III. LIFE SCIENCE TOPICS

1. Cells
2. Organization of Living Things
3. Heredity
4. Evolution
5. Ecosystems

Additional Sites for Life Science

1. Interactive Sites/Animations/Videos/Photographs
2. Lessons/Activities/Information
3. Searches/Periodicals/Projects
4. General Science Resources (Miscellaneous Sites)

Middle School

1. Benchmark 1 - "Demonstrate evidence that all parts of living things are made of cells."
   1. Cells Alive - Cells (III.1.MS.1)
      Contains general information about cells and contains "movies" for students to view of different cells. There are several different topics to choose and the visual images have captions for easy understanding.
   2. Cells are Us - Cells (III.1.MS.1)
      Take a journey as the human body goes from egg and sperm to life, explaining the splitting of chromosomes in very simple terms. This site covers basic mitosis.
   3. Cytographics - Cells (III.1.MS.1)
      There are many videos showing cells.  The best for this benchmark is called "Three eggs of the African Toad." This video clip shows a single cell dividing until it becomes a tadpole.  Great example that "living things are made of cells."
   4. Function of Cells in Organisms - Cells (III.1.MS.1)
      Describes how living organisms are made of cells, uses plant cells as an example.  Has other information and links that don't apply to the benchmark.  This site offers beautiful graphics and numerous links to plant and animal physiology. Easy to read and clear, concise information.
   5. Interactive Diagrams: Cell Structure - Cells (III.1.MS.1&2)
      Great source for students to interact with basic plant and animal cells.
   6. The Virtual Cell - Cells (III.1.MS.1)
      Students observe the parts of a cell through a virtual cell that they can rotate, zoom in on, cut for an inside view. Students can read definition and listen to the pronunciation of each part.
2. Benchmark 2 - "Explain why specialized cells are needed by plants and animals."
   1. Biology Project Home - Cells (III.1.MS.2)
      Interactive tutorial for learning the fundamentals of cell biology. Includes cell cycle, mitosis, meiosis, and organelles with tests.
   2. Cell-Tissue-Body Explorer Interactive Animated Atlas - Cells (III.1.MS.2)
      This site is a teacher resource site that provides information on many different human body cells.  Pictures, definitions of cell parts, and quizzes are available for each cell chosen.
   3. I Can Do That - Cells (III.1.MS.2)
      A fun tour about cells guided by cartoon cells.  Students will enjoy the funny names given to the different types of cells as well as the interactions among cells as they learn about bacteria, animal, and plant cells.  Good diagrams.
   4. Interactive Diagrams: Cell Structure - Cells (III.1.MS.1&2)
      Great source for students to interact with basic plant and animal cells.
   5. Microbe Detectives - Cells (III.1.MS.2)
      Grades 5-8.  Students learn about different types of CELLS:  (eukaryotic and prokaryotic) (amoebas, paramecium, yeast, etc.) Students are trying to find the culprit microbe that is causing a group of students  to be ill.  They will conduct research from the given links and eliminate microbes that are not "guilty" and decide which microbe is guility.  They will use clues to complete a worksheet and prepare a presentation of their verdict and evidence at the end of the project.  Arubric is included for the evaluaton.  This can also be used as an activity for a lesson on the IMMUNE SYSTEM.