The Evolution and Survival of the Galápagos Medium Ground Finch
A CAROLINA ESSENTIALS INVESTIGATION Total Time Prep: 15 mins Activity: 20-30 mins Life Science Grade Level 9-12 High School Quick Links Close Quick Links Open Quick Links Introduction Essential Question NGSS Materials Procedures Analysis & Discussion Reference kit Helpful Links Buy the Kit Introduction Essential Question NGSS Materials Procedures Analysis & Discussion Reference kit Helpful […]
Natural Selection of Leaf Thickness on Planet Eorthe, Galaxy Tlaloc
A CAROLINA ESSENTIALS INVESTIGATION Total Time Prep: 10-15 mins Activity: 30-40 mins Life Science, Physical Science Grade Level 9-12 High School Quick Links Close Quick Links Open Quick Links Introduction Essential Question NGSS Materials Procedures Analysis Kit Resources Introduction Essential Question NGSS Materials Procedures Analysis Kit Resources Introduction In this introductory activity, students graph and […]
Group Behavior and Survival
A Carolina EssentialsTM Activity Total Time: 45-75 mins Prep: 30 mins | Activity: 15-45 mins Life Science 9-12 High School Total Time: 45-75 minutes [ Prep: 30 mins | Activity: 15-45 mins ] Subject: Life Science Grade: High School Overview This activity is a quick simulation game designed to get students to make sense of […]
The Carbon Cycle
Background You may not even be aware of it, but you contribute to the carbon cycle every day. If you ride in a car, take a train, or fly in an airplane, you contribute to the production of carbon dioxide. The fruits and vegetables you eat were probably shipped in a vehicle that produced carbon […]
How to Teach the Crosscutting Concepts with Wisconsin Fast Plants
Hedi Baxter Lauffer, PhD Director, Teaching & Learning Wisconsin Fast Plants Program University of Wisconsin-Madison The Next Generation Science Standards* (NGSS) recommend we build our lessons to unify learning in 3 dimensions: scientific and engineering practices, disciplinary core ideas, and crosscutting concepts. However, it can be challenging to include crosscutting concepts explicitly. Lessons taught with Wisconsin Fast […]
Dihybrid Inheritance Patterns with Wisconsin Fast Plants: 3-D Genetics Teaching Actively Engages Learners in Making Sense
Dihybrid genetics versus Monohybrid Inheritance Patterns: Which to choose? Wisconsin Fast Plants seed lines offer both mono- and dihybrid inheritance options for teaching genetics. So, when might you choose the dihybrid model? Answering that question is discussed in this article in the context of planning for how we facilitate genetics investigations with Fast Plants. In […]
Survey of Protista
Carolina LabSheets™ Overview In this lab, students observe a variety of protists and record basic observations of them. Traditionally, protists were classified under Domain Eukarya, Kingdom Protista, and were divided into phyla mainly on the basis of their mode of locomotion. However, it has long been recognized that Protista is not a natural grouping, and that mode […]
Meiosis and Genetics
Carolina LabSheets™ Overview In this lab, students investigate how the events of meiosis relate to Mendelian genetics. The lab is designed to supplement the Meiosis Activity of our Carolina BioKits ® : Chromosome Simulation. Download Student Lab Sheet Needed Materials Carolina BioKits ® : Chromosome Simulation (#171100) Optional Materials Small, colored adhesive dots can be used […]
Modeling Mitosis and Meiosis
Introduction Have student groups use sock “chromosomes” and string to model mitosis and meiosis. These 2 simple activities take approximately 30 min to complete. Discussion questions and answers are provided so that you can assess student understanding of each type of cell division. Next Generation Science Standards Life Science The Cell The Molecular Basis of […]
Teaching Variation and Selection in the Context of Plant Breeding with Wisconsin Fast Plants
Variation and Selection: Human Food Crop Selection Creates an Engaging Storyline Variation in traits among individuals in a population is such an important concept that it first appears in the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)* in first grade, then recurs through middle and high school standards. Yet, if we follow the traditional biology path for […]