Biology

Barbara J. Feldman

Biology is the science of living organisms. It is taught at many grade levels, and this week's selections include sites for AP Biology high-school students, elementary grades, college kids and adults.

Biology 4 Kids

5 stars

"It's not just biology for kids, it's for everyone." Thanks to the excellent design, this outstanding site from the Andrew Rader Studios is informative, easy to read and simple to navigate. Topics include cells, microorganisms, plants, invertebrates, animal systems and more. Each section concludes with a self-scoring multiple-choice quiz. Overall the site has thirty quizzes, a dozen videos, and a handful of annotated slide shows, all of which can be found on the Activities page. The Site Map is the best place to start to get an overview of the site.

Biology in Motion

5 stars

Biology teacher and online game developer Dr. Leif Saul makes learning high school biology fun with his interactive mini-lectures, activities, animations and cartoons. He originally developed these for use in his own classroom, and found them effective in both capturing students’ attention and illustrating difficult concepts. When browsing through the site, be sure to note the icons that indicate whether the activity is a mouse rollover, a drag-and-drop, an animation or a simulation.

Cells Alive

5 stars

The best clicks for high-school students (and adults) are found on the left-hand menu starting with Plant Cells, Animal Cells and Mitosis. Each chapter includes a dozen sub-topics (such as nucleus and cell membrane) that are covered with their own illustrated page. Additional highlights of the site are the amazing photographs found in Cell Cams, Cell Gallery and on free e-postcards to send to friends from your biology class. Think you know your stuff? Try the three tough quizzes on Cell Structure, Microbes and The Immune System.

HippoCampus: Biology

5 stars

HippoCampus, from the Monterey Institute for Technology and Education, offers multimedia high school and college lessons in biology (as well as eight other subjects including Algebra, Psychology and U.S. History.) This particular site is a mini-overview of the biology lessons available. If you want access to a complete class such as AP Biology I or Biology for Non-Majors, you’ll find that entrance at the main Hippo Campus. To use this mini-site, simply choose one of twelve units, then drill down to the individual lessons.

Review Game Zone: Biology Games

5 stars

Hundreds of teacher-created games, in categories such as Ecology, Genetics, and Human Physiology. Within each category are dozens of quizzes, each annotated with grade level and state, and a chance to preview the questions. Once you’ve settled on a specific set of questions, the game can be played in any one of six formats: soccer, ping pong, baseball, basketball, golf or traditional quiz format. In the sports formats, each correct answer is rewarded with an opportunity to shoot a basket, hit a home run, etc..