Life sciences focus on all things living, exploring the patterns, processes and relationships of organisms. The goal of life sciences is to demonstrate how unifying principles can help us to make sense of the natural world and solve problems in the world we live in. High school life sciences extend student knowledge of topics such as organisms, ecosystems, heredity and evolution, integrating a long history of scientific research from multiple fields. In high school, students will build on their conceptual understanding of life sciences by investigating and witnessing the relationships among structure and function, matter and energy, ecosystems and natural selection. Students should be able to effectively communicate facts and findings, as supported in the science literacy skills covered in the Common Core State Standards.
American school systems tend to put-off studying the sciences in-depth until high school. Only recently has this practice come under long-overdue scrutiny. Over 65 percent of scientists reported that their interest in science began before their middle school years, according to the International Journal of Science Education. In order to have curious, scientifically literate students who can bring innovation to a technologically based economy, it is essential that they have a strong foundation of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, with classes in these subjects beginning in the elementary grades. Perhaps the solution lies in a connected curriculum.
Many of the following lessons were developed by Geneticist-Educator Network of Alliances (GENA) teams and have been further adapted by ASHG for use in high school (or advanced middle school) life sciences classrooms. These are identified by GENA cohort in the database. However, we have expanded the database to also include lessons developed through other ASHG programs, such as the High School Workshop. All lessons are intended to follow the BSCS's 5E instructional model (Bybee, RW, et al., 2006).
When an elementary school teacher calls in sick to work, she finds out that she is not the only one who will be missing school that day. Children from her fifth grade class have also become ill and parents are calling to report the absences. The concerned principal of the school finds out the fifth grade class had a field trip to one of the local parks the day before. The case shows the areas visited by the class and provides discussion between the principal and a physician that teaches the readers about water quality and EPA standards for bacteria levels in recreational water. The case has an optional lab component that provides the theory for three methods that can be used to conduct microbial water analyses. Procedures are included for teachers to lead a lab activity to test water to identify which location in the park caused the illness. This case study and accompanying laboratory activity are recommended for an environmental engineering course or a lower level science course.
With support from the National Science Foundation, we assisted in developing bioinformatics curriculum for high schools and popular bioinformatics tutorials that are used in both college and high school classes. We have shared these materials at several Bio-Link workshops, and at workshops sponsored by CCURI, Tulsa Community College (SEEDBed award), and DelMar College. Digital World Biology is also partnering with the Amgen Biotech Experience at Shoreline Community College to assist in providing professional development opportunities for high school teachers.
Written for middle school/high school audiences, "The Gene Scene" ushers the viewer into the micro-biological universe of human DNA. I co-wrote the script for this short animation, which was created for an educational CD-ROM marketed to junior high and high schools around the English- and Spanish-speaking world. The colorful cartoon explains some of the basic scientific concepts of human genetics.
3:09 This HD dramatic video choreographed to powerful music introduces the viewer/student to the Biomes of Earth. It is designed as a motivational "trailer" to be shown by teachers in Biology and Ecology classrooms in middle school, high school and college as a visual Introduction to the many types of places that life calls home.
The goal of the sample lesson plans is to show content-area high school teachers how they can use literacy strategies to help high school students learn core content and concepts. The lessons are accompanied by narrative explanations that describe the lesson in action.
This web site provides tools and resources that support ambitious science instruction at the middle school and high school levels. Ambitious teaching deliberately aims to get students of all racial, ethnic, and class backgrounds to understand science ideas, participate in the discourses of the discipline, and solve authentic problems. We describe 4 core instructional strategies that support this kind of teaching. These "high-leverage" practices make up the Science Learning Framework (below), and have been selected based on extensive research of how young people learn science, on authentic forms of science activity, and how teachers learn to appropriate new practices.
This HD dramatic video choreographed to powerful music introduces the viewer/student to the microscopic kingdom of the Protists. It is designed as a motivational "trailer" to be shown in Biology classrooms in middle school, high school and college as a visual Introduction to the amazing world of these tiny creatures.
This interdisciplinary case study uses the format of a progressive disclosure to explore certain advances in biotechnology and evaluate them within the framework of societal needs, concerns and pressures. When faced with a heart valve transplant, a high school student and her mother must decide between multiple approaches, some current and others emergent. Highlighted in this case study are the topics of xenotransplantation, 3D bioprinting and the mature minor rule. The case includes a role-playing, public hearing activity that can be used to explore many aspects at the interface of technology and culture: religious rights, parental rights, public health care policy and safety, animal rights, economic issues of organ marketing, and psychological issues of body image. This case study was originally designed for first year collegiate classes (introduction to biology, introduction to psychology) but is also applicable to AP high school. The flexible nature of the case also allows for expansion of several aspects for advanced classes across multiple disciplines.
inquiryHub high school and middle school curricula are aligned to the Framework and guided by the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Using research-based approaches to teaching science in a deeply digital environment, students contribute resources, observations, data, and analyses to solve larger scientific problems.
inquiryHub curricula are designed to go beyond traditional science content. By focusing on phenomena relevant to students' lives and communities, the coursesprovides opportunities to authentically engage with science and engineering practices.
"What is Ambitious Science Teaching?
Great teaching can be learned. This web site provides a vision of ambitious science instruction for elementary, middle school and high school classrooms. Ambitious teaching deliberately aims to support students of all backgrounds to deeply understand science ideas, participate in the activities of the discipline, and solve authentic problems.
We feature 4 core sets of teaching practices that support these goals. These core sets make up the Ambitious Science Teaching Framework. The framework has been based on classroom research from the past 30 years-research that has asked, "What kinds of talk, tasks, and tools do students need in order to fully engage in meaningful forms of science learning?""
Genome Sciences Education Outreach at the University of Washington in Seattle develops innovative programs that bring leading-edge science to teachers and students in K-12 schools.
The Department of Genome Sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle develops innovative programs that bring leading-edge science to teachers and students in K-12 schools.
Whether you call it textspeak, techspeak, or a reason for Shakespeare to spin madly in his grave, technology is impacting the way we think, connect, and communicate.
The Weather Wiz weather prediction education site goal is to introduce teachers to the most successful school weather program in the United States and get the student involved in this fascinating science. The Program was designed by Jim Witt and honed via years of teaching and weather predictions.
"Online biology games for school aged kids. Play FREE, fun and interactive online biology games to help you study for biology exams, tests, quizzes. There are over 10 types of play offered as classroom biology games. Use these as fun review games for tests or to just to increase your general biology / living environment knowledge. These science games make learning fun! These also make great living environment games as the curriculum is very similar to biology."
The backbone of New Tech High's unique learning environment is project-based learning (PBL). Instead of handing out daily assignments, teachers assign periodic projects that require critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication.
TinkerPlots is a data visualization and modeling tool developed for use by middle school through university students.
TinkerPlots can be used to teach grades 4 and up in subjects including math, statistics, social science, or physical or biological science
TinkerPlots is a data visualization and modeling tool developed for use by middle school through university students.
TinkerPlots can be used to teach grades 4 and up in subjects including math, statistics, social science, or physical or biological science
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