BIOTECH IN THE CLASSROOM

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and Career and Technical Education (CTE) Aligned Courses

Instructional materials designed to meet national education and industry standards to focus on in-demand skills needed across the full product development lifecycle—from molecule to medicine—which expose students and educators to the breadth of education and career pathways across biotechnology.

BIOTECH

Getting Started

Each course listed below includes flexible topic-based units and supplementary instructional resources to equip educators with strategies that engage students in the range of biotechnology. Use the materials as they best fit into your classroom needs.

Futurelab+ Overview and Demonstration

Watch this video for a quick overview of the breadth of resources available and a demonstration of how to navigate through sections with ease.

Biomed

Year 1 Curriculum | 9 Week Units | CTE / Biotechnology Biomed

Instructional materials are designed to meet national education and industry standards to focus on in-demand skills needed across the full product development lifecycle—from molecule to medicine— which will also expose students and educators to the breadth of education and career pathways across biotechnology. Visit Year 1 Getting Started page.
Unit 1
Crowdsourcing innovations in biotechnology
9 weeks | 10 Lesson Plans, 1 Lab, interactives and more
LESSON
DESCRIPTION
CLASSES
EDITABLE CAPTURE SHEETS
Introduction
Crowdsourcing Innovations In Biotechnology
N/A
Lesson 1
Cell Biology And Biomarkers
4 classes
Lesson 2
Mitosis And Meiosis
3 classes
Lesson 3
Errors In Cell Replication
4 classes
Lesson 4
Cell Damage
5 classes
Lesson 5
Culturing Cells
5 classes
Lesson 6
Infectious Diseases
4 classes
Lesson 7
Chronic Diseases
3 classes
Lab
Diagnosing Diabetes
4 classes
Lesson 8
Data Generated By Healthy And Diseased Patients
3 classes
Lesson 9
Statistically Significant Biomarkers
2 classes
Lesson 10
Current Wearable Devices And Data Collection
5 classes
Unit 2
Taking Action In Your Community: Health Equity
9 weeks | 8 Lesson Plans, 1 Lab, interactives and more
LESSON
DESCRIPTION
CLASSES
EDITABLE CAPTURE SHEETS
Introduction
Taking Action In Your Community: Health Equity
N/A
Lesson 1
Epidemiology
5 classes
Lesson 2
Current Infectious Diseases
5 classes
Lesson 3
Treating Bacterial And Viral Disease
4 classes
Lesson 4
New Production Methods
4 classes
Lesson 5
Manufacturing Medicine
3 classes
Lab
Using Elisa In Vaccine Trials
5 classes
Lesson 6
Vaccine Production And Safety Testing
5 classes
Lesson 7
Public Health Agencies
5 classes
Lesson 8
Social Awareness Campaign Project
3 classes
Unit 3
Nucleic Acids And Proteins: Disease Treatment Innovations
11 weeks | 9 Lesson Plans, 1 Lab, interactives and more
LESSON
DESCRIPTION
CLASSES
EDITABLE CAPTURE SHEETS
Introduction
Nucleic Acids And Proteins: Disease Treatment Innovations
N/A
Lesson 1
The Central Dogma Of Biology
5 classes
Lesson 2
DNA Modification
5 classes
Lesson 3
DNA Isolation And Purification
5 classes
Lesson 4
Protein Modification
5 classes
Lesson 5
Protein Isolation And Purification
5 classes
Lab
Genetic Engineering For Protein Production
6 classes
Lesson 6
Nucleic Acid Assays
5 classes
Lesson 7
Protein Assays
5 classes
Lesson 8
How Are Drugs Tested?
5 classes
Lesson 9
Mechanisms Of Drug Delivery
5 classes
Unit 4
Behind The Scenes Of Scientific Breakthroughs
11 weeks | 9 Lesson Plans, 1 Lab, interactives and more
LESSON
DESCRIPTION
CLASSES
EDITABLE CAPTURE SHEETS
Introduction
Behind The Scenes Of Scientific Breakthroughs
N/A
Lesson 1
Cellular Aging
5 classes
Lesson 2
Genetic Sequencing
5 classes
Lesson 3
The Human Genome Project
5 classes
Lesson 4
Can An Organism Have No Parents?
5 classes
Lesson 5
Bioengineering Of Organisms
5 classes
Lesson 6
Bioengineering Of Plants
5 classes
Lesson 7
Therapeutic Cloning And Embryonic Stem Cells
5 classes
Lab
Longevity Markers: How Are You So Old?
5 classes
Lesson 8
Senolytics: Our War Against Aging!
5 classes
Lesson 9
Ethical Considerations And Longevity
7 classes

AG/Environmental

Year 2 Curriculum | 8 Week Units | CTE / Biotechnology AG/Environmental

Instructional materials are designed to meet national education and industry standards to focus on in-demand skills needed across the full product development lifecycle which will also expose students and educators to the breadth of education and career pathways across environmental and agricultural biotechnology. Visit Year 2 Getting Started page.
Unit 5
Solution Seeking Microbes
9 weeks | 8 Lesson Plans, 2 Labs, interactives and more
LESSON
DESCRIPTION
CLASSES
EDITABLE CAPTURE SHEETS
Introduction
Solution Seeking Microbes
N/A
Lesson 1
Superhero Microbes
5 classes
Lesson 2
Lab
5 classes
Lesson 3
Microbes and Food (Menu)
3 classes
Lesson 4
Antibiotics, Resistance, and Combating Disease
3 classes
Lesson 5
Bacterial Defense
6 classes
Lesson 6
Uses of CRISPR and Bioethical Decision-Making
3 classes
Lesson 7
Lab
5 classes
Lesson 8
Microbes and Balance in the Environment
4 classes
Lesson 9
Design Thinking to Identify Challenges
5 classes
Lesson 10
Microbes to the Rescue
6 classes
Unit 6
Alternative Proteins
9 weeks | 9 Lesson Plans, 1 Lab, interactives and more
LESSON
DESCRIPTION
CLASSES
EDITABLE CAPTURE SHEETS
Introduction
Alternative Proteins
N/A
Lesson 1
Identifying GMOs
4 classes
Lesson 2
Lab
5 classes
Lesson 3
DNA to Alternative Proteins
4 classes
Lesson 4
Golden Rice Case Study
4 classes
Lesson 5
Bioethics Debate
4 classes
Lesson 6
Industries with GE Technology
5 classes
Lesson 7
Project Rollout
4 classes
Lesson 8
Community Outreach—Developing Knowledge
4 classes
Lesson 9
Sustainability and Manufacturing
4 classes
Lesson 10
Ad Campaign—Commercialization
6 classes
Unit 7
Plant to Pharmaceutical
9 weeks | 8 Lesson Plans, 1 Lab, interactives and more
LESSON
DESCRIPTION
CLASSES
EDITABLE CAPTURE SHEETS
Introduction
Plant to Pharmaceutical
N/A
Lesson 1
Biodiversity on Earth
5 classes
Lesson 2
Ethical Collaboration
6 classes
Lesson 3
Botanical Collections and iNaturalist
4 classes
Lesson 4
The Role of Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Drug Development
5 classes
Lesson 5
Lab
5 classes
Lesson 6
Plants and Disease
5 classes
Lesson 7
Plant Medicine Product Development
5 classes
Lesson 8
Product Development: Collaboration, Feedback, and Revisions
5 classes
Lesson 9
Product Showcase
5 classes
Unit 8
Community Science
9 weeks | 11 Lesson Plans, interactives and more
LESSON
DESCRIPTION
CLASSES
EDITABLE CAPTURE SHEETS
Introduction
Community Science
N/A
Lesson 1
Community Applications Of DNA Identification
5 classes
Lesson 2
Analyzing Community Needs and Proposal Identification
8 classes
Lesson 3
Competitive Landscape Analysis
3 classes
Lesson 4
Stakeholders and Inclusion
3 classes
Lesson 5
DNA Recap
2 classes
Lesson 6
Sanger Sequencing
2 classes
Lesson 7
Digital PCR
1 class
Lesson 8
NextGen Sequencing
4 classes
Lesson 9
Decision Tree Creation
3 classes
Lesson 10
DNA Collection Kit Design
3 classes
Lesson 11
Final Artifact
7-8 classes

Capstone

Year 3 Curriculum | Capstone Year | CTE

Resources are designed to guide students and teachers through a capstone project including project ideas to get students thinking about and preparing for their own capstone year. Visit the Capstone Project page.
All
Capstone Resource Material
1 Project Starter, 1 Project Management Guide, 1 Project Journal, 1 Rubric
LESSON
DESCRIPTION
CLASSES
EDITABLE CAPTURE SHEETS
Lesson 1
Project Management Guide
Lesson 2
Student Capstone Journal
Lesson 3
Project Starters
Lesson 4
Capstone Rubric
Units
Project Exemplars
8 Project Exemplars
LESSON
DESCRIPTION
CLASSES
EDITABLE CAPTURE SHEETS
Unit 1
Innovating BioTech
Unit 2
Health Equity
Unit 3
Innovating Disease Treatments
Unit 4
Scientific Breakthroughs
Unit 5
Solution Seeking Microbes
Unit 6
Alternative Proteins
Unit 7
Plant to Pharmaceutical
Unit 8
Community Science

Biomed

Year 1

Instructional materials are designed to meet national education and industry standards to focus on in-demand skills needed across the full product development lifecycle—from molecule to medicine— which will also expose students and educators to the breadth of education and career pathways across biotechnology. Visit Year 1 Getting Started page.
Unit 1
Crowdsourcing innovations in biotechnology
LESSON
DESCRIPTION
Intro
Crowdsourcing Innovations In Biotechnology
1
Cell Biology And Biomarkers
2
Mitosis And Meiosis
3
Errors In Cell Replication
4
Cell Damage
5
Culturing Cells
6
Infectious Diseases
7
Chronic Diseases
Lab
Diagnosing Diabetes
8
Data Generated By Healthy And Diseased Patients
9
Statistically Significant Biomarkers
10
Current Wearable Devices And Data Collection
Unit 2
Taking Action In Your Community: Health Equity
LESSON
DESCRIPTION
Intro
Taking Action In Your Community: Health Equity
1
Epidemiology
2
Current Infectious Diseases
3
Treating Bacterial And Viral Disease
4
New Production Methods
5
Manufacturing Medicine
Lab
Using Elisa In Vaccine Trials
6
Vaccine Production And Safety Testing
7
Public Health Agencies
8
Social Awareness Campaign Project
Unit 3
Nucleic Acids And Proteins: Disease Treatment Innovations
LESSON
DESCRIPTION
Intro
Nucleic Acids And Proteins: Disease Treatment Innovations
1
The Central Dogma Of Biology
2
DNA Modification
3
DNA Isolation And Purification
4
Protein Modification
5
Protein Isolation And Purification
Lab
Genetic Engineering For Protein Production
6
Nucleic Acid Assays
7
Protein Assays
8
How Are Drugs Tested?
9
Mechanisms Of Drug Delivery
Unit 4
Behind The Scenes Of Scientific Breakthroughs
LESSON
DESCRIPTION
Intro
Behind The Scenes Of Scientific Breakthroughs
1
Cellular Aging
2
Genetic Sequencing
3
The Human Genome Project
4
Can An Organism Have No Parents?
5
Bioengineering Of Organisms
6
Bioengineering Of Plants
7
Therapeutic Cloning And Embryonic Stem Cells
Lab
Longevity Markers: How Are You So Old?
8
Senolytics: Our War Against Aging!
9
Ethical Considerations And Longevity

AG/Environmental

Year 2

Instructional materials are designed to meet national education and industry standards to focus on in-demand skills needed across the full product development lifecycle which will also expose students and educators to the breadth of education and career pathways across environmental and agricultural biotechnology. Visit Year 2 Getting Started page.
Unit 5
Solution Seeking Microbes
LESSON
DESCRIPTION
Intro
Solution Seeking Microbes
1
Superhero Microbes
2
Lab
3
Microbes and Food (Menu)
4
Antibiotics, Resistance, and Combating Disease
5
Bacterial Defense
6
Uses of CRISPR and Bioethical Decision-Making
7
Lab
8
Microbes and Balance in the Environment
9
Design Thinking to Identify Challenges
10
Microbes to the Rescue
Unit 6
Alternative Proteins
LESSON
DESCRIPTION
Intro
Alternative Proteins
1
Identifying GMOs
2
Lab
3
DNA to Alternative Proteins
4
Golden Rice Case Study
5
Bioethics Debate
6
Industries with GE Technology
7
Project Rollout
8
Community Outreach—Developing Knowledge
9
Sustainability and Manufacturing
10
Ad Campaign—Commercialization
Unit 7
Plant to Pharmaceutical
LESSON
DESCRIPTION
Intro
Plant to Pharmaceutical
1
Biodiversity on Earth
2
Ethical Collaboration
3
Botanical Collections and iNaturalist
4
The Role of Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Drug Development
5
Lab
6
Plants and Disease
7
Plant Medicine Product Development
8
Product Development: Collaboration, Feedback, and Revisions
9
Product Showcase
Unit 8
Community Science
LESSON
DESCRIPTION
Intro
Community Science
1
Community Applications Of DNA Identification
2
Analyzing Community Needs and Proposal Identification
3
Competitive Landscape Analysis
4
Stakeholders and Inclusion
5
DNA Recap
6
Sanger Sequencing
7
Digital PCR
8
NextGen Sequencing
9
Decision Tree Creation
10
DNA Collection Kit Design
11
Final Artifact

Capstone

Year 3

Resources are designed to guide students and teachers through a capstone project including project ideas to get students thinking about and preparing for their own capstone year. Visit the Capstone Project page.
All
Capstone Resource Material
LESSON
DESCRIPTION
1
Project Management Guide
2
Student Capstone Journal
3
Project Starters
4
Capstone Rubric
Units
Project Exemplars
LESSON
DESCRIPTION
1
Innovating BioTech
2
Health Equity
3
Innovating Disease Treatments
4
Scientific Breakthroughs
5
Solution Seeking Microbes
6
Alternative Proteins
7
Plant to Pharmaceutical
8
Community Science

Living Earth

Supplementary Curriculum | 6 week Units

NGSS

Project-based units focused on engaging experiences for students to dive deeply into practical applications of biotech skills and concepts. Some topics covered include genetic variation, natural selection, genes, proteins and tissues, cellular division… and more

Unit 1 | Inheritance of Traits
Genetic Diversity: Investigating inherited diseases

Unit 2 | Structure, Function and Growth
Community Empowerment: Eradicating Disease

Go to Living Earth Curriculum

Chemistry in the Earth System

Supplementary Resources | 4 Multiday Lessons

NGSS

Dive into the chemical world beneath the microscope to understand how DNA and molecular biology are being used in biotechnology to reimagine life as we know it.

Digital Lesson Bundles
Antibody Avengers
Benefits of Biologics
Cancer and Companion Diagnostics
Going Green in Biopharma

Go to Chemistry Curriculum

Physics of the Universe

Supplementary Resources | 4 Multiday Lessons

NGSS

Look beyond the everyday to the essential physics principles that help us understand our universe and guide the development of future biotechnology innovations.

Digital Lesson Bundles
Applying Spectroscopy
Generating the Future
Riding the Wave of Electromagnetic Radiation
Uncovering Plasma's Promise

Go to Physics Curriculum
NGSS and CTE Curriculum

Student Interactives

Let students follow their own interests in biotechnology with these self-guided interactives. Students will explore real-world examples of biotech revolutionizing the field of medicine and improving lives globally.

NGSS and CTE Curriculum

Instructional Resources

The possibilities for classroom exploration are limitless when you embrace the transdisciplinary connections of biotechnology. Use these research-based educator guides to build curriculum connections and empower students from every background with next-gen STEM problem-solving skills.

Additional Details

INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT

  • Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Instruction
  • Connection to the Product Life Cycle
  • Computational Thinking Practices
  • Standards Alignment

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

  • Equity
  • Adaptability
  • Industry Driven
  • Teacher Voice
  • Teaching Breadth and Inclusivity

STANDARDS

  • NGSS Aligned
  • CTE Aligned
  • Flexible lesson design
  • Adaptable to fit classroom needs
  • Dual-enrollment opportunities

COURSES

  • Full Year-Based Curriculum
  • Flexible to Grab-and-Go
  • Topic-based Lesson Plans
  • Student Worksheets
  • Student Interactives
  • Labs
  • Pacing
Biotech is revolutionizing every aspect of life, from advances in medical diagnostics and drug development to improvements in agricultural and food products.