Articles & News

Per page
Sort by

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 »
What's the Big Idea? Understanding the Laboratory Experience in the AP* Chemistry Curriculum If you teach AP* Chemistry, you’re already aware, or need to be, that changes to the course curriculum are here, which means you’ll probably have to change your classroom instruction. To help relieve your anxiety, here’s an overview of the course revisions, some important dates to remember, and 2 ways Carolina can help to ensure your success during this transition. View »
Coming into the Genome Age Part III: The Molecular Genetic Basis of PTC Tasting This experiment links genotype to phenotype and puts a contemporary spin on an old standby of classical genetics. View »
Coming into the Genome Age Part II: Exploring Human Variation and Evolution This article introduces an experiment that allows students to use their own DNA differences (polymorphisms) to explore human variation, relatedness, and evolution. View »
Coming into the Genome Age Part I: The Challenge to Science Education Explore resources and activities from the Dolan DNA Learning Center. View »
Coming into the Genome Age Part IV: Detecting Transgenes in Genetically Modified Food Molecular genetic techniques have been used to add transgenes into the genomes of a number of important food plants. View »
Make an Environmental Connection Through Water Quality Monitoring You've probably seen it on a bumper sticker, "Think Globally, Act Locally." Have you ever thought about how it might relate to the way we teach our students? Learn how to develop a water quality monitoring program. 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 »
Hydroponics Using a nutrient-rich water solution and a unique, time-tested approach, you can successfully grow plants with no soil. In a hydroponic system, water does the work. Find out more about this fascinating method and the advantages that make it both appealing and effective. View »
Keep Calm and Chemistry On: Tips for the New Chemistry Teacher Learn fresh ways to create interest in your chemistry lab. These easy, engaging, and safe activities are sure to produce a reaction from your students. Designed for the new teacher, but the experienced can find something useful, too. 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 »
Give Your Students Real-World Experiences with Authentic CSI Tools Put the fun into forensic science and apply STEM principles with authentic CSI tools. Your students will enjoy investigating the scene of a crime. And who knows? You might even inspire them to pursue forensic science as a career. View »
Carolina's Recommended Reading for AP® Biology Teaching AP® Biology this year? Go beyond the textbook and take students on an exploration of key concepts with these teacher-tested and recommended books. 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 »
The Science Behind Lactose Intolerance Rumbly tummy after that milkshake? It could be lactose intolerance. In this brief overview, we’ll examine its causes, symptoms, and genetic underpinnings—plus point you toward some resources for further investigation. 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® Chemistry: Chemical Kinetics The order of a chemical reaction shows the relationship between the rate of chemical reaction and the concentration of reactant. 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 »
AP® Chemistry: Graphing Titration Curves Students graph titration data and determine if an acid is monoprotic, diprotic, or triprotic. View »
Video: Comparing DNA Sequences This engaging video by science teacher Paul Andersen shows you how to compare DNA sequences to understand evolutionary relationships. View »
Integrating Engineering into the Science Classroom with Carolina STEM Challenge® Kits Carolina STEM Challenge® kits can help you integrate engineering principles into your curriculum--in ways that are effective, easy, and fun. Find out how in this white paper. 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 »