http://www.animalbehavior.org/ABS/Education/Labs/index.phtml

Developed by an animal behavorist, Dr. Ken Yasukawa, and a teacher, Rebecca Brooks, these laboratory exercises for high school students represent a rare pairing of researcher and teacher. Exceptionally well designed and explained, these exercises -- including titles such as Ethograms of Mice, Squirrels and Food Selection, Crickets and Territory Defense, and more -- should definitely be a great tool for high school teachers working with advanced students of ecology or biology. All of the exercised are explained in detail and worksheets are provided for replication. [JPM]

http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/chf/pub/tree_kit/

From the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, this site offers ten great lesson plans for teachers of elementary grades to use in their classes. The site is divided into two parts, Student's Guide and Teacher's Guide, and all necessary resources are provided for all of the lessons. Also available is a tree-related glossary for the students. The only link not working currently is the Trees of Eastern North American Forests link. [JPM]

http://molvis.sdsc.edu/protexpl/frntdoor.htm

While certainly a fantastic educational resource, the San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) website is definitely geared towards those with a background in or who are currently studying proteins. The site, authored by Eric Martz of the University of Massachusetts, offers several flash-enabled movies that allow viewers to study protein molecules from a three dimensional point of view. As the site notes, "for visualizing the three-dimensional structures of protein, DNA, and RNA macromolecules, and their interactions and binding of ligands, inhibitors, and drugs. It is arguably the easiest-to-use software of its kind. It is suitable for high school and college students (ages 16 years and older), yet it is also widely used by graduate students and researchers." Thus, beginners to the site will want to check out the Beginners Start Here section so not to get too overwhelmed with the many other areas of the site. [JPM]

http://www.rpi.edu/dept/bcbp/molbiochem/MBWeb/mb1/MB1index.html

From Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute comes this incredibly comprehensive website of "studio-format" courses devoted to the Biochemistry of Metabolism. For the class, each section is divided into two hour sections which are comprised of lecture, exercises (called studio exercises) and discussion. Developed and maintained by Joyce Diwan, the course is designed for "a classroom with internet-connected computers, or network ports for student laptops. Preferably there should be at least one computer per two students. Equipment for projection from a networked instructor's computer or laptop is essential. A class size of 30-40 students is optimal, although a class with up to 60 students is feasible with competent teaching assistants." The three main topics covered are Molecular Biochemistry I (including Sugars and Polysaccharides, Lipids and Membranes, and may more), Molecular Biochemistry II (including Pentose Phosphate Pathway, the Calvin Cycle, and many more), and Cellular Biochemistry (including Actin cytoskeleton and others). [JPM]

http://powayusd.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/projects/dolly/

Human cloning is quite possibly the most contentious and uncertain of all of the medical science discoveries and research efforts of the past century and its future is quite uncertain. This exercise, developed by Keith Nuthall of the Poway Unified School District in California, challenges students to consider the ethics, politics, and science of cloning en route to devising a detailed answer to the question, "What government policy should be established to regulate cloning?" Provided are lots of resources for the student and teacher, including lots of website links, tools for the project, a Teacher Toolbox, and more. Also useful are links to standards and a timeline of how long the project might take. Definitely a great problem-based activity using a contemporary issue that illuminates the uncertainties of science and society. [JPM]