Tag: worksheet
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Explore Anatomy – Color the Bones of the Hand
Learning anatomy can feel daunting, but there are plenty of ways to make it more engaging and interactive. One great way to help students understand the structure of the human hand is through a hands-on (pun intended!) coloring exercise. By coloring the bones of the hand, students can reinforce their understanding of how these structures…
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Cell City
This popular activity asks students to read a story about a fictional town where each part of the city is compared to the parts of a cell. For example: “Widgets are generally produced in small shops around the city, these small shops can be built by the carpenter’s union (whose headquarters are in town hall.)” In this…
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Investigation: Comparing Plant and Animal Cells
This simple investigation asks students to view cells under the microscope and compare differences between plant and animal cells. Students are instructed in the procedure for removing the epithelial cells of an onion and staining with iodine. These cells are fairly easy to see and most beginning students will have no trouble locating the…
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Investigation: Why Are Cells So Small?
This activity requires students to practice math skills by measuring the surface area and the volume of boxes. Collect boxes for students to use, these can be any type of box, such as tissue boxes, food boxes, or shoe boxes. Ideally, you want a range of sizes, with at least one box being overly…
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Bone Matrix Anatomy (Coloring)
Anatomy students learn about the skeletal system, where they examine bones and how the bones fit together to make up an entire skeleton. In addition, some course also explore bone tissue and how bone is formed, repaired, and even broken down to release minerals. The bone matrix is composed of cells called osteocytes…
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Color the Neuron and Neuroglia
Students can practice what they have learned about neurons with this simple coloring activity. The page shows features of the neuron, such as the axons and dendrites. They will also color the supporting cells of the matrix. There are no instructions, students must identify each of the types of glial cells: oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, microglial cells, ,…
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Analyzing Graphics: The Carbon Cycle
This graphic illustrates how atmospheric carbon dioxide is produced during cellular respiration and combustion and then taken up by plants. Students apply what they have learned about the processes of photosynthesis and respiration to label parts of the graphic an answer questions. This activity is probably best done as a pair-share activity or a…
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How to Use a Spreadsheet to Create a Graph
High school teachers often assume that their students know how to use basic word processing programs, internet browsers, and spreadsheets. My students come to me with very little knowledge in how to do advanced tasks in those platforms, like inserting a graph or image. I created this assignment to give students an introduction into…
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Manipulate DNA in a Simulation to Explore Mutations
This activity uses a simulation from the Concord Consortium. It shows how DNA is transcribed to RNA and then turned into a protein. It’s a very clear animation and can be used on its own as part of a lecture on protein synthesis. I have even used this as a demonstration to show protein folding…
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What Are Logical Fallacies?
This activity can be a good introduction to logic and how fallacies can undermine claims in an argument. This can be included in introductory lessons on the scientific method and instruction on how to formulate and support conclusions with data. I’ve also found this to be useful before lessons on evolution where we discuss myths…
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Color the Cellular Structures of the Ameba
This worksheet describes the structures of the unicellular protist known as the ameba. Though NGSS standards do not require units on protozoans, this can still be a useful exercise for examining how structure relates to function and how single-celled organisms move, consume food, and reproduce. What is the amoeba? An amoeba is a type of…
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Scientific Method in Action
This simple worksheet has two reading passages, similar to what students may see on state standardized science tests. Students read a short description of a science experiment and must answer questions related to science methodology, such as identifying controls and variables and summarizing conclusions that can be drawn from the text. The two stories are…
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Case Study: How Did the Guppy Get His Color?
This case study examines evolution in guppies as evidenced by color variation in populations. It is based on an iconic study performed by John Endler where he collected data on guppies by scoring the size, number, and brightness of spots. Students progress though the slides (lecture and discussion), and examine details of Endler’s study, such as where…
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How Can Gene Editing Eliminate Lyme Disease?
This is a close reading and annotation exercise that can be completed in small groups. The article is an abridged version of “Rewriting the Code of Life” from the Annals of Science, January 2017. It includes concepts about transmission of pathogens and secondary hosts followed by an explanation of how CRISPR could be used to…
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Color a Typical Prokaryote Cell
This worksheet is similar to the animal cell coloring and the plant cell coloring, where the focus is on structures found in the cell and how those structures relate to the cell’s function. Students read a short passage about prokaryotes and the two kingdoms of bacteria: archaeabacteria and eubacteria. The passage includes information about…