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Life
Science Standards
Interactions
Between Living Things and Their Environment 8.2.1 | 8.2.2 | 8.2.3 | 8.2.4
SPI's& Reporting Categories
(based on Tennessee Benchmarks)
Internet Resources
Distinguish among commensalisms,
parasitism, and mutualism. 8.2.1 IL
Volcanoes of the Deep - classroom activity to be used to research and classify symbiotic relationships between individual organisms of
different species
Ecology - Abiotic vs Biotic - [this link opens in a new window] a Quia quiz to help you practice differentiating between biotic and abiotic [10 questions]
Classify This! - You are challenged to classify groups of animals, finally arriving at a distinction between complete and incomplete metamorphosis. Following the interactive classification you will take a quiz.
Insect Metamorphosis - discussion of each type is followed by insect web sites to visit for the purpose of determining which type of metamorphosis that insect undergoes
Predict the genotypes of offspring
in a monohybrid cross using a punnett square. 8.4.4 HR
Dragon Genetics - This activity explores the relationship between genotype and phenotype, using both sex-linked and autosomal dominant and recessive traits. By manipulating alleles (genotype), you create corresponding changes in the dragon's physical appearance (phenotype).
Dragon Genetics - In this activity students study the patterns of inheritance of multiple genes in (imaginary) dragons. Teacher Preparation Notes for Dragon Genetics
Genetics Puppets - use simple mouse puppets to facilitate an understanding of how genes are transmitted from parent to offspring in a simulated genetics experiment
Mendel's Peas Web Lab - "The Princess and the Wrinkled Peas." Try to duplicate some of Mendel's work.
Monohybrid Cross Problem Set - The following problems have multiple choice answers. Correct answers are reinforced with a brief explanation. Incorrect answers are linked to tutorials to help solve the problem.
[advanced] Dihybrid Cross Problem Set - The following problems have multiple choice answers. Correct answers are reinforced with a brief explanation. Incorrect answers are linked to tutorials to help solve the problem.
Patterns of Inheritance - patterns which can be observed when traits are passed to the next generation [49 slides]
Probability and Heredity - You will simulate Mendel’s experiments by substituting coins for plant characteristics. You will then compare what you had expected with what actually happened.
Sex-Linked Inheritance Problem Set - The following problems have multiple choice answers. Correct answers are reinforced with a brief explanation. Incorrect answers are linked to tutorials to help solve the problem.
Sex-Linked Inheritance Problem Set 2 - The following problems have multiple choice answers. Correct answers are reinforced with a brief explanation. Incorrect answers are linked to tutorials to help solve the problem.
Using a Punnett Square - short slide show explaining the use of a Punnett square [the web link given on slide 9 does not work]
Working out Punnett Square Examples - Using Punnett squares, work out the probabilities that children of the parents in each example will have particular phenotypes and genotypes.
Select models or illustrations that
are representations of DNA. 8.4.5 HR
Extract Your Own DNA - You can see your own DNA with the unaided eye. Using this simple PowerPoint, your students will learn how to extract and view their own DNA. (easy-to-follow instructions for a great, hands-on learning experience)
How to make a model of DNA - This model can be tough to make, but well worth the effort. You'll learn some great science along the way too!
Make a Candy Model of DNA - (learn how the nucleotides are formed, and how it all fits together) This model
can be used to show replication, splicing, and other functions involving the DNA
double helix.
Take a
Tour of the Basics of Heredity - from the index at the top of the
blue box, select What is DNA, then click Next to progress through the
windows of this show.
Transcribe
and Translate a Gene - Cells use the two-step process of transcription
and translation to read each gene and produce the string of amino acids
that makes up a protein.
What is a Mutation? - A mutation is a permanent change in the DNA sequence of a gene. Mutations in a gene's DNA sequence can alter the amino acid sequence of the protein encoded by the gene.
Identify types of genetic engineering
(i.e., gene splicing and cloning) and evaluate the impact of genetic engineering
on society. 8.4.9 HR
Click and Clone - your mission is to create a genetically identical clone of Mimi, a brown mouse
The Gene School - This is the place to study the science of genetics. Learn about the foundation of genetics starting with Robert Hooks' discovery of cells in 1655.
Is
it Cloning? Or Not? - Although cloning is one type of technology
used in reproduction, not all reproductive technologies involve cloning.
To play the game, decide for yourself whether the scenario described
involves cloning.
Welcome
to the Extraterrestrial Gene Therapy Lab - As Space Doctor, you’ll
use your gene therapy knowledge to treat three ailing aliens who come
into your clinic. Before starting, you might want to review Tools of
the Trade and the Gene Therapy Case Studies found in other sections
of this module.
Classify This! - You are challenged to classify groups of animals, finally arriving at a distinction between complete and incomplete metamorphosis. Following the interactive classification you will take a quiz.
Infer the relatedness of different
organisms. 8.5.3 DA
Life Has a History - an educational module sponsored by the National Science Foundation (select level 2 for 5-8)
Use a simple classification key to identify an unknown organism. 8.5.4
& Determine the genus and species of an organism using a dichotomous key. 8.5.5 DA
Classroom Activity: Make a Dichotomous Key - construct a dichotomous key to identify people (or another group of items) in a classroom, using questions based on gender, hair length/color, glasses (or not), clothing color, etc
Earth's Interior & Plate Tectonics - covers the following: The Earth's Interior, The Lithosphere & Plate Tectonics, Oceanic Lithosphere, Continental Lithosphere and Plate Tectonics.
The Earth's Layers - (slide show format - from Volcano World) click on the arrow (named Next) to move through the slides - move through the lessons at your own pace
Earthquake Provides Proof That Earth's Innermost Core Is Solid - A Northwestern University seismologist and a colleague at the French Atomic Energy Commission have provided the first direct evidence that - inside a liquid core - the very center of the Earth is solid. (a 1998 news story from Science Daily)
Major Tectonic Plates of the World - The earth's surface is broken into seven large and many small moving plates. These plates, each about 50 miles thick, move relative to one another an average of a few inches a year.
Seismic Waves - This real-time 3D application allows users to create seismic waves of any magnitude and pass them through a variety of terrains. The student can view the seismic activity in the terrain through both a textured and wire frame view.
Subduction - the birth place of a volcanic mountain range (good animation)
Break it Down -
Students in Ms. Lee's class are studying the processes of weathering. The steps for their investigation and the data they collected are shown in this sample lab activity
Renewable Energy vs. Fossil Fuels - Suggestion: create a Pro and Con list for each energy source. That will give you a a way to compare the various energy resources.
Renewable Energy Web Links - from the Texas Solar Energy Society (whose slogan is, “The Solution Comes Up Every Morning!”).
Interactive Rock Cycle Animation - a cutaway view of Earth showing where some common rock-forming processes occur. Embedded animations will illustrate the path of a rock moving through the rock cycle.
Infer that human activities may be helpful or harmful to the environment. 8.10.5 ER
Virtual Field Trips - In this investigation, you'll take virtual field trips to several protected places. Explore the Web site of each place to discover the unique features that make it worth protecting.
Identify rocks and minerals given a table of physical properties. 8.10.6 ER
Earth Science Lab - mineral physical properties and identification, 20 minerals to identify
Recognize that forces cause changes in speed and/or direction of motion. 8.11.1 FM
Mass, Force and Acceleration - Watch as you fill out the chart to see how mass, force, and acceleration are related. When you are done, see if you can write a rule.
Identify simple machines. 8.11.2 & Choose the most appropriate simple machine to use for a specific task. 8.11.5 FM
Compound Machine - answer a series of questions which require the selection of the most appropriate simple machine
Design and Test - This project simulates the Design and Test process through the development of a virtual paintball catapult. The student must build catapults capable of performing a variety of tasks, stay within the allotted budget, and interpret test results to fine tune their design.
Inclined Plane - This Java applet demonstrates a motion on an inclined plane with constant velocity and the corresponding forces.
Lever - attach a new mass piece or put it to another place with pressed mouse button
Pulley - Investigate mechanical advantage of a pulley with this interactive java applet
Pulley System - (raise or lower the load with the mouse) If you click on the mouse button, a spring balance will appear showing the tension in the string.
Rube Goldberg Machines - a simple machines PowerPoint show by Matt Aufman and Steve Case, University of Mississippi [23 slides]
Simple Machines - An excellent overview from the Franklin Institute On-Line
Simple Machines Activities - Learn about simple and compound machines while you explore the House (simple machines) and Tool Shed (compound machines) at E-Heads!
Mass, Force and Acceleration - Watch as you fill out the chart to see how mass, force, and acceleration are related. When you are done, see if you can write a rule.
Identify Newton’s three laws of motion and relate the first two laws to the concepts of inertia and momentum. 8.11.6 FM
The Galileo Games - In this PBS feature, you'll get a sampling of Galileo's thought experiments and conduct virtual versions of his experiments, including those using an inclined plane and a pendulum.
Newton's Second Law Experiment - During movement a red point in the t-s-diagram (time - displacement) indicates the present time and the covered distance. This Java applet allows students to collect data for graphing.
Solve problems pertaining to distance, speed, velocity, and time given illustrations, diagrams, graphs, or scenarios. 8.11.7 FM
Java applet which students would use to collect data to sketch velocity as a function of time.
Newton's Second Law Experiment - During movement a red point in the t-s-diagram (time - displacement) indicates the present time and the covered distance. This Java applet allows students to collect data for graphing.
Passing Lane - an animation and graph of position vs time
Passing Lane - an animation and graph of velocity vs time
Ticker Tape Diagrams - A common way of analyzing the motion of objects in physics labs is to perform a ticker tape analysis. The practice problems included will help your students evaluate the time variable.
Determine how temperature and concentration might affect the rate of chemical reactions. 8.13.4 IM
Effect of a Change in Temperature - [scroll to the bottom of the page] a java applet allows students to see the effect of increasing temperature on a reaction.
Classify a reaction as exothermic or endothermic. 8.13.5 IM
Create a Safe Endothermic Reaction - use as a demonstration or vary the amounts of citric acid and sodium
bicarbonate to make an experiment
Create a Safe Exothermic Reaction - Vinegar is used to remove the protective coating from steel wool, allowing it to
rust. When the iron combines with oxygen, heat is released.