Life Science Links for Middle School
click on these links to go to specific topics (start with the sites marked with three stars first):

Cells  Food Web   Photosynthesis  Extinction  Adaptations

CELLS: General Information and Images
***Cellular Biology-  a nice resource, from the Thinkquest competition. Many of the links don’t work, however, that doesn’t detract from the site.   http://library.thinkquest.org/12413/index.html 

***How Cells Divide: Mitosis vs. Meiosis- This PBS Nova site shows both processes in detail using Flash animation. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/baby/divide.html# 

*** Great 3-d, hot linked diagram of plant and animal cell   http://sun.menloschool.org/~cweaver/cells/index.html

**Stages of Mitosis  -This simple diagram shows the stages of mitosis.
 http://www.bioweb.uncc.edu/biol1110/d-stages.htm

 ** Mitosis Notes- This pdf file includes a note sheet and a fill in the blank questions on mitosis. Ready to use.
 http://sciencespot.net/Media/mitosisnotes.pdf

 *Mitosis in Onion Root-  See photos of actual cells during mitosis. Click on "mitosis" for an interactive Java tutorial, which seems kind of finicky as far as working ( wouldn’t load easily) http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/mi ... o/gallery/mitosis/mitosis.html

 *Comparison of Mitosis and Meiosis - This diagram from the National Health Museum shows the differences between these two processes. http://www.accessexcellence.org/AB/GG/comparison.html

 *Mitosis Diagram- This is a basic look at cell division with brief captions. Similar to above, except only mitosis. http://www.accessexcellence.org/AB/GG/mitosis.html

 *Cell Division and Mitosis - This is a step-by-step look at cell division with photos.
 http://clab.cecil.cc.md.us/faculty/biology1/mitosis.htm

  Cell Activities

***Mitosis: Chromosome Replication and Division Activities
Here are two class activities for students to learn about mitosis. Comprehensive and well done. Background information on cells is included. Don’t miss the interactive Mitosis tutorial on a link near the end… can speed up or slow down (needs Shockwave) http://www.biologylessons.sdsu.edu/classes/lab8/lab8.html

*** Virtual Cell- A guided tour of the cell. Use the buttons at top to rotate or zoom in on the cell structure. You’ll have to look hard for the next button, it’s on the left and only lights up when there is something more to see.
 http://personal.tmlp.com/Jimr57/tour/cell/cell.htm

 ***Animal Cell Mitosis- See each phase of mitosis as it happens by clicking the forward arrow button in this animation. http://www.cellsalive.com/mitosis.htm

 **Mitosis: A Stage of the Cell Cycle This short quiz tests students on the order of the phases of mitosis. Self Correcting. http://www.quia.com/pp/3371.html  

 **Cell Reproduction http://www.quia.com/jg/66180.html Several quizzes on cell reproduction including mitosis and meiosis.Matching, concentration, flash cards, word search…great for  test reviews.

 *** A Handful of DNA- Well done tutorial/virtual tour. Zoom in on the hand to get a look at skin cells and their structure, zooming in closer until you get to the DNA…use the NEXT button at the top right if you don’t have a “zoom in” choice. http://www.thetech.org/exhibit ... ents/online/genome/intro4.html

 BrainPOP: Cells-A short Flash movie about the human cell. Remember the free use of this site is limited to 2 movies a day. http://www.brainpop.com/health/immune/cells/index.weml  

Learn about the Black Plauge of the Middle Ages - Secrets of the Dead . Mystery of the Black Death

 

Biodiversity with Interactive demonstrations -Exploring Biodiversity

Cell Lesson Plans

 ***Mitosis Activity Great lesson plan from Marco Polo’s Science NetLinks, with two great links included, one of which is an online tutorial with many biology topics. In this activity, students make a diagram of mitosis on a posterboard , but there are other uses of the info on the site http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/Lessons.cfm?DocID=92

 ***Online Onion Root Tips – how to’s, handout, tutorial, photos, quiz, everything for viewing onion root tips with microscopes and counting how many cells are in the different phases of mitosis. http://www.biology.arizona.edu/cell_bio/activities/cell_cycle/cell_cycle.html

 **Internet Activity- Scavenger Hunt with pre-made worksheet. These questions can be answered by visiting the Cells Alive and other Web sites which are listed. Be sure to check each site before using it in class.
 http://www.biologycorner.com/worksheets/mitomeo.html

*Make a Flip Book . Great Idea, minimal instructions.  http://genetics-education-partnership.mbt.washington.edu/cool/tools/flipbook.html
 

Food Web

Photosynthesis

Extinction
Threatented and Endangered Plants/Animals- from the US Wildlife Service, lots of good information, plus you can search for threatened species by area.  http://endangered.fws.gov/wildlife.html#Species 

Adaptation