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Lesson Plan
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Montana State University

Everest Extremes: Biodiversity

For Teachers 4th - 8th Standards
How many animals can live in a climate as cold as Mount Everest's? Find out with a science instructional activity all about biodiversity. Activities include research, presentations, group work, coloring maps, and a simulation of a food web.
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Lesson Plan
Serendip

Evolution of Fur Color in Mice – Mutation, Environment and Natural Selection

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Most species of animals include a variety of fur or hair color, but why? Scholars watch a video about a changing environment for mice. As the rocks around them change hues, different colors of mice begin to thrive. Discussion questions...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Eco-Logical: A Coastal Logic Problem

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders study the characteristics of five coastal communities. They use logic cards and matching activities to identify the proper community for plant and animal species.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Field Guide to Schoolyard Insects and Their Relatives

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Your entire class works together to create an illustrated insect field guide. The intent is that they venture outside of the classroom, find a critter, and then research it using reference materials, insect books, and the Internet for...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Puffin Patrol

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Bird diversity and the majestic puffin are the topics of today's lesson. Children discuss and look at images of puffins, and then they use felt to put a puffin body together. After that they talk about what and how puffins eat. They get...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Why Do Some Birds Have Two Homes When We Have One?

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders study migratory birds in the temperate forest and the tropical rainforest. In this migratory birds lesson, 6th graders participate in different activities that explain patterns  of migration, research patterns of movement...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Asexual versus Sexual Reproduction

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars explore reproduction. They research organisms and groups of organisms to determine whether they reproduce sexually or asexually. In addition, they determine the organism's habitat.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Freshwater Habitats

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students take samples from local freshwater sources and examine them for macroinvertebrate life. They take samples from both shallow and deep freshwater environments, measure temperatures, and classify organisms found in their samples.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Meet One Picky Bird

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students complete a research project  In this endangered species lesson, students use the "Think, Puzzle, Explore" method to learn about endangered species. Students research and write a report on the red-cockaded woodpecker.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Resource Engineering

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Young scholars examine solubility and the significance of water.  In this aqueous solution lesson students complete a lab activity on soil profiles.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Queen's Empire

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students conduct Internet research on a variety of ant species and their habitats. They have an opportunity to observe ants in their environment. Areas of interest might include ant identification, colony life, the ant life cycle, and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Dirt on Worms!

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders make predictions, observe, collect and record data. They investigate several soil and worm websites. Finally, 4th graders write a letter to The President which defends earthworms by explaining their value to the United...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Nasonia Genetics-A Jewel of a Wasp

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers investigate the inheritance pattern of eye color in Nasonia wasps. In this genetics and inheritance lesson plan, students read about the life cycle of Nasonia wasps and hypothesize about the possibilities of eye color...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Are You an Ant?

For Teachers Pre-K - K
Students investigate different insects in their backyard. In this insect lesson, students read the book Are You and Ant? and apply the reading to their backyards. Students create a list of animals that begin with the the letter A an make...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Saved by a Shark

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the marine ecosystem and the importance of sharks. In this shark lesson, students look at photos of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary and discuss the animals that live there. They discuss which animals...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Global Warming

For Teachers 1st
First graders discover the effects of global warming on polar bears. In this life science instructional activity, 1st graders model the polar bear's habitat and observe what happens as they raise the temperature. They record their...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Marine Life Protected Areas in the O.C.

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research a Marine Protected Area and determine the species' that benefit from its protection.  In this marine lesson students present their findings to the class using PowerPoint.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Kids Conserve? Water Preserved

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students study conservation and how cities obtain their water.  In this water lesson plan students view a PowerPoint presentation and draw a picture of the water cycle.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Does Evolution Work?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners pretend they are a scientist like John Endler in this Web activity. They visit his pools, from hypotheses, and test them out. In the process, the explore about natural selection and sexual selection. They are able to explain the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ape Cave Exploration

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students simulate online the formation of Ape Cave, in order to better explain its construction. They observe, illustrate and discuss geological features of this lava tube.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Rain Forest

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Pupils explain the basics of the tropical rain forest ecosystem. They list the four general layers of vegetation found in the tropical rain forest.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Predator-Prey Relationships

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students explore the interrelatedness of predators and prey in four different activities. They simulate an aquatic insect, fish, and osprey food chain during a poker chip game, play an M&M game to simulate the relationship between...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Predators Among Us

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students study environmental science. In this ecosystems lesson, students discover how humans have an impact on life in the coral reef. They watch video clips and work on small group activities. This lesson includes links to the videos...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Create Your Own Animal

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Learners design and create their own hypothetical animal. In this biology instructional activity, students identify the factors organisms need to survive. They classify their animals according to its correct phylum.