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Q/A format comprehensive fact sheet at student accessible reading level.

China is engulfed in an extreme amount of pollution, and it's causing health problems for people living in this area! How can we help fight some of these diseases? Laci explains how broccoli could incredibly helpful when it comes to ridding the body of deadly toxins! Follow DNews on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dnews Follow Laci on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/gogreen18  Read More: China's toxic air pollution resembles nuclear winter, say scientists http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014... "Air pollution now impeding photosynthesis and potentially wreaking havoc on country's food supply, experts warn."

We create interactive lessons for high school and college educators to engage their students in discussions of ethics and personal genetics. The lessons are relevant to multiple subjects, including biology, health, social studies, law, physical education and psychology. All of our lesson plans contain background reading for teachers and students, a selection of classroom activities, discussion points, in some cases a slide presentation or video clip, and an evaluation. Each lesson can stand alone, or all the lessons can be taught as a unit.

The Climate Education Week Toolkit is a free, easy-to-use, ready-to-go resource with everything you need. The Toolkit includes a week's worth of lesson plans, activities, and contests for K-12 students that meet Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core. Each day covers a different theme related to climate change with two highlighted activities handpicked by Earth Day Network for your use. This cross-disciplinary resource has a range of activities from an energy conservation action plan to reading and discussing Rachel Carson's Silent Spring, with the goal being to educate and engage your students on climate change.

4:00 video 93% of Americans agree that sex education should be taught in schools, but what's the best approach to get teens to practice safe sex? Read More: Sex Education Delays Teens' Sexual Activity http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03... "Teens who receive formal sex education wait longer to have sex, a new study finds - and when they do get around to doing the deed, they're more likely than teens who haven't had sex ed to use contraception." Sex Education in the U.S. is Screwing Our Kids http://www.salon.com/2014/12/01/why_s... "Government-funded abstinence programs and a lack of instructor training are failing the country's teens." Teaching Good Sex http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/20/mag... "Across the country, the approach ranges from abstinence until marriage is the only acceptable choice, contraceptives don't work and premarital sex is physically and emotionally harmful, to abstinence is usually best, but if you must have sex, here are some ways to protect yourself from pregnancy and disease."

The Nib" recently posted a cartoon that breaks down vaccine history, hysteria and necessity all in one easy-to-read and understand cartoon.

When you leave the house, does your dog or cat even remember you? Read More: A Rat's Tenacious Memory http://www.indiana.edu/~rcapub/v17n1/... "In the wild, rats scramble over the network of pathways they have created, combing their surroundings for food, water, mates, and shelter. Their movements may seem automatic to the untrained eye, simply a reflexive pattern. Decades ago, however, researchers established that rats know where they are going and remember where they have been."

This case study examines a variety of biological factors that may have been involved in the 2013 dolphin "unusual mortality event" (UME) on the East Coast of the United States. The story follows a news reporter and four different scientists who are preparing their notes for speaking at a public hearing about the dolphin die-off event. After reading the story, students assume the roles of these scientists and use the jigsaw method to gather, analyze, and share information.  Due to the interdisciplinary nature of environmental toxicology, this case study exposes students to four main topics: ecology of ecosystems, endocrine system/chemical messaging, immune system function, and virus biology.

HPV is considered one of the most common sexually transmitted infections, and it affects both men and women! Is it dangerous, and can it be prevented? Get your official DNews t-shirt here: http://www.forhumanpeoples.com/collec... Read More: Genital HPV Infection - Fact Sheet http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/stdfact-hp... "Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. Some health effects caused by HPV can be prevented with vaccines." Time To Rethink 'Girls-Only' Approach To HPV Vaccine? http://www.futurity.org/hpv-vaccines-... "Encouraging parents to have their sons get the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine-rather than just trying to get more girls vaccinated-could ultimately protect more people for the same price, according to a study by a mathematician."

A decade ago, an international research team completed an ambitious effort to read the 3 billion letters of genetic information found in every human cell. The program, known as the Human Genome Project, provided the blueprint for human life, an achievement that has been compared to landing a man on the moon.

list of WICR (writing inquiry collaboration and reading) AVID assignments and implementation suggestions

Aligned with both the Next Generation Science Standards and the Common Core State Standards, the investigations are designed to be much more authentic than traditional laboratory activities-and they enable your students to learn how to read, write, speak, and use math in the context of science.

Climate change and the human contribution to this change is sometimes denied or depicted as an uncertainty. However, according to the American Association for the Advancement of Science (see References and Further Reading), climate change is not controversial: 97 percent of climate scientists are certain that human-caused climate change is occurring. Climate research is continuing, with scientists and engineers working to predict the consequences of climate change and finding ways to overcome its negative impact.

This case is based on Kate Chopin's short story "Desiree's Baby," a tragic tale of race and gender in antebellum Louisiana first published in 1893. Students read the story and then answer a series of questions about the genetics and evolution of skin color. The case was developed for a general biology course organized around the general theme of evolution. It could also be used in anthropology and biology courses for non-majors.

This flipped clicker case study explores the fascinating relationship between the Arizona Bark Scorpion (the most venomous scorpion in North America) and the Southern Grasshopper Mouse. Initially it would seem that the grasshopper mouse is no match for the scorpion's venom; however, the grasshopper mouse is easily able to eat the scorpion and is largely immune to the scorpion's sting. By working through this case study, students learn about neuron anatomy and physiology as they explore how the grasshopper mouse is able to survive the scorpion's venom. This case study was developed for an introductory biology course for majors, but it could also be used in an introductory biology course for non-majors or in an anatomy and physiology course. The case requires that students learn basic neuron anatomy and action potential physiology prior to class by reading their textbook or by watching videos on the subjects. An optional set of guided questions tailored to Campbell Biology (10th ed.) is included in the teaching notes.

This case study provides an overview of the seminal experimental work that led to the discovery of DNA structure and the confirmation of the semi-conservative model of DNA replication. By guiding students through a chronological series of historic experiments and discussing some of the collaborations and controversies involved in the original research, students learn about the history and nature of science in addition to several important biological concepts. A number of recommended videos, including one created by the author, enable instructors to use the "flipped-classroom" mode of instruction according to which students read primary literature and watch videos on their own before group discussions and activities. The case study was developed for use in an introductory undergraduate biology course, and would also be appropriate for use in a high school biology course. Some prior knowledge or instruction may be required, depending on the level and learning objectives of the course.

Interactive requiring shockwave:  Replicate DNA, transcribe and translate a sequence of virtual DNA.  Reading and information includied.  Good webquest component.

"Bioethics modules serve as a guide for teachers who want to incorporate an in-depth analysis of bioethical issues and debates into their life sciences, social sciences, public policy, or theology courses. They provide lesson plans that teachers can use to lead classes and discussions on topics in bioethics. Within each module, you will find background information, readings, suggested classroom procedures and activities, and links for additional information and resources."

This case study teaches students about allopatric speciation through an investigation of the benthic and limnetic sticklebacks of Paxton Lake, which are among the youngest species on Earth, diverging from each other after the Pleistocene glaciers melted and the Gulf Islands formed. Researchers at the University of British Columbia have carried out a variety of fascinating studies on these hardy little fish. Results from this research (formatted as data sheets included in the teaching notes) are provided to students who design experiments and then compare actual data to investigate why benthic and limnetic sticklebacks seldom interbreed in Paxton Lake. Developed for a first-year biology course for majors organized around the general theme of evolution and the history of life on Earth, this case study is an updated version of another case in the collection, "Something's Fishy in Paxton Lake" (Sharp, 2001). The current version is especially suited for a flipped classroom in which students prepare for class ahead of time with a reading assignment that also involves the viewing of a video by the case authors that introduces the mechanisms of allopatric speciation.

This case study uses a jigsaw activity to introduce students to four specific plant responses to climate change: elevational range shifts, phenology shifts, community shifts, and changes in biodiversity. Students become "experts" on one of these responses by reading an article (from Nature, Science, or American Journal of Botany; not included with the case) on their assigned topic and then sharing their expertise with others in class. In order to hone their understanding and increase retention on these topics, students then learn about plant communities found in a specific system-vernal pools or seasonal wetlands typical of Mediterranean climates (a PowerPoint presentation on this topic is included). Students accomplish several small group tasks to assess how different vernal pool plant communities have responded to fluctuations in annual weather patterns and predict how these communities may respond to greater weather variability resulting from future climatic change. This case was written for mid- to upper-level ecology, plant ecology, botany, or environmental studies courses. The material covered may also be suitable for classes examining the role of weather variability/climate change in relation to plants.