (SERC) at Carleton College
Provider Set:
Pedagogy in Action
Author:
Katherine Kolb
Date Added:
08/16/2012
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Courtyard Observations - One Small Step
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Courtyard Observations - One Small Step
Rating

This activity is a field investigation where students observe plants, animals, and insects that are common to Minnesota.

Subject:
Biology
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
Science Education Resource Center (SERC) at Carleton College
Provider Set:
Pedagogy in Action
Author:
Kathy Bouten
Date Added:
08/16/2012
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Describing Fall Leaves Through Words and Music
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Describing Fall Leaves Through Words and Music
Rating

This is an integration of science leaf observations with musical composition for early elementary students.

Subject:
Biology
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Lesson Plan
Provider:
Science Education Resource Center (SERC) at Carleton College
Provider Set:
Pedagogy in Action
Author:
Cynthia Brown
Date Added:
10/04/2011
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Digest Your Food!
Read the Fine Print
Educational Use
Digest Your Food!
Rating

In a multi-week experiment, student teams gather biogas data from the mini-anaerobic digesters that they build to break down different types of food waste with microbes. Using plastic soda bottles for the mini-anaerobic digesters and gas measurement devices, they compare methane gas production from decomposing hot dogs, diced vs. whole. They monitor and measure the gas production, then graph and analyze the collected data. Students learn how anaerobic digestion can be used to biorecycle waste (food, poop or yard waste) into valuable resources (nutrients, biogas, energy).

Subject:
Engineering
Biology
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
TeachEngineering
Provider Set:
TeachEngineering
Author:
Caryssa Joustra
Daniel Yeh
Emanuel Burch
George Dick
Herby Jean
Ivy Drexler
Jorge Calabria
Lyudmila Haralampieva
Matthew Woodham
Onur Ozcan
Robert Bair
Stephanie Quintero
Date Added:
09/18/2014
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Discovering Nature in our Neighborhood: An Investigation of Natural Communities around Our School
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Discovering Nature in our Neighborhood: An Investigation of Natural Communities around Our School
Rating

In this unit, students make regular journal entries about a plant/animal/insect community in the natural area around our school and use this to create a Non-fiction Class Book. They also interview family/resources to discover, record and present stories about human relationships with nature from their culture(s).

Subject:
Biology
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
Science Education Resource Center (SERC) at Carleton College
Provider Set:
Pedagogy in Action
Author:
Natasha Rubenstein
Date Added:
08/16/2012
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Earthworm Hunt: The Search is On!
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CC BY-NC-SA
Earthworm Hunt: The Search is On!
Rating

This field investigation allows students to collect and observe earthworms using liquid extraction to help develop background knowledge at the start of a new earthworm unit.

Subject:
Biology
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Lesson Plan
Provider:
Science Education Resource Center (SERC) at Carleton College
Provider Set:
Pedagogy in Action
Date Added:
01/20/2012
MoreLess
First Grade Collecting Leaves with the Book "Leaf Man"
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First Grade Collecting Leaves with the Book "Leaf Man"
Rating

This activity is takes place in nature and in the classroom. Students are gathering different types of leaves and naming characteristics of each then sorting them by those characteristics. Students then make a picture with leaves and writes 2-3 sentences about their picture using the characteristic words.

Subject:
Biology
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Lesson Plan
Provider:
Science Education Resource Center (SERC) at Carleton College
Provider Set:
Pedagogy in Action
Date Added:
01/20/2012
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Food Chains: Nature's Restaurant
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Food Chains: Nature's Restaurant
Rating

In these life science activities, students will participate in field observations of living things & do research of animals they observe to create a food chain & present it to the class. Students will participate in a food web simulation game.

Subject:
Biology
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
Science Education Resource Center (SERC) at Carleton College
Provider Set:
Pedagogy in Action
Author:
Jane Schaffran
Date Added:
08/16/2012
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Going On a Leaf Hunt!
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Going On a Leaf Hunt!
Rating

This activity gives kindergartners the chance to get outside collect, observe and sort leaves. They will also try to differentiate between MN native leaves and non-native leaves to MN.

Subject:
Biology
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Lesson Plan
Provider:
Science Education Resource Center (SERC) at Carleton College
Provider Set:
Pedagogy in Action
Date Added:
01/20/2012
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Growing Lima Beans: Do We Really Need Dirt?
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CC BY-NC-SA
Growing Lima Beans: Do We Really Need Dirt?
Rating

This activity is an indoor lab investigation where students compare and contrast different growing environments for a lima bean seed and discover the optimal conditions needed for growth.

Subject:
Biology
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Lesson Plan
Provider:
Science Education Resource Center (SERC) at Carleton College
Provider Set:
Pedagogy in Action
Date Added:
01/20/2012
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Guided Leech Activity and Record Keeping in a Science Notebook
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Guided Leech Activity and Record Keeping in a Science Notebook
Rating

This activity is a teacher-directed investigation where students observe leeches, create questions and determine which ones are investigable. Together, teacher and students design and carry out a test for their question and record the information in a science notebook.

Subject:
Biology
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
Science Education Resource Center (SERC) at Carleton College
Provider Set:
Pedagogy in Action
Author:
Kim Toops
Date Added:
08/16/2012
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Habitat Part 2 (See Mitze Olson's Activity for Part 1)
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Habitat Part 2 (See Mitze Olson's Activity for Part 1)
Rating

This activity is an investigation to determine the effect of soil type on plant growth. The students will develop an understanding of the plant as producer.

Subject:
Biology
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
Science Education Resource Center (SERC) at Carleton College
Provider Set:
Pedagogy in Action
Author:
Julia Olson
Date Added:
08/16/2012
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How Do Living Things Change With the Seasons?
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How Do Living Things Change With the Seasons?
Rating

This classroom activity is an inquiry based lesson where students observe and measure temperature changes in order to determine which fabrics are best at keeping in heat.

Subject:
Biology
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Lesson Plan
Provider:
Science Education Resource Center (SERC) at Carleton College
Provider Set:
Pedagogy in Action
Author:
Patty Reineccius
Date Added:
10/04/2011
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How Does Water Get Polluted?
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How Does Water Get Polluted?
Rating

This activity is a hands-on modeling of the effects of pollution on our ground and surface water. Students will observe and record their observations as pollution is placed on the ground in their model and it is rained upon.

Subject:
Biology
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Simulation
Provider:
Science Education Resource Center (SERC) at Carleton College
Provider Set:
Pedagogy in Action
Author:
Deb Verdoorn Anderson
Date Added:
08/16/2012
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How Does Weather Change?
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How Does Weather Change?
Rating

This activity is a field investigation where students gather temperature and weather data in the a.m and p.m. and develop a new, experimental question to predict temperature over the course of the year.

Subject:
Biology
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Lesson Plan
Provider:
Science Education Resource Center (SERC) at Carleton College
Provider Set:
Pedagogy in Action
Author:
Susan Anderson
Date Added:
10/04/2011
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Inquiry-Teaching Students to Ask Questions That Can Be Investigated
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Inquiry-Teaching Students to Ask Questions That Can Be Investigated
Rating

During this activity, students will investigate leech behavior. Students will learn to ask a question about leech behavior that can be investigated.

Subject:
Biology
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
Science Education Resource Center (SERC) at Carleton College
Provider Set:
Pedagogy in Action
Author:
Faye Dragich
Date Added:
08/16/2012
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Insect Investigations
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Insect Investigations
Rating

This activity is a field investigation or bio-blitz where students are collecting as many different types of insects as they can. Back in the lab, they will record their findings, sort and classify the insects found. This will lead into a class discussion on biodiversity and the importance of insects and their benefits all living things.

Subject:
Biology
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
Science Education Resource Center (SERC) at Carleton College
Provider Set:
Pedagogy in Action
Author:
Jaime Souza
Date Added:
08/16/2012
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Introduction to Nature Journaling
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CC BY-NC-SA
Introduction to Nature Journaling
Rating

This activity is a field investigation where students will learn the importance of detail when nature journaling.

Subject:
Arts and Humanities
Biology
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Lesson Plan
Provider:
Science Education Resource Center (SERC) at Carleton College
Provider Set:
Pedagogy in Action
Author:
Julie Dahl
Date Added:
10/04/2011
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Introduction to Nature Journaling
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CC BY-NC-SA
Introduction to Nature Journaling
Rating

This activity is a field investigation where students will learn the importance of detail when nature journaling.

Subject:
Arts and Humanities
Biology
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Lesson Plan
Provider:
Science Education Resource Center (SERC) at Carleton College
Provider Set:
Pedagogy in Action
Author:
Andrea Storlie
Date Added:
10/04/2011
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Investigating Animals: Interdependence of Life In A Habitat
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CC BY-NC-SA
Investigating Animals: Interdependence of Life In A Habitat
Rating

This activity is a field investigation where students will observe, discuss, and gather evidence on how environmental changes affect animals that live in that habitat.

Subject:
Biology
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
Science Education Resource Center (SERC) at Carleton College
Provider Set:
Pedagogy in Action
Author:
Julie Carroll
Date Added:
08/16/2012
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