Genentech's Access Excellence Lessons
Genentech has collected an outstanding group of high school level unit/activity plans for a wide range of biology-related topics, from genetics to environmental science. Some are also interdisciplinary in nature and suitable for gifted curricula. The teachers who wrote them have included specific advice for implementation. Many ideas are adaptable for middle school or special ed, while more are also suitable for AP or honors level classes.
The plans emphasize authentic assessment methods which could be substituted for traditional tests/exams. While some are short-term, others include ideas for structuring long-term units or entire years of study around these projects or themes. We have listed the lessons below, grouped by topic for easier reference. All links are directly to Genentech's site. Genentech specifies that these materials may be reprinted only for educational and classroom use.
Advanced - AP Biology
An Application of HyperCard-Based Media in the Secondary Biology Classroom Antibiotic Production by Soil Actinomycetes Cell Respiration - A Computer Based Laboratory Diffusion & Osmosis with Data Analysis Graphing Toad/Frog Respiration Life Science and Biotechnology Laboratory Research Maine Black Bear Research and Field Study Activity Paleoanthropology: Making journal research accessible (to high school students). Photosynthetic Pictures--Are Worth More Than a Thousand Words Simulated Search For A Disease Gene What the Sun Can Do Amaryllis Pollination DNA Biotechnology Endosymbiosis: A Friend Within Evolutionstechnik or Selection and Variation in the Egyptian Origami Bird Project Wetlands Protein Biochemistry: Evidence for Charged Amino Acids in Proteins Students Exploring Cyberspace (SECs) Project Tenebrio molitor
Anatomy and Physiology
Agarose Gel DNA Quantitation Medical Consultation Role Play Pressure, Force, Muscles and Massage Simulation of Laparoscopic Surgery Lab Utilization of Veterinarian's Spare Parts
Bioethics
Decision Making and Bioethics Legal Aspects of Tissue Transplantation Medicine, Technology and Society The Spread of HIV Through a Population
Biology
"Chips" Off the Old Block? A Human Population Study A Limnology Study of Drainage Ditches A Living Watershed A Stream Ecosystem in the Classroom Aerobic and Anaerobic Microbe Analysis in a Subarctic Setting Alcohol Tolerance in Drosophila and You An Inquiry Laboratory Activity for Biology An Interdisciplinary Course In Evolution Animal Behavior Annual Skinner Box Rat Training Competition Artemia Hatchery ASPIRIN (Assess Simulated Presentation Involving Realistic Injury Now) Be A Nutritional Entrepreneur Beginning Statistical Inquiries into the Scientific Method: Jelly-Side-Down Better Body Books, Inc. Bioethics: Debates in Human Genetics Biological Succession in a Microecosystem Biology Mural Project Biology Research Assignment Biospheres - grades 2-12 Biotech in a Bag Biotechnology and The Chocolate Milk Cow Building an Ecosystem Building and Using a Hydroponic/Aquaculture System in the Classroom Campus Habitat Improvement Plan Cell Discoveries Cell Observation Exercise Cell Organelles Cell Project Cell, Socks, and Sex Cell, The Cells on Ceiling Charlie Four Star: A Case Study Chefs of the Week Chromosome Shuffle Coast, The Collaboration via Slime Mold Consider the Issues Contraction In Action Create a Creature Determination of Phylogenetic Relationships Using Restriction Analysis Dinosaur and DNA Days Dinosaur Paleontology DNA Fingerprinting for High School Biology DNA Isolation from Onion DNA Profile Analysis Echolocation Enzyme Action Ethnobotanicals Fantastic Voyage Feeding Facilitation: A lesson in Evolution and Sociobiology Field Trip to School Food Forensics: A Case of Mistaken Identity Games and Activities to Teach Molecular Genetics Genetics: Integrated with History and Art Groundwater Unit Outline with Culminating Project Hands-on Dinosaur Science: Investigating Animal Form and Function Here Today, Gone Tomorrow....? High School Marine Science at its Best: Research Collaboration High School Students Experience Feelings of Being Handicapped Hippocratic Medical Rounds Homologous Shoes? How Fast Do Ants Go? Human Genome Newsletter Identification of Bacteria Immunology Unit Insects Introduction to Adaptation- grades 6-12 Investigating DNA Isolation of Antibiotic-Producing Organisms from Soil Isopod Activity It's Those Annoying CAG Repeats! A Huntington's Disease Pedigree Using Direct Jelly Bean Problem Job Hiring - Who's the Best Candidate? Jumpy Dolls Laboratory Explorations in Biology Lambda DNA Fingerprinting Simulation Learning in Cockroaches Life from Non-Life? A Quantitative Determination Magnificent Microscopes Unit including Mystery and Alternative Assessment Mapping the Homunculus Martian Mummies Membrane Permeability with Beets Microbes & History: Microbial influence on the spread of Civilization Migrating Monarchs and Trekking Timber wolves on the Internet Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis On the Microbe Trail: An Introduction to Bacteria and Aseptic Technique One, Two, Three. TMV Operation Mexfly Organs for Christmas Organs to Go... Patterns in Nature Photo Essay Semester Project Physiological Tolerance of Two Species of Protozoans Preparation and Staining of Mammal Cells to View Sister Chromatids Project SETI. Remember to Stop and Smell the Roses: Olfaction Restriction Enzymes Scavenger Hunt: A Group Collection Science Super Saturday Singing in Biology String Cells STS Biology - Teaching Controversial Topics STS Biology - Teaching Controversial Topics Student Cancer Journals -- Personal Reflections and Research on Life Student Investigation on the Immune System and Hemeagglutination Studying a Piece of an Ecosystem Supermarket Science: The King Sooper Lab Surveying and Assessing the Environmental Compatibility of a Building Construction Term Paths There's Always Room for JELL-OŠ Tobacco and Organisms Transcription Translation Tango - grades 7-12 Underwater Hide and Seek Using an Observation Log to enhance studies in biology Using Bubbles to Explore Membranes Using Cichlids To Demonstrate the Effects of Human Activity On Ecosystems Using High School Students to Teach Biology to Deaf Elementary Students Using Ion Exchange Chromatography to Separate Proteins Vegetative Propagation Project Water Drop Project What is life?- grades 7-12 What's in a Name? Who Dirtied The Water/Clean Water: Is It Drinkable? Modeling Limits to Cell Size
Environmental Science
A Constructivist Version of the Snail & Elodea Lab Acid Rain Research An Interdisciplinary Deer and Human Population Study An Online Project - Comparing Terrestrial Ecosystems in Different States An Opportunity to access and use the Internet for Research and Study Benthic Macroinvertebrates Biodiversity Survey - A Unit Study Biological and Cultural Diversity of a Latin American Country Bog Science Create a Field Guide of Local Plants Creek Teach Cross/Cultural Sister Watershed Unit Designer Seeds Designing a Tropical Reserve System Developing Personal Connections to Nature through Plant Drawings Ecology and Biome Unit Environmental Monitoring Adventure Environmental Report for Marine or Limnological Studies Eye to Eye With Garden Snails Field Ecology Notebook Fish Farm: an open ended, student centered laboratory activity Form and Function in the Marine Environment From Reefs to Rocks! Habitat Hunt Hands On Biodiversity: Networking Students and Their Biomes Herbal Medicines Inquiry-based Investigations into Pond Water Microorganisms Investigating the Uses of Backyard Bacteria Leaf Stomata as Bioindicators of Environmental Change Life Beyond the Fifty Yard Line -- An ecological look at our backyard Making Connections - (What You Can Do To Help Stop Global Climate Change) Micro-Ecosystems Mussel Your Way Through Photosynthesis Oil Spill in a Test Tube Outdoor Classrooms for the 90's Student Partnership in Science Education Pesticides and Eggshell Thinning Photodocumentation: Promoting Environmental Education Through the Development Prairie Fieldwork Unit Prairie Restoration and Prairie Ecology Project Legacy Rain Forest Products - grades 6-12 Seahawk Educational & Environmental Discovery Program - grades 3-12 Skagway School Hatchery Involvement St. Louis River Watch Student Research, Tropical Style! Symbiosis and Co-evolution Teaching Biology Through Problem-based Activities The Cost of Telling the Truth The East River Project of the ECO-CLUB of UNIS, New York The Effects of Water Quality on the Growth Rate of Freshwater Mussels The Monarch Watch The Upper Palouse Restoration Project Unit Outline for Environmental Study Water Walk
Genetics
Beaker Babies Developing a Pedigree of a Family Tree DNA Detectives DNA Dry Lab DNA Jewelry Models Genes-R-Us Genetic Ethics Debate Genetic Health Forum (G.H.F.) Genetic Scenarios and Toothpickase Genetically Engineered Food AD Geneticist for a Day Genetics the Easy Way Introduction to Human Genetics Modeling Mendel's Pea Experiment Not Just a Bag of Beans Sampling Variation in a Natural Population So Whose Cow is in the Field? Where's the CAT? A DNA Profiling Simulation
Integrated Science
Criminalistics in the Classroom Lab Safety Laboratory Notebook for Science Mentors for Elementary Our Food and Microorganisms Travel Brochure for a Cell Effects of Environment on Memory
Outdoor Education
Backyard Birding - Research Project Changing Attitudes about Nature Through Bird Identification Coho Salmon Enhancement The Beaks of the Finches
Special Purpose/ Interdisciplinary
Summer Science Career Camp (Biology/careers) Biotechnology in Agriculture: Non-surgical removal of fertilized embryos (biology/agriculture) EnviroQuest: A Statistical Study of Three Biomes (biology/algebra I) Monomer and Polymer Chemistry (biology/biochemistry) Determining the Amount of Transpiration from a Schoolyard Tree (biology/botany) Bodies in Motion (biology/health) Disease Role Play (biology/health The Collaborative Group--Information Collection (biology/research skills) Grasshopper Mark and Recapture (Botany/zoology) Student Internship Program (biology/gifted) Fossil Hunt (biology/gifted) Digestive System, a Kinesthetic Lesson (Biology/special education) A Walk Through the Gut (Biology/special education) Make a Frog Sandwich, a constructive introduction to dissection (Biology/special education) Natural Resource Management Course Outline (Tech Prep biology)
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