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Bringing Real-World STEM Experiences to the Classroom by using miniPCR For schools grappling with budget constraints, biotech equipment costs can make it difficult to give students true-to-life learning experiences. One biology teacher has found a new resource that makes real-world instruction more affordable. View »
Give Your Students That "A-ha" Moment Carolina is proud to announce its partnership with the educational outreach team of the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology to provide educational kits that give students that “aha!” moment. The Institute’s educational products focus on addressing common student misconceptions and introducing students to potential career paths in biotechnology. The Institute also provides valuable FREE digital resources for educators. View »
Using the Concepts Associated with Providing Clean Drinking Water to Teach Science: An Interdisciplinary Approach Introducing students to the issues associated with safe drinking water is a great real-world, interdisciplinary way to teach science. View »
Using pClone Red for a Science Fair Project on Bacterial Gene Expression The emerging field of synthetic biology attracted the attention of one high school student planning his science fair project. His research—and its award-winning results—may suggest new ways that you can explore gene expression with your students. View »
Tied Up in Protein Synthesis (or Lost in Translation): A Kinesthetic and Inquiry-Based Approach to Teaching the Central Dogma of Biology In this exercise, students tie Windsor knots to create a translation product from mRNA instructions—a protein “necktie.” Your classroom is the nucleus, and the hallway is cytoplasm. View »
From Jellyfish to the Bench: How Green Fluorescent Protein Is Used in Research Students may be familiar with green fluorescent protein (GFP) from classwork or seeing transgenic animals in their local pet store. However, they may not know that it’s also an important research tool. Use this overview to help them discover how scientists use GFP to study many of the major questions in biology. View »
Infographic: What Is the Electromagnetic Spectrum? You’re probably more familiar with the electromagnetic spectrum than you realize. In fact, you encounter it regularly every day. View »
Bacteriophages in Human Disease: Friends and Foes Help your students understand the connection between bacteriophages and human disease. This scholarly overview explores how bacteriophages have helped and hindered humans in their quest to overcome certain diseases. Use it as assigned reading or to kick off a classroom discussion. View »
Infographic - Ecology: The Study of the Place We Live Ecology is a non-linear science and it can be difficult for students to visualize the interactions. Use this infographic to start conversations in your class about the relationships of ecology. View »
Snakeheads Invade the United States Teach your students about the challenges nonnative species pose by focusing on a current example, the northern snakehead fish. Native to China, Russia, and Korea, this fish has established breeding populations in several states. Find out how this might have happened and what scientists are doing about it. View »
Urban Ecology Just because your school is in the middle of a city does not mean you cannot explore ecology! Learn about the differences between urban and non-urban ecology and some ways to incorporate this new knowledge into your classroom. View »
Environmental Health Concerns: Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxins Cyanobacteria are ubiquitous throughout US waterways, and not all are benign. Introduce your students to environmental and human health concerns caused by cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins. View »
Infographic: Ecosystem Services Clean water, pollination, and flood control are several of the free services that ecosystems provide to human kind. This infographic shows how ecosystem service provide huge economic and health benefits to humans. View »
Schoolyard Field Study Conduct a field study of your schoolyard with this activity. It’s an opportunity for students to apply what they’ve learned throughout the year. Students work in groups of 2 to 3 over several class periods. View »
Biology in the Movies See how you can use movies to facilitate engaging learning experiences for your students. Each suggestion includes a brief synopsis and talking points. Here’s to making your biology lessons even better than before. View »
Population Genetics and Evolution: Asking the Right Questions AP® Biology: It’s a question of shifting population genetics! Apply the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium model with Wisconsin Fast Plants® and independent student research. See a sample student question sheet from our featured kit’s activities. View »
Studying Genomes in the Madagascar Forest Using miniPCR® When it’s difficult to bring DNA samples to a lab, why not bring the lab to the samples? Find out how a portable thermal cycler is changing the way a biological anthropologist performs her research. View »
Carolina Investigations® for AP® Environmental Sciences: Agriculture and Feeding a Growing Human Population Use this resource and our scientific model checklist to construct a model of food production and consumption. View »
Problem-Based and Project-Based Learning—Together at Last Bring real-world relevance into your classroom with an approach that combines problem-based learning and project-based learning. This article includes 2 scenarios from Wake/UTD PBL, a leading resource for integrative learning experiences. View »
Debunking the 4° C Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Myth Do samples need to be refrigerated immediately after PCR? No. You can leave them at room temperature overnight—and much longer! The founders of miniPCR® explore why. View »
Carolina Kits 3D™ Labs Help Your NGSS Implementation We built Carolina Kits 3D labs from the ground up to support NGSS instruction, so you can manage three-dimensional learning in your high school classroom with confidence. View »
Carolina® Biotechnology Lab Kits Shine at the Shenandoah Valley Biotechnology Symposium Carolina® biotechnology lab kits give students hands-on experience in biotechnology techniques while saving busy teachers precious time. View »