HS-LS1 From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes
- Animals
The truth about bats and viruses
Students will answer questions about the Science News article “Why bat viruses are so dangerous,” which explores how the animals’ immune defenses might lead to killer human pathogens.
- Health & Medicine
The difficult path to diagnosis
Doctors often have to diagnose an injury or disease based on incomplete information. In this discussion, students will explore how symptoms and other biological information — including protein biomarkers in particular — can help doctors identify a problem and recommend a treatment.
- Health & Medicine
Searching for concussion clues
Students will answer questions about the Science News article “Concussion leaves clues in the blood,” which examines the search for a better way to diagnose concussions.
- Genetics
Cats and Punnett squares
Scientists would like to breed cats that don’t trigger allergies in people. By constructing and analyzing a Punnett square for two low-allergen cats, students will review key concepts including patterns and probabilities of inheritance, genotype, phenotype, genes, alleles, chromosomes and mutations.
- Health & Medicine
The quest to fend off cat allergies
Students will answer questions about the Science News article “How to lick cat allergies,” which explores some potential solutions to prevent and calm allergic reactions.
- Genetics
Taking charge of allergies
Students will identify and categorize various approaches to fending off cat allergies. After discussing the approaches, students will apply similar problem-solving strategies to a new allergen.
- Humans
What’s that smell?
Students will explore how our sense of smell helps us interpret the world around us, and how those interpretations may vary. Students will practice analyzing data and determine how temperature affects vapor pressure and thus the intensity of scents.
- Science & Society
Ten top science stories from 2019
Students will answer questions about one of Science News’ Top 10 stories of 2019.
- Science & Society
A Nobel timeline in tweets
Students will track the scientific progress associated with a discovery or advance that was awarded a Nobel Prize by creating a timeline of key events and players.
- Science & Society
And the Nobel science prizes go to…
Students will answer questions based on the Science News article “Nobel Prize winners announced.”
- Chemistry
Fungi are the next green chemistry champs
Students will answer questions based on the Science News article “The next champs of green chemistry.”
- Earth
Career share and compare
These discussion prompts encourage students to discuss and compare the work and background of two SN 10 scientists to explore the varied paths to becoming a successful researcher.
