Mildew Lesson Plans

Students make bracelets representing the cycles of life. They write short papers or draw pictures to explain the meaning of the term "life cycle." They devise their own research question available in the Farmer's Almanac. They create posters to illustrate the different life cycles, using the color designated to represent each cycle as the predominant color.

Students investigate ways to cool houses naturally by using trees.  In this housing lesson, students identify trees that have proper leaves to cool houses in a hot climate.  Students create an informational sheet for Habitat for Humanity home builders regarding ways to make homes more energy efficient by utilizing trees in the planning.

Students explore decomposition. Students define and describe  components of the decomposition process. Students make a composter in a terrarium. Students record observations and changes weekly, drawing conclusions about the results of decomposition.

Students explore cycles in nature. In this cross curriculum agriculture lesson, students define "cycle" and research weather and planting folklore. Students make a bracelet in which individual colored beads represent the many "cycles" of life, including people, water, plants, soil, day, night, air, and sun. Students participate in an experiment or website activity, read related text, or sing a song for each of these cycles. Background information for the teacher is included.

Students investigate the characteristics of the Fungus Kingdom. They collect a fungus sample and create a spore print, examine fungi under a microscope, read and discuss articles, and take a quiz.

Students choose a question from a given list and develop an investigation about it. In this biology activity, students analyze bacterial growth by carrying out a guided experiment. They present their findings in class.

Seventh graders identify how to use sterile techniques when identifying plant pathogens.  In this plant diseases activity students complete a lab activity in which they see how plant diseases are identified and classified.

Students identify various kinds of paints by using the scientific method.  In this solvents lesson students collect data and identify paint samples while working in teams.

Students define and discuss decomposition, and watch pumpkins decompose and return to soil in classroom experiment. Students record date experiment began, chart changes in pumpkins on calendar, count how many days it takes pumpkins to decompose, and interpret results of experiment in small groups. Students then discuss purpose and importance of composting and recycling.

Eighth graders examine words that contain vowel digraphs and complete a text comprehension activity. They read a list of words and sort them into vowel digraph patterns, then read a short story and mark up the text and write a short passage about something in their lives that was considered a "rite of passage."