The Cell

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!

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.

The University of Delaware has produced a wonderful and effective learning tool called the UD Virtual Microscope. What we like about tools like this is that they can be used to help orient students before they start work on their real microscopes. Many times students are looking at "phantom" objects in the beginning, this helps them avoid that and know what to look for.

Cells Alive! is a groundbreaking and innovative web site. One of the first web sites to use clear conceptual tools and imaging to show us about the diversity and processes of cells. This award winning site is truly one of a kind. This site is produced by Quill Graphics.

John Kyrk has produced some of the most incredible animations for biology and biochemistry. They are truly groundbreaking in the way they display information about important molecules and processes of life. The "learning tool" John has created is called Cell Biology Animation, just click to visit this wondrous work. The visualizations are very textured, so you may have to spend to time playing and discovering the work of this visionary.

For over 30 years, Nikon has been producing and sponsoring an amazing competition. This photographic competition is called Small World and features the beauty and wonder that can be seen with a light microscope. Take your time and let your students wonder and learn as they browse through this amazing site. A big thanks to Nikon for this web site!

The Biology Project is another wondrous web site. Although a more general approach than the other two web sites that we feature on the page it is worth investigating. This online resource is filled with clever, well designed work. Check out their activities on Onion Root Tips (MITOSIS!), Karyotyping, and Immunology. We strongly recommend this site produced by the University of Arizona.

The name of this "learning tool" is called Control of the Cell Cycle and you are to take on the job as a Cell Division Supervisor. Are you familiar with the different phases in the cell cycle? If not, maybe you should pay extra attention to the image of the cell cycle in the introduction. This wonderful, creative site is brought to you be the people that bring us the Nobel Prize at nobelprize.org.

The name of this fun and engaging learning tool is called Centre of the Cell. This is a collection of games and interactives that help students learn about different aspects of the cell. This suite of interactives cover such topics as mitosis, bioengineering and much, much more. Fifteen different ways to learn about different aspects of the cell. These web interactives were developed the Centre of the Cell organization and the University of London.

This "learning tool" is called The Digital Microscope and is found in the interactive zone of the Open University. Features include slide catalogue, scanning at low and high magnification, calibration and eyepiece grid to allow measurements of cell size & number to be made and notes to describe the cells. Tech Note: If your browser blocks "pop ups", hold the control key down as you click for the "learning tool".

The name of this "learning tool" is called Mitosis. This visual lesson is conceptually clear and exceptionally well designed. Once you get to the site, click Animation and then the Narrated button to see the animation. This tool was produced by Samanas, Inc. This company has created some of the most well executed animations for life science and statistics.

Stem cell research is an important topic. The name of this "learning tool" is called Human Embryonic Stem Cells. Elegantly designed, this tool conveys the basic biology behind stem cell research. This fine lesson is produced by Sumanas, Inc. Their work is conceptually clear and design is exceedingly well executed. Visit their Animation page to see other science topics. Just click the "Click to view animation" when you get to the page.

The name of this spectacular fusion of art and science is called Stages of Mitosis. This "learning tool" features a fly through and into a cell as it undergoes the stages of cell division. It may take a few viewings for students to "get it" but this exciting visual is well worth it. Produced by the people of Hybrid Medical Animation. A related piece of work by Hybrid is their Inner Cell Illustration.

The name of this clever "learning tool" is Medical Mysteries. This is a problem-based adventure game that engages you, the player, in the role of scientist, historian, and detective. There are three missions, each with its own learning objectives. The knowledge gained from each mission will help you understand how infectious diseases are spread. This wonderful interactive was developed by the Center for Technology in Teaching and Learning, Rice University

The process of cell mitosis and meiosis is shown in this animated Flash sequence. This elegant "learning tool" is called How Cells Divide and come to us from one of the best sources of science education on television and the web: NOVA.

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.

MicrobeWorld is a wonderful "learning tool" brought to us by the American Society for Microbiology. This elegant web site offers a wide range of well presented and timely information. Anyone looking for a starting place for microbiology, this is it!

This "learning tool" is called Photosynthesis - Activity A One of the most innovative science education companies is Explorelearning.com, they call their simulations, Gizmos. They are a subscription site, but they allow you to see this Gizmo for 5 minutes. Shockwave is required.

This "learning tool" is called the Web Enabled Virtual Microscope. Neuroinformatica is a proof-of-concept project that is defining the future of microscopy for researchers, students, and pathologists. Large portions of material on slides are scanned using a microscope, the images are placed on a web server, and a java applet on the client allows navigation and annotation of the material. Stunning quality images. This wonderful site is produced by MicroBrightField Inc.