Life science lessons

Students will draw their own social networks, ponder the meaning of complexity and begin to notice unexpected patterns that emerge around them, unnoticed. Through hands-on activities and digital experiments, students will discover how complexity research enriches our daily lives.

Students will follow in the soggy footsteps of scientists wading through ponds at night to record frogs as they learn about biological tradeoffs that connect humans to horses to frogs. Along the way, they'll decide which male a female frog should choose as a mate, based on analysis of call performance.

Students will identify a problem with an existing product and investigate biological functions to inspire a product redesign. Through independent research using AI bots and scholarly sources, students will gain a new perspective on STEM, biology, and the human interface between.

Students will learn to think like chemical engineers as they delve into the dye technologies that allow us to express ourselves through colorful clothing. They will read and discuss complex texts, analyze concept maps and graphs, and develop an appreciation for indigenous (Māori) dye technology.

Level-up data literacy skills by practicing the "PPSTT" Framework for unlocking any graph's secrets. Students watch scientists model this approach & then try it on their own using multiple data types, including: the frequency of certain words in books, streamflow rates, and maps.

Spark your scientific thinking by observing cute Australian bird behavior! Fun, interactive videos feature real biologists and student inquiry & observation. Analyze the scientists' real data to get a window into ongoing research on the evolution of group size in fairywrens.

Students will deepen their understanding of basic genetics concepts as they dive into real data sets from ongoing research. They will hone critical thinking and communication skills and come away with clear examples of how science can lead to positive impacts on wildlife populations.

Out of 8,000+ frog species, Guardian Frogs are one of the first to show females that call & males that care for offspring. Students will gain wonder and appreciation for how diverse animal mating systems are while doing fun activities and analyzing real data.

Students play an interactive gameshow alongside researchers to ID birds singing in video clips. They will learn how to use sound visualizations (spectrograms) and leave class excited to use the free Merlin app to ID birds in their neighborhood.

Students will learn that hybrids are not flukes—they’re commonly found in the wild and our grocery stores! By playing and reflecting on Foraging Frenzy (a research-inspired memory game) students will appreciate how climate change affects species ranges and the direction of evolution.

Students will conduct experiments and analyze real scientific data as they learn about themselves. They'll learn how our eyes and brains interact to determine what we like and dislike, and apply this knowledge to fish research and the art of character design.

Explore the secret lives of nonmigratory winter birds! Use data, games, and simulations to uncover their unique adaptations for surviving the cold and reveal the 'feathered flurries of activity' in the dead of winter.