High School Biology Teacher Recommended Resources
Summer 2005 Immaculata University SEPCHE Course
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Very helpful in finding two-part scientific names of species of animals. |
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Useful background page when making a cultural diversity unit. Many examples and explanations of why there are fewer African American scientists due to slavery’s impact. |
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A nice site for some BIOETHICS discussion. This is an online companion to "Developmental Biology, Seventh Edition" by Scott Gilbert. |
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DNA from the Beginning is organized around key concepts. The science behind each concept is explained by: animation, image gallery, video interviews, problem, biographies, and links. |
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This is basically just a collection of virology links, but it’s very comprehensive. |
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This is a nice introductory page for lower tracked biology classes. It links to simple diagrams and explanations. |
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This is part of the Cells Alive webpage (http://www.cellsalive.com/index.htm.) It shows some nice animations of cell reproduction. |
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This site has several activities that range many age groups of science students. |
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This page just links to other pages, but it encompasses most of the general fields in Biology. |
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Many answers to medical questions that students have can be researched on this site. |
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This web site is a wonderful resource for a wide variety of lesson plans, worksheets and class activities. All of the resources found at this site can be modified to fit your particular needs. I have used many of them not only for Biology but also for Environmental Science. Best for Biology I. |
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) Publications |
This website gives you access to many different NIGMS publications. The Inside the Cell booklet is particularly useful as a student reference when teaching the cell. The NIGMS will send a classroom set of the booklets if you send a written request. |
Nova: Cracking the Code – Website
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This companion website to the video Cracking the Code has countless resources for helping students understand the Human Genome project. There are facts about the genome, animations to help students understand the process of identifying all the bases in the human genome, and links to various other genetics sites. |
University of Pennsylvania High School Bioethics Site:
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This site will link you to the resources of University of Pennsylvania’s Bioethics center, and their specific high school outreach program. The center will provide online help for students, and will send speakers to your school if requested. |
This site has useful information on current genetics topics, and a section for lesson plans that can be adapted to fit your needs. They send updates and bulletins to your email if you want them to. |
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Gattaca |
Great video to spur discussion of bioethics and what problems may face our society in the future because of the knowledge we are gaining through genetics.
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Nova: Cracking the Code |
This program is a 2-hour look at the Human Genome Project. Robert Krulwich delves into the mechanics of mapping the human genome, and interviews many of the key “players” in the completion of this project. The scientists briefly discuss the future, and the Human Proteome project. |
Nova: Photo 51 |
This video chronicles the discovery of the shape of the DNA molecule. It focuses in on the work that Rosalind Franklin did with X-Ray Crystallography. It is a good historical representation of the research leading up to the Watson and Crick paper in April of 1953 |
Race For The Double Helix |
This is a “ Hollywood” version of the discovery of the shape of the DNA molecule. Starring Jeff Goldblum, this video really looks at the relationships between all the scientists involved, particularly the relationship between Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins. It is interesting to see the relationships develop. |
The Biology Dictionary |
The HarperCollins Dictionary of Biology is a valuable reference tool. More than 5,600 entries go beyond basic definitions to provide in-depth explanations and examples. Nearly three hundred diagrams illustrate such concepts as genetic organization, plant structure, and human physiology. The dictionary covers all the major subjects -- anatomy, biochemistry, ecology, evolutionary theories, and much more. Biographies of important biologists that detail their contributions to the field are also included. |
Genome |
Genome is a non-fiction book that discusses the human genome, and the questions that the Human Genome project has brought up. Throughout the discussion the author writes about the evolution of the human species and where we may be headed in the future. |
BBC Education site on Charles Darwin. |
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A visual, interactive tour of cells, bacteria, viruses and their interactions |
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What is Photosynthesis? | Leaves and Leaf Structure | The Nature of Light | |
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Excellent tutorials and problem sets for learning Biochemistry, Cell Biology, |
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Resources for educators interested in human genetics and the human genome project. The site is maintained by Medical Genetics, University of Kansas Medical ... |
Online study guides, glossary etc. |
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US Environmental Protection Agency
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EPA and the Departments ... At EPA's insistence, Hartz Mountain Corp. has agreed to stop selling ... |
A source of global environmental issues, scientific research project coverage, |
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photo of Gregor Mendel. Gregor Mendel 1822-1884 but Gregor Mendel click this icon to hear the name pronounced , a little known Central European monk, ... |
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Howard Hughes Medical Institute--Interactive virtual labs, animations, and web videos through which one can learn About various aspects of biology. Also offers a virtual museum. |
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Comprehensive resource covering forensic identification, arising from the human genome project, discussing accuracies, potential applications and databases |
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Becoming Human: Paleoanthropology, Evolution and Human Origins |
Arizona State University 's Institute for Human Origins reviews four million years of human evolution in an interactive documentary. |
The Biology Place Classic Edition. BioCoach BioCoach activities allow students |
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Within cells there is an intricate network of organelles that all have unique functions. These organelles allow the cell to function properly. ... |
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similar to Protein Explorer, but geared for high school students |
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Movie: |
sad, but nice info on ALD, inheritance and the chemistry involved) |
Department of Energy genomes website with links and downloadable PowerPoint presentation |
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website explaining how mitochondrial DNA can be used for identification, and offering a chance to become an mtDNA donor for use in possible identification of MIA. |
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DNA learning center – direct Link to “recovering the Romanovs” activity |
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introductory web page at U. Texas with info on what bioinformatics is and how it works |
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Books, microbiology |
Various fiction and non-fiction texts |
United States Department of Agriculture plant database |
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Cornell University herbarium |
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University of Florida aquatic and wetlands |
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Berkeley plant and microbial biology.
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Purdue University herbaria |
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This site describes hundreds of plants listed by families |
Archives of the American Journal of Botany |
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Cornell site on biological control of organisms |
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Biology internet sources from LSU |
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Links to Biology sources from Virginia |
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This is a great resource that contains sites where educators can exchange ideas and collaborate. |
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Lectures, virtual labs, virtual museums, ask a scientist.
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Movie |
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Cell biology activities including virtual onion root tip lab, Karyotyping and immunology simulations. |
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An extensive categorized list of lesson plans
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NOVA program schedule web site |
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NIH curriculum
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Genetics education t
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Genetics science learning center |
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CDC avian flu info |
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Bio Online web site |
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The American Society of Human Genetics |
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Peer edited science lesson plans
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AP Biology student and teacher resources |
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A companion website to the PBS video series “evolution”. A comprehensive look at evolution with emphasis for teachers and students. Teachers can take an online course designed to allay fears of resistance to evolution education in the classroom. This site includes video streamed links for the classroom |
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A great website to start off internet research for students. This site gives students the tools they need to evaluate websites they are looking at for research information. Although the website does not at first look interesting, it takes the reader through an activity comparing two real websites for validity and gives the participant a surprise ending. |
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A tutorial website which allows the student to take a quiz on skull bones anatomy. Allows students to look individually at bones and click, drag and rotate them in space to view all angles. |
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This website is full of evolution and nature of science activities for students. Includes student worksheets, teacher pages, instructions, etc. |
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Not only for members of NSTA ($74.00 annual membership). Full of links to sites such as World Wide Biome Project. |
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“The Nature of Science”, “Habits of Mind” and “Common Themes” sections were areas we recently reread before redoing our curriculum recently. |
photos and black-line diagrams (labeled and unlabeled) |
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Information and resources on many science topics. Covers current science stories from the news. |
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Part of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute site, this section allows students to page through questions asked of staff scientists and view the answers give. Allows for new questions which are not easily answered in encyclopedias. Great for those who always have questions! |
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Very good site for ecology-based information.
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Textbook |
“Hole’s Essential Study Partner”, Hole’s Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology CD-Rom accompaniment to Hole’s textbook. Filled with great simulations for student use. |
The College of Physicians of Philadelphia and the Műtter Museum. This site has a variety of lectures available to educators (often free) and you can view and work with parts of the collection from the museum on line. To those of you unfamiliar with the museum it is a great field trip and holds a vast collection of what one of my students dubbed “mother nature’s bleeps, bloops, and blunders |
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This site is a collection of many activities, lesson plans, and web links useful for HS Biology. Most are practical and very “do-able”. |
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This site is wonderful for Anatomy and Physiology as well as those little extension extra credit/research projects you can offer interested students |
This site has links to Cracking the Code and if you go to the pbs home site you can search by interest areas and in the archives. I use a film clip from here on Anna and the Romanovs as well as sections on Plagues, and Stem cells |
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Dr. Kaplan at the University of Pennsylvania has been instrumental in bringing the discussion of Bioethics issues to the masses and with this web site to teachers and high school students. There are survey tools, lesson ideas, and tons of resources for issues research topics like stem cells, eugenics, GMOs, cloning etc |
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This company sponsored site has tons of links available but one of its really nice features is the activities page. Here you can find lab activities that can easily be used as ‘hooks’ to introduce a topic or as lab activities for the entire class. |
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I use this site with my Anatomy and Physiology classes when they have to research organ transplantation. It has a number of links and information available for tissue matching, immuno-suppresion etc. I also use the statistics in this section in my math classes |
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Under the research link there are some good activities for Anatomy or Forensics classes. One I use on estimating the size of a person based on bone length could easily be tied to the Romanov unit |
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The resources and information available through this site are just too many to list. |
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This site is a very useful clearinghouse site for anyone who has a forensics course at their school. In particular I use it with my Anatomy and AP Bio classes for some labs. The information on fingerprint inheritance is excellent. |
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This is a great simulation where the students play the blue bird that eats the moths on different colored forest background. The site keeps track of the change in moth population as the birds feed. I have developed an activity to go with this simulation – with this activity, the students fill in the data table, generate a graph, answer questions, and complete a short (but initially difficult) essay on why the population changed over time. At the end of the document, the activity has been pasted.
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I use some of the animated chapters from “DNA from the beginning” when teaching the discovery of DNA and the experiments and work of scientists leading up to it. It’s a great way to introduce DNA. The students really liked this. For AP Bio students, it would be a good resource for independent study of review. |
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This is a great resource. I’ve only used the Activities Exchange for great lesson ideas and the Graphics Gallery for great visual aids. I’m sure this site has other great resources as well. |
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Great animation and tutorial that students can navigate step by step through protein synthesis. |
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A website for Biology 1 ALL ANIMATIONS for various topics. Very useful. |
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Same as above, but for AP Biology and Anat. And Phys. This page has all animations and video clips |
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Great cell visuals and tutorials. Also, video clips of dividing cells. View a variety of organisms microscopically in real time! Very cool if you have a projector |
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A great virtual cell tour and text book. |
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This is a great site with review games on various biology topics. This is a great site for lower level biology 1 students. |
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A well-illustrated text book resource – great for AP or upper level biology course or students. |
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This is an excellent source of online activities, tutorials and review. I use the Online Onion Root Tip activity (somewhat of a virtual lab), the Human Biology Karyotyping Activity, and the Mendelian Genetics Problem Sets and Tutorials. |
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Great site for lesson plans. Classroom Clipart is also a useful resource for PowerPoint lessons. |
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Lesson Plans |
Resource for grades 9-12. |
Video/DVD |
A six part series from PBS. I show segments of this series all through teaching evolution. This is an outstanding resource. |
Video/DVD |
Also from PBS. A great intro to life characteristics for Biology I students |
This is a virtual cell tour that kids can follow along with when introducing all the different parts of the cell. There is also 2 worksheets on this same page that you can use for the students to fill out as they go along the tour |
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suitable for students in grades 5 to postsecondary |
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The student will investigate the structures and functions of cell membranes, organelles, and component biomolecules as related to cell processes |
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Biological information available on the Internet in the form of a phylogenetic navigator. |
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Useful in preparation for laboratory dissection, or even as a replacement for it, the site contains clickable image maps and Quicktime movies. |
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Use for the teaching and learning of evolution, including history of evolutionary thought, misconceptions, potential pitfalls, the nature of science and much more. |
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Resources for both students and teachers. |
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Site to look up information about the different profiles of animals |
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The best biology and chemistry educational resources on the Web |
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Their goal is to enrich the public’s knowledge of biology and chemistry. They aim to serve everyone from high school students to professional researchers. |
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1100 free, interactive science and chemistry quiz questions per age group and topic for school and college students. |
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The University of Massachusetts Department of Biology Website – contains summer internship information, study guides, useful links, graduate and undergraduate study information |
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The Biotechnology Institute is dedicated to educating teachers, students and the public about the promise and challenges of biotechnology |
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SciLinks® is an exciting new partnership between progressive U.S. textbook publishers and the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), the largest organization of science educators in the world |
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Biology Labs On-Line is a commercial web site that offers a series of 12 interactive, inquiry-based biology simulations and exercises designed for college and AP high school biology students. |
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The Science Project Professor will help you build that blue ribbon winning science fair project while teaching the wonders of science |
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Try out the tools of modern biology here at BioInteractive - a collection of learning modules that lets you be the scientist. |
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An inner exploration of Human Anatomy Online. |
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This site is operated by Jim Askew. It features many science activities and includes classroom notes learning activities for students. |
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Inquire-based, hands-on, minds-on Mathematics, Science resources. |
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Atom World - This web site contains many pictures of bio-molecules and brief explanations of how the molecules work in Nature |
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Cambridge Physics Outlet: Makers of hands-on experiments and curriculum for teaching science and math from grades 6-12 and up. |
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Teachers who create PowerPoint templates specifically for science teachers. Currently there is a set of templates for Life, Earth, and Space Science. |
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Look here when you get a brain freeze!
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Lots of stuff here. Explore |
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I’ve used this website for class presentation more than any other site! You must see it!
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For Free!
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If you’ve not authored a web quest before, here is a great place to see how the experts do it. |
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Discovery Institute The official site of the movement. Ready for a challenge on your perspective? |
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Suitable for a web quest
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Great overall site for taxonomy
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Some of us still collect and classify trees. Here is one good site. |
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A good overview of cells and levels of organization. Good graphics you can ‘borrow’ J |
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Good overview of these related topics
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Practice naming the parts of the microscope. A self assessment. Try it! |
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Fundamentals of Microscopy A great, fun resource. |
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An extensive site on microscopy. Great detailed resource. Build your own! |
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DNA for Dinner Simple, yet effective
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GeneCards A genetic database |
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American Water Resources Association Good for your environmental units |
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Official website of USGS
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You guessed it… everything you need to know about groundwater |
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A personal favorite – view surface and groundwater resources in real time! I plan fishing trips with this site! |
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Chesapeake Bay Program Spend a day on this. You can almost smell the bay!
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One stop source for the nation’s programs
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Pennsylvania Wild Resource Conservation Program Check out OUR endangered species here. |
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Exponential Population Growth What’s it look like? An interactive Java applet helps you visualize this concept. |
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Not for the faint of heart. A good primer on the mathematics of population studies |
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Does Pennsylvania really have too many deer? The answer may surprise you. |
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Great, interactive site
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If you’re into the science of demography, this site is essential.
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Lots of great streaming videos and slide shows |
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Great flash cartoons to show how cloning and stem cells work. Also I have worksheets to go with if anyone wants a copy. There is a lot of stuff on this site. I have only used the stem cell and cloning portions of the site. |
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A site with TONS of stuff. Great activities, lesson plans, and videos. This site created and maintained by one woman, Shannan Muskopf. An amazing job by her.
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Video |
Very cool video hosted by Alec Baldwin. The video takes the viewer through 3. million years of human evolution from Lucy to Homo sapiens.
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(Net Frog 2002) - Great virtual frog dissection. Lots of great pictures and audio. I have used this in class and it is an excellent supplement to the frog dissection |
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Great site to make comparisons of protein and nucleic acid sequences. A very powerful tool |
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Lots of lessons and activities on evolution |
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Very interactive site. Has links to scientists as well as articles and lessons about the nature of science. Great section on animals that we study to learn about humans. |
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Fun website that provides good science and good fun. A little bit silly, but I like silly. |
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Online version of Gray’s Anatomy, need I say more . |
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Cool site that give pictures and explanation into one of my favorite examples of symbiosis |
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Great resource for teachers. Provides advice as well as lesson and activities. A great source to prevent misconceptions and controversy. |
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Lots of valuable information on marine biology. Plus a pretty good teacher source for lesson plans. Also a pretty cool field trip. And finally I used to work there. |
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Cool video with time lapse photography of C. elegans. |
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National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Science Education website offers women in science careers and interviews with women and their passion for science. Free Posters and VHS videos available |
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Website is a non-profit organization to explore diversity of ethnicities, improve relationships and to promote understanding for all cultures and societal issues. Lesson plans, curriculum, videos/and other media available to integrate into the classroom and the community |
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Starbright Foundation Resources website is a non-profit organization that shares medical information for children and families with illnesses. There also is available CDROM and video support to assist families and pediatric patients with chronic diseases such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, diabetes with interactive activities while teaching concepts of coping and case management of the disease |
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PowerPoint Presentations Safety and Health Topics A-Z and OSHA ppt. over 100 cataloged slideshows with ability to download to your own files from Vermont University |
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Rare Diseases (NORD) database of rare diseases for hospitals, universities and schools. |
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Center for Disease Control EXCITE= Excellence in Curriculum Integration: Disease Detectives provides students an opportunity to hone their skills as science sleuths by learning the scientific method employed by epidemiologists—or disease detectives |
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Technology |
Follow narrator that is questioning why the indigenous people of New Guinea have not incorporated technology into their way of life as compared to the rest of the industrialized world. |
Medicine |
Charles Kurault reviews timeline of medical milestones and its impact on society’s mortality and morbidity rates, health, surviving illnesses and disease based on medical discoveries such as antibiotics, insulin, nutritional deficiency, immunizations and medical technology |
A+P |
Narrator John Lithgow follows a Hispanic couple in the preparation of the birth of their baby. Video segments include: fertilization, DNA concepts, mother and father roles in preparing for the birth of a baby with the conclusion of video footage of the birth |
Evolution |
Narrator explores the evolutionary theory of man’s connection to DNA which spread across the to all the continents of the world starting from Africa, Europe Asia, etc. |
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Biology Student Workbench
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NCBI National Center for Biotechnology Information/National Institutes of Health/National library of Medicine |
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Protein Explorer
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Protein Explorer
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Bioinformatics web page, student projects |
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Cold Spring Harbor DNA Learning Center
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Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press
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International Society for Computational Biology, Links to many Bioinformatics sites |
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Centre for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics, Netherlands |
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European Bioinformatics Research Institute
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Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics
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Center for Law and Genetics Legal and ethical issues about bioinformatics |
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Biomolecular Engineering Research Center, Boston University |
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Stanford Genome Technology Center |
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Genetics Education Center, University of Kansas Medical Center |
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Genetics Science Learning Center, University of Utah |
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Biology Workbench Tutorials
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NCBI National Center for Biotechnology Information Science Primer for Bioinformatics Concepts and Methods and Tutorials |
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Bioinformatics |
BLAST tutorial
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Bioinformatics |
Introduction to the Human Genome Computing via the World Wide Web-excellent tutorial |
Bioinformatics |
Peptide and Protein Structure Tutorial
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Bioinformatics |
Protein Explorer Tutorial
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Bioinformatics |
Genome resources at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory |
Bioinformatics |
Genomic Database |
Bioinformatics |
High School Human Genome Project ( University of Washington) |
Bioinformatics |
CDC Office of Genomics & Disease Prevention Weekly Update |
Bioinformatics |
National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) |
Bioinformatics |
NCBI Human Genome Page
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