Class activity where students perform the roles of RNA polymerase to transcribe DNA into mRNA. Then the mRNA travels to the cytoplasm, where a ribosome and some tRNA await to translate it into Amino Acids. Provides great review of the processes as well as emphasizing the roles of the 3 types of RNA. Also great for launching discussions about mutations and other important topics. Activity requires some prep work the first time. I recommend in the activity directions that the pieces be laminated for ease of reusing and the pieces be printed on colored paper, but this is not required. Students, other teachers, and administrators love this activity and the finished product is a great display item.

Guided notes and PowerPoint I use to introduce Viruses in 9th grade Biology. Includes objectives and essential questions. PowerPoint contains 10 slides, guided notes is 2 pages plus a full answer key. Designed to accompany Miller and Levine Biology Foundations Edition. Standards Addressed: HS-LS4-4. Research and communicate information about key features of viruses and bacteria to explain their ability to adapt and reproduce in a wide variety of environments.

Love the Family Feud? Here’s the Biology Edition!!! Game 1 based on the topics: cell organelles, Characteristics of life, Biochemistry, Inheritance, Enzymes, Cell Transport, Photosynthesis, Cell Cycle, Mutations, DNA, and Viruses. Can be used for midterm and final exam review! PowerPoint is editable, so questions can be changed, replaced, or even swapped in order. Follows the standard family feud style and is designed for 2-3 teams. Scoreboard built into the game for convenience. Timers are also built in for the lightning round. Includes a teacher info slide and a lightning round question slide with acceptable answers and suggested point values. Each game has 9 standard rounds plus the lightning round. Great opportunity to review a lot of concepts and open review discussions!

Worksheet that utilizes the imaginary purple people eater monsters to give students practice transcribing and translating to identify amino acids that code for specific traits. For added fun, students are asked to draw the monsters coded for by the DNA. The worksheet is 12 pages so that each student may have a unique monster! There is a full answer key included for ease of checking student work. Additionally, I have included an excel sheet of the DNA, mRNA, and Amino Acid codes for each trait for ease of making additional monster combinations.

Quiz For Racing Extinction Video, can also be used as a video guide while watching. I used 30 of the Questions from throughout the film.

Vocabulary sheets for viruses and cells with word, definition, and how I can remember. Includes a student template and teacher answer key. I like to cut these out and use them as a trifold in the student notebooks for review (glue the how I remember box down and fold so you can only see the vocab words.) Word Document for easy editing (Also includes extra boxes for more words to fit individual needs).

Complete Unit plan with daily lesson plan outlines for 9th grade Biology unit 1 - Chemistry of Life aligned to the NEW MA 2016 State standards (easily adjusted to NGSS) including objectives, essential questions, and daily lesson plans. Designed to accompany Miller and Levine Biology Foundations Edition, but could be easily modified to accompany any text. Written in the UBD format. Designed as a 2 week unit with 9 lessons (day 10 is test day!)

4 page foldable that compares Photosynthesis, Cellular Respiration, and Fermentation including detailed diagrams of each. Created in a coloring book style with some fill-ins for students to review.

Love the Family Feud? Here’s the Biology Edition!!! Game 2 based on the topics: Taxonomy, Anatomy, Evolution, Speciation, Ecology, Biogeochemical cycles, Scientific method, Protein Synthesis, Characteristics of living things, and macromolecules. Can be used for midterm and final exam review! PowerPoint is editable, so questions can be changed, replaced, or even swapped in order. Follows the standard family feud style and is designed for 2-3 teams. Scoreboard built into the game for convenience. Timers are also built in for the lightning round. Includes a teacher info slide and a lightning round question slide with acceptable answers and suggested point values. Each game has 9 standard rounds plus the lightning round. Great opportunity to review a lot of concepts and open review discussions!

PowerPoint and Guided notes for teaching about Macromolecules. Includes objectives and essential question. Graphic organizer foldable for interactive notebook including instructions for student completion and a sample completed organizer.