Biology

Biology Virtual Mentoring
Virtual Mentoring: Biology from LEARN NC can help new biology teachers by augmenting existing mentoring efforts online. Because LEARN NC Virtual Mentoring happens on the Web, teachers can get expert help at any hour, day or night. Best of all, Virtual Mentoring: Biology is available at no cost to the LEA, school or teachers. Learn more and sign up.

Free NIH Teaching Tools
A popular series of curriculum supplements from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) aimed at promoting science education achievement is now aligned to individual state education standards in science, math, health and English language arts for grades K-12. The ongoing series—which currently includes 16 supplements on such topics as genetics, infectious diseases, and cell biology—promotes inquiry-based, interdisciplinary learning. The supplements—consistent with the National Science Education Standards—combine cutting-edge science research discoveries and real scientific data from NIH with state of the art instructional materials for grades K-12.

To request FREE supplements or learn about how they are aligned with individual state standards, visit the NIH Office of Science Education Web site at science.education.nih.gov/supplements.

Save the Rainforest
Notice for Biology Teachers on Outdoor Education in the Tropics (Rainforest, Coral Reefs, Sea Turtle Camps): Since 1990 Save The Rainforest (STR ) has been sending groups of high school and middle school students to the rainforest reserves it helped create with donations from school children. Many of the biology teachers who have led these groups are retiring, and STR is looking for a new generation of biology teachers to take their students on field courses to the Galapagos, Amazon, Costa Rica, Belize, Panama and Mexico. For more information contact Bruce Calhoun at 608 729 4877 or bruce@saverfn.org, or view STR’s website at www.saverfn.org. STR is a non-profit organization.

Biodiversity Counts
helps teachers get middle school students out into their own backyards to gather and identify plants and arthropods (spiders, insects, and more). Lesson plans, essays, and interactives focus on dozens of topics: how to capture arthropods, mount dried plants, make a net, keep a field journal, set up guest quarters for visiting arthropods, establish rules for field trips, and find local specialists. (American Museum of Natural History, National Aeronautics and Space Administration)

Biodiversity: It Takes All Kinds to Make a World
invites elementary students to explore biodiversity in a city park, on an island, and in a desert. Learn about 10 species whose habitats are in danger, a conservation project in Africa, and where in the world various foods we eat come from. (American Museum of Natural History, National Aeronautics and Space Administration)

Bioed Online
features lessons on the water cycle and global warming, the X chromosome, sleep and daily rhythms, muscles and bones, and food and fitness. Experts offer presentations (streaming videos) on classification, cloning, viruses, infectious diseases, animal behavior, Mendelian genetics, genomes, sleep and performance, body systems, childhood obesity, asthma, ecosystems, populations, nutrition and energy, and more. Articles discuss biology news -- stem cells, bird flu, and more. (Baylor College of Medicine, Multiple Agencies)

DNA Microarray
is a "virtual lab" of a DNA microarray experiment. Compare samples of healthy tissue and cancerous tissue as a scientist would. Learn the basics about DNA and gene expression. (Genetic Science Learning Center, National Institutes of Health)

Infectious Disease
from the National Academy of Science's Marian Koshland Science Museum, this online exhibit focuses on global health and evolution.

Whales: Voices in the Sea
demonstrates the diversity of marine mammals in the world’s oceans and the important role that sound plays in all aspects of their lives. Website videos show new technologies and share the most current insight in to the research, natural history, and conservation of these animals.

Biological Sciences Pathway
Part of the National Science Digital Library, the site provides access to over 4,700 reviewed resources covering 77 biological sciences topics. BEN provides resources, tools, and professional development for educators at the high school and undergraduate levels.

HHS Pages for Kids
Resources for kids on all aspects of health and safety from the Department of Health and Human Services.

Pine Knoll Shores Aquarium On the Road
Our well-trained aquarium staff presents a variety of exciting programs, using live animals and interactive props. Outreach programs are an excellent addition to your classroom curriculum or summer calendar because they create a captivating, hands-on experience not possible when reading a textbook. Most programs bring live animals so that participants can discover the wonders of marine life first hand. They will be able to observe and explore animal behaviors using all of their senses. Several of these programs are suitable for larger audiences as auditorium presentations. We also offer programs for adults, retirement communities, daycare centers, and booths at community events and festivals. Our programs also meet North Carolina Standard Course of Study requirements for grades 1-12. A list of programs and affordable price information, can be found at our website, http://www.ncaquariums.com/pks/outreach.htm

The Pharmacology Education Partnership (PEP)
is an online interactive resource that provides high school teachers with tools to teach biology and chemistry. Students learn basic biology and chemistry concepts using PEP modules that are designed to captivate high school student interest—they include the chemistry and biology of cocaine, nicotine, and steroids. The PEP modules are aligned with the National Science Education Standards; national testing reveals that student achievement in biology and chemistry improves when the PEP modules are used. The program was produced by a partnership between Duke University Medical Center and the North Carolina School for Science & Math, and was funded with a Science Education Award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Requires Flash.
http://www.thepepproject.net

Biology Research Overview
includes an interactive tour of the cell and discussions around questions: How do viruses attack cells? How will technology open new doors in biology? How can the mustard
plant help us understand animals? How can neuroanatomy help us understand diverse life forms? How are fish and maple trees connected? What is life? (NSF)
http://www.nsf.gov/news/overviews/biology/index.jsp

Online Biology animations
http://www.johnkyrk.com

Interactive Biology
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/sci_edu/biosites.html

Howard Hughes Medical Institute
http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/clocks/index.html
(First click on the menu on the left. Then, click on the light green boxes in the upper right corners of the page and you’ll be directed to virtual/interactive related sites)

Biology Labs on-Line
http://biologylab.awlonline.com/
(This site has a subscription fee but it’s not expensive)

The Biology Corner
http://www.biologycorner.com/

Dinosaurs
helps students answer questions about dinosaurs: What makes a dinosaur "a dinosaur"? Where did they live? What caused their mass extinction? Students can participate in a virtual
dinosaur discovery, follow milestones in dinosaur evolution, & see behind-the-scenes slideshows of the lab environment where vertebrate specimens are prepared for exhibits & research. (NMNH,SI)

Dinosaurs: Ancient Fossils, New Discoveries
updates what we know about dinosaurs from recent studies of their tracks, how they moved, & their unusual body parts (e.g. spikes, armor). "Extinction" examines the mass extinction 65
million years ago -- the possible causes, how many of the plants & animals alive at that time died out, & which dinosaurs survived. Interviews with paleontologists are
included. (AMNH,SI)

Life of a Vertebrate Fossil
traces the journey of fossils from discovery to display. Find out what paleontologists do in each stage a vertebrate fossil's life. Learn about digging up fossils, getting them
to the laboratory, preparing them for research & exhibition, & understanding what they say about past life. (NMNH,SI)

Understanding Evolution
The University of California Museum of Paleontology, in partnership with the National Center for Science Education, is pleased to announce a new website on evolution developed especially for teachers. The site was funded by the National Science Foundation and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and was developed by a team of scientists, graduate students, and teachers, working together to respond to the needs of K-12 teachers. Its purpose is to provide content and resources for teachers at all grade and experience levels in order to facilitate the teaching of evolution. In addition, we offer teaching strategies for teachers facing resistance or potential “roadblocks” to their teaching.

Learning and Living Together
The People-Pet Partnership (PPP) of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Washington State University is proud to launch its new online educational web site. Learning and Living Together: Building the Human-Animal Bond Online Curriculum educates youth by promoting science and general education, encouraging the proper treatment of companion animals, and building leadership skills through relationships with companion animals. The project is composed of educational modules that organize learning around projects. The different modules involve complex tasks based on challenging problems. The activities of the website are aligned with the National Science Education Standards (NSES).

Journey North
Engaging students in a global study of wildlife migration and seasonal change from the Annenberg Foundation

ActionBioScience
provides lessons for high school - undergraduate levels to accompany its peer-reviewed articles examining bioscience issues. Lessons are written by educators and correlated to NSES standards. Articles and lessons focus on issues in biodiversity, environment, human genome, biotechnology, evolution, new frontiers in the sciences, and education.

Raptors in the City
A new national environmental education and technology curriculum for grades 4-6, starring the peregrine falcon 30 years ago, the peregrine falcon was disappearing across North America and had actually become extinct east of the Mississippi River. After a long absence and a battle to save the species, the peregrine falcon is making a comeback and was removed from the List of Endangered Species in 1999. And thanks to live-action cameras mounted on skyscrapers, kids can tune into the nesting drama online each spring. The children learn environmental, biological, and technological lessons, as well as research skills, based on national science and technology standards. The "Falcon Flash" e-newsletter and website are free, and our curriculum materials are available at low cost. We follow nesting season throughout the spring semester, and it's great around Earth Day when our falcons are busy hatching eggs. The online portion of the program guides children through nesting season with expert commentary and pictures from one study nestisite.

Science and Our Food Supply
Use food to engage students in inquiry-based science! The National Science Teachers Association and the Food and Drug Administration have worked with experienced educators and food scientists to create 'Science and Our Food Supply', an innovative, National Science Education Standards guided supplementary curriculum for use in middle and high school classes. The curriculum kits include teacher guides for both middle and high school educators, an Emmy nominated interactive video, and a reference guide.

Evolution Newsletter
This listserv is designed to share information about the Evolution Project with teachers across the country. Produced by leading public broadcaster WGBH Boston (producer of the award-winning science series NOVA) and Clear Blue Sky Productions, the Evolution Project is designed to help you expand your students' understanding of evolution and the nature of science. Topics include - upcoming opportunities for teachers - multimedia materials available in print, on the Web, and in video format - online and "in person" professional development opportunities nationwide - professional conferences where you can learn more about the Evolution Project - evolution events in communities across the country Our Web site, http://www.pbs.org/evolution, currently offers brief overviews of the resources we're developing for educators. At this site, you can also sign up for a free teacher's guide and learn more about the PBS series which aired September 24 - 27, 2001.

BioInteractive
features virtual labs and museums, also available on CD-ROM

Bugscope
get a close up look at bugs with a scanning electron microscope - submit your own proposal and take your own pictures!

Chickscope
monitor chicks as they grow and hatch, has great curriculum material for math too

Know a science education resource that should be on this list? Please contact the webmaster.