Curated OER
Where Do Plants Get Their Food?
Plants need food to survive, just like any other living organism. Young biologists analyze an experiment performed in 1610 by Jan van Helmont to determine if plant nutrition is obtained through the soil. First, lab groups work together...
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Seed Types
Students dissect seeds. In this seed dissection instructional activity, students discover the anatomy of seeds. After dissecting seeds, students hypothesize and design the perfect seed to survive in a dry forest.
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Seed Germination Experiments
Students plant seeds. In this seed germination experiment, students conduct an experiment where seeds can be observed and their growth documented. Students can also view a virtual web germination to record data. This lesson includes an...
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Seed Dispersal
Students determine seed dispersal methods. In this life science lesson, students make predictions about how seeds might move, then look at seeds under micrographs or microscopes to analyze the seed coat and how this helps dispersal. ...
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Examining Seeds
Middle schoolers explore botany by conducting an investigation in class. In this seeds lesson, students utilize lima bean seeds and magnifying glasses to examine the different parts of a seed after it has been dissected. Middle schoolers...
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Pollination of Flowers by Moths
Turn your classroom into a pollination station as your kids transform into moths or predators trying to survive and aiding in plant reproduction along the way. Using silent party blowers as proboscises, the moths will have two minutes to...
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From Genes to Jeans
This unit of lessons is designed for 7th through 9th graders. They are introduced to the world of agriculture and the genetic research and various technologies that are associated with agriculture. Pupils work together to come up with a...
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Water, Water, Everywhere and Always on the Move
Students create their own water cycle in a terrarium. In this water cycle lesson, students research the water cycle and complete a worksheet using the Internet. They create a water cycle of their own in a jar with stones, sand, soil, and...
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Plant Reproduction
Students plant seeds in order to investigate and explore the questions: "How do seed companies develop varieties of plants?" and "What is the ideal plant?" Students will study related vocabulary and sketch seeds as they emerge. Students...
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Owls: Top of a Food Chain
Although written for middle schoolers, there is no reason that a 3rd, 4th, or 5th grader could not also learn about food chains through the dissection of owl pellets. After you introduce the topic, learners complete an owl research...
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A Priceless Collection
Learners read about and discuss life of Russian geneticist Nikolai Vavilov, define terms related to field of genetics, complete worksheets, conduct seed experiments, observe and record results, and locate seed banks on world map or globe.
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Dichotomous Key for Identifying Pine Trees
Learners identify the species of pine trees that are found in their area. They use unlabeled "mystery" samples and a dichotomous key to identify the pine trees to species. After identification, they use a field guide to answer worksheet...
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A GROWING MARKET
Learners reasearch and grow a plant and present findings. They are told that bedding plant is the name for young plants grown. Students choose one plant to research and they use their worksheet to create an information sheet explaining...
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A TOUGH NUT TO CRACK
Based on a set of criteria, pupils will evaluate the quality of pecans.1. Bring a gram scale and papershell pecans. Provide five pecans for each student. 2. Divide the class into groups of five and provide each member with five pecans....
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Plant And Animal Cells
Students identify parts of plant and animal cells and describe the functions of each part. They distinguish between plant and animal cells. After a lecture/demo, students perform experiments which help them construct models of plant and...
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Tree Identification/Tree Art
Seventh graders identify and examine a deciduous and coniferous tree. Using the descriptions, they discover the types of tress in their local area. As a class, they practice identifying trees on a walk in a park collecting leaves. They...