learningscience.org   About Us   Tool Examples   Report a Link?(Good or Bad!)   Search   Teacher Comments   Do a Demo?   Credits  Tech Help

 

Structure and Function in Living Systems (5-8)

* Important levels of organization for structure and function include cells, organs, tissues, organ systems, whole organisms, and ecosystems.   * All organisms are composed of cells - the basic unit of life.   * Cells carry on the many functions needed to sustain life.   * Each type of cell, tissue, and organ has a distinct structure and set of functions.  * Human systems interact with one another.    * Disease is a breakdown in structures or functions of an organism. (NSES, 1996)

In the rectangle above, you will find the fundamental concepts and principles that underlie this standard. Below you will find a list of recommended "learning tools" for this standard. All links are in yellow, just click the link. Numbers are for reference only. Use our "Tell a Friend" feature, at the bottom,  to send this page to a friend!

1 This "learning tool" is called Knee Surgery and comes to us from EdHeads. Your students will love this interactive! We guarantee it! Through realistic illustrations and clear design this is one of the most clever learning tools that we have found. Your students will love the knee operation. All of EdHeads simulations are conceptually clear, well designed and developmentally appropriate for students. A clear leader in the development of "learning tools" for science education!

2 All Systems Are Go! is a “learning tool” brought to us by Science NetLinks.  Students are presented with a body system and a variety of organs. Students drag and drop all the organs that belong in that particular body system to Arnold's body. Once all four systems are complete, a clothed Arnold will appear.

3 Astounding! The only way to describe this project in digital imaging of organisms. The site is called  Digital Morphology. The library is a dynamic archive of information on digital morphology and high-resolution X-ray computed tomography of biological specimens. Browse through the site and see spectacular imagery and animations and details on the morphology of many representatives of the Earth's biota.

4 The name of this "learning tool" is called Seafood Surgery. In this clever interactive lesson students will dissect either a perch or a crayfish. They become aware of external and internal structures. This is brought to us by a tremendous site called TryScience. This site is a well done combination of home and online experiments, field trips, and lots of other fun stuff.

5 One of the finest examples of a virtual dissection that we have seen has been created by Richard Hill. The name of this learning tool is froguts.com. After you get to the site just click on the "Next" button on the left hand side of the page. Flash is required. This site cleverly combines anatomy and ecology in a vision of how strong a tool the web can be for science education. (Tech Hint: You may have to allow pop ups in your browser to see this.)

6 The eSkeletons Project is a technical and imaging marvel. It allows students to study human and primate comparative anatomy. It offers a unique set of digitized versions of skeletons in 2-D and 3-D in full color, animations, and much supplemental information. Quicktime plug-in is required.
7

 The Bugscope project provides free interactive access to a scanning electron microscope (SEM) so that students anywhere in the world can explore the microscopic world of insects. Developed by the Beckman Institute's Imaging Technology Group at the University of Illinois supports K-16 classrooms worldwide. Bugscope allows teachers everywhere to provide students with the opportunity to become microscopists themselves—the kids propose experiments, explore insect specimens at high-magnification, and discuss what they see with our scientists.

8 This "learning tool" is a complete web site called Tissues of Life.  Here students get to play, explore, meet, and visit all different ways to learn about the four major types of tissue in the human body. This cleverly designed site was developed by the Science Museum of Minnesota. A great site.

9 One of the best science museums in the world is the Exploratorium. The have developed a "learning tool" call the Sheep Brain Dissection. Clear and clean visuals make this a beautiful example of how easily the web can engage and inform us. For more on Memory, just click the word.

10 PBS continues to be a leader in the field of science education. The name of this "learning tool" is called Red Gold: The Epic Story of Blood. This elegant and dramatic web site offers learners blood basics, blood history, innovators, pioneers among other interestingly presented information. This web site was developed for the PBS series of the same name.

11 The Virtual Body (Copyright HCA 2004) is brought to us by MEDtropolis.  This “learning tool” explores the human brain, skeleton, heart and digestive tract by providing students with facts, pictures, games, and narrated tours.  Just click on your language of choice (English or Spanish) to get started
12

 This tool is called the Organs Game, just choose the body system and then the gender and you are on your way. Flash is required.The web arm of the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) is called BBCi. They have a science page called BBCi Science. They have developed some tremendous learning tools for science.

13 The name of this "learning tool" is called Micro-organisms. With this interactive students identify 6 places where micro-organisms are at work in the scene. The students must try to classify them into useful and harmful types. Only one computer in your classroom? The make sure to click the Full Screen button in the lower left to expand the image.  Flash is required. The BBC continues to be a leader in groundbreaking web based learning.

 

  

 

Tell a friend: