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Life Science Hands-On Resources
Originally developed by Rozeanne Steckler at SDSC through funding from the National Science Foundation.  From Caterpillar to Butterfly
This lab is designed for students in grades 3 - 8. The lab covers how to make a butterfly book to explain the stages of butterfly development.
 Cell Study
This lab is designed for students in grades 3 - 8. Some students younger than 3rd grade may also be able to understand this lab. For the younger students, only the main parts of the cell should be discussed. The lab should start with a 10-minute discussion on what a cell is, and then proceed to the activities. For students who are unclear on the concept of alive, the discussion should be interrupted with the Is it Alive? activity.
 Human Puzzle
The human body may be the most complex and versatile object in the world. Dozens of systems coordinate to perform the myriad operations that we require of it at all times.
This module addresses the human skeleton, the heart and muscles that power the body. Students will observe and investigate the human skeletal and muscle systems and become aware of the versatility of movement provided by our skeleton.They will gain experience through the use of diagrams and hands-on activities that will help them develop an awareness of human bone and muscle structure and their function. In addition, they will acquire the vocabulary associated with the human skeletal and muscle system.
 DNA Whodunit?
A crime has been committed. Can you help us identify the perpetrators? You are now an honorary detective. Please help us investigate this bank robbery. The first step in an investigation is to interview eyewitnesses. Use our Crime Investigation Notebook and clues from an eyewitness account of the robbery to solve the mystery using the DNA evidence found at the scene of the crime.
The Microscopic World
 In this lab students are introduced to the world unseen by the unaided eye. They will be introduced to magnification first via a magnifying glass and later with photos taken through a microscope. The student handout will lead the students through the day’s activities. The class can be run as a self-paced exercise or the instructor can walk the group through each of the activities.
The Life Cycle of a Frog
 This is a step-by-step frog anatomy lab. It is a group-based lab where small groups rotate among four lab stations. It was originally developed for the SDSC Girl Scouts Outreach program, but you may use it for any group of students typically 10-14 years of age.
Genetics
 In 1868, Gregor Mendel published some experiments he performed with pea plants. In this work, he discovered the principles of heredity. He spent 8 years following what happened to various traits of pea plants such as pea shape as he crossed different varieties of plants. He meticulously followed each generation and recorded the crosses he made and the traits of the offspring. From this he was able to conclude: 2 genes control each trait in a hybrid (Law of Segregation), and in a Mendelian hybrid, one of the two genes controlling the given trait will be dominant. Only the dominant trait will be expressed. This second observation is now called the Law of Dominance.
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