Life Science

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Open Educational Resources

RESOURCE	GRADE LEVEL	MEDIA TYPE
Acid Lake Add acidity to a healthy lake and see what happens to the plants and animals in this interactive activity adapted from EcoKids.	3-8	Interactive
Allopatric Speciation These images from the Smithsonian Institution depict Nancy Knowlton's work with snapping shrimp in Panama. Knowlton found that the closing of the isthmus -- dividing the Pacific Ocean from the Caribbean -- resulted in new species of shrimp.	9-12	Image
Analyzing an Ecosystem In this interactive activity adapted from the University of Alberta, identify the living and nonliving things in an ecosystem. Then look further at the living things to identify the producers, the consumers, and examples of mimicry.	3-8	Interactive
Animal Classification Game Learn about classes of animals and test your ability to identify animals as mammals, birds, reptiles and more in this interactive activity adapted from Sheppard Software.	4-8	Interactive
Animal Coverings It takes a thick skin to withstand the hardships that life has to offer. This collection of images shows a variety of animals, each with a slightly different type of protective covering.	K-5	Image
Antarctic Food Web Game In this interactive game adapted from the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, build a food web that illustrates the flow of energy in an Antarctic ecosystem and the relationships between predators and prey.	5-8	Interactive
Atmospheric Oxygen In this feature, adapted from Interactive NOVA: "Earth," students explore the relationship between oxygen concentration and the well-being of various organisms by simulating a change in oxygen levels and observing what happens.	3-5	Interactive
Blood Flow and Thermoregulation In this interactive activity adapted from the University of Alberta, learn about the ways your body can regulate its temperature.	7-12	Interactive
Blood Vessels Help Tumors Grow In this video segment, adapted from NOVA, Dr. Judah Folkman uses the scientific method to discover how cancer cells induce the formation of new blood vessels, which in turn nourish those cancer cells.	6-12	Video
The Bounty of Bees Bees are an extremely vital part of life on this planet. In this video segment from QUEST, explore the huge impact these small insects have on our civilization.	6-8	Video
Carbon Cycle Diagram This diagram from NASA's Earth Science Enterprise illustrates the Earth's carbon cycle .	9-12	Image
Carnivorous Plants of Texas In this video adapted from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, learn about carnivorous plants that act as both producers and consumers in an ecosystem. See sundews and blatterworts capture and digest insects.	K-12	Video
Cell Division In this interactive activity adapted from the Exploratorium, explore the step-by-step process by which an animal cell divides to make more cells.	7-10	Interactive
Cell Explorer Explore the parts of a virtual animal cell in this interactive activity adapted from the Exploratorium. Learn about various cell structures and the roles they play in cell division, cellular respiration, and protein synthesis.	7-12	Interactive
Cell Membrane: Just Passing Through This interactive feature describes some of the most important structures and functions of the cell membrane.	6-12	Interactive
Cell Transcription and Translation In this interactive activity adapted from the University of Nebraska, learn how and where transcription and translation occur within a cell and observe both processes in detail.	9-12	Interactive
Cellular Service The goal of this interactive game is to keep a group of target cells healthy by using blood to deliver and take away various substances to and from the cells.	6-8	Interactive
Chromosome Viewer This interactive feature provides a microscopic view of the 24 Human chromosomes. Each chromosome is labeled with the names of some of the genetic conditions and traits associated with particular regions on that chromosome.	9-12	Interactive
Colorful Creatures For animals, bright, flashy coloration can serve as a warning or as an invitation. Either way, colorful skin, feathers, and scales yell, "Notice me!" This collection of images shows examples of some of the world's most colorful creatures.	K-5	Image
Continental Divide: The Breakup of Pangaea Examine geological evidence found in fossils, rock deposits, and ancient mountains that supports the theory of continental drift in this interactive activity adapted from the Exploratorium.	6-12	Interactive
The Coral Reef Ecosystem Students examine a coral reef ecosystem to learn about its living and non-living parts and how they interact. They apply what they have learned to explore the world's biomes, including how the animals in each are adapted to their environment.	6-8	Lesson Plan
Cow's Eye Dissection In this interactive activity adapted from the Exploratorium, watch videos of a cow eye dissection and see how an eye works.	6-12	Interactive
Dance of Development Watch the "dance" of development as a zebrafish egg divides and differentiates on its way to becoming an embryo in this interactive activity adapted from the Exploratorium.	9-12	Interactive
DNA Detective In this video from QUEST, learn about the issues of ethics and responsibility that are associated with genetic testing.	9-12	Video
DNA on the Witness Stand In this article, Dr. Eric Lander of the Human Genome Project comments on the use of DNA as an identification tool -- the theoretical versus the practical results.	9-12	Document
Energy Flow This feature, adapted from Interactive NOVA: "Earth," follows the path of energy as it is transferred via the food chain from one type of organism to another.	K-5	Interactive
Energy Flow in the Coral Reef Ecosystem This video segment, adapted from NOVA, describes the energy flow in a coral reef, including its food web.	3-12	Video
Exploring Tidepools In this interactive activity adapted from the National Park Service, learn about tidepools and then try to identify the organisms that live there.	3-5	Interactive
Gallery of Cells While all cells have a great deal in common, there is no end to the variation among them. These images provide a sense of the wondrous diversity found in the world of cells.	9-12	Image
Gallery of Visual Illusions Are your eyes playing tricks on you? Discover more about eyesight and the brain as you test your eyes with these visual illusions adapted from the University of Washington's Neuroscience for Kids Web site.	5-12	Interactive
Homo Sapiens Versus Neanderthals This video segment, adapted from NOVA, explores reasons why Homo sapiens had an advantage over Neanderthals in the pursuit of territory and natural resources.	6-12	Video
How to Conquer a Genetic Disease In Blazing a Genetic Trail, by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, follow this three-step approach to treating genetic diseases.	9-12	Document
The Kemps Ridley Sea Turtle This video adapted from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department describes how humans are helping restore safe nesting grounds for the critically endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtle to ensure its successful repopulation.	3-12	Video
Ladybug Pajama Party This video segment adapted from QUEST describes certain aspects of the life cycle of a species of ladybug found in the bay area.	6-12	Video
Laetoli Trackways Diagram View a diagram of the hominid footprints that archaeologist Mary Leakey's team found at Laetoli in Tanzania.	9-12	Image
Life Cycle of a Seed Plant In this interactive activity adapted from the University of Alberta, learn about each step in the life cycle of a seed plant.	6-12	Interactive
Light Pollution In this interactive activity adapted from the National Park Service, learn how light pollution affects the night sky, animals, and humans, and then explore several possible solutions.	3-8	Interactive
Mirror Neurons This video segment, adapted from NOVA scienceNow, introduces the latest research on a system of neurons that plays a part in how people relate to each other.	6-12	Video
Mitochondria Often referred to as the powerhouses of the cell, mitochondria provide the energy that powers nearly every cellular process. This essay by John Ross describes in detail the structures and functions of these amazing organelles.	9-12	Document
Mitochondrial Flyover This video segment illustrates the three-dimensional structure of a mitochondrion, the organelle that powers nearly every cellular process in your body.	9-12	Video
A Night in the Coral Reef Coral reefs are often portrayed as brightly lit, bustling underwater marvels full of colorful creatures. This video segment, adapted from NOVA, paints a different picture as it explores the nocturnal behavior of organisms in the reef.	3-12	Video
The Nitrogen Cycle Nitrogen, one of the most abundant elements in the universe, is essential to life. This interactive activity adapted from the University of Alberta provides an overview of the nitrogen cycle.	9-12	Interactive
Plants-in-Motion While we tend to think of plants as stationary, they are in constant, though very slow motion, as they respond to environmental factors. Watch plants move in time-lapse videos in this interactive activity adapted from Indiana University.	K-12	Interactive
Prairie Dogs In this video adapted from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, learn about the prairie dog, the importance of its role in its ecosystem, and how it is affected by an ever-growing human population.	3-8	Video
The Process of Scientific Experimentation Students expand their understanding of the "scientific method" of experimentation by watching video accounts of actual scientific research and exploring the factors involved in real scientific processes.	9-12	Lesson Plan
The Real C.S.I. In this video segment from QUEST, learn about a specific area of forensics and how it is applied to areas of immigration.	9-12	Video
The Search for Another Earth This NASA video provides an overview of technology under development to explore the planets and stars outside our solar system. These will be the most sensitive instruments built to date.	3-12	Video
Seeds Away This collection of images shows several types of plant seeds, each with a different mechanism for dispersing from the parent plant.	6-8	Image
Shape of Trees: The Frustration Principle This series of images shows the work of biologist Karl Niklas on the adaptations and evolution of plants. From The Evolutionary Biology of Plants.	9-12	Image
Supermarket Botany Can you eat the stem, root, or seed of a plant? In this interactive activity adapted from the Missouri Botanical Garden and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, test your knowledge of plant parts by identifying everyday foods as plant parts.	2-5	Interactive
The Value of Wetlands This video segment adapted from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department explores the role of the wetlands in our environment, including providing habitats for wildlife, acting as natural water filters, and playing a part in the greater water cycle.	4-10	Video
Where Do You Get Your Energy? In this interactive activity adapted from the Exploratorium, explore how our cells harvest energy from food.	7-10	Interactive
Wild Animal Rehabilitation In this video adapted from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, see how volunteers care for sick or injured animals. Also learn why human interaction is not always the best solution.	3-12	Video