case studies are presented as didactic tools for biology teaching and Health Education at secondary school (students between 16 and 17 years old).some activities orientated to the teaching of higher-order cognitive procedures were designed, carried out and evaluated, as well as main strategies for scientific research such as the identification of problems and the statement of hypotheses.the activities are characterized for being presented and studied as cases with a narrative format.cases with motivating topics have been used which, in turn, offer a broad outlook of the context in which some discoveries or scientific inventions were made, what their application was like and the social consequences they produced.a few comments about the character, personality and attitudes of the actors involved are also included.