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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Do Plants and Animals Change the Environment Around Them?

For Teachers 7th - 12th
If you have elodea and snails in your classroom aquarium, or if you have access to a pond with these organisms, your young biologists can set up a controlled experiment to determine how certain ecosystems respond in light and dark...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reading the River

For Teachers 5th - 8th
In collaborative groups, young ecologists measure the temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen for three different freshwater samples. They examine each sample with a microscope and record observations on the microorganisms in the pond...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Week 3: Pollution Source and Effects

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Lab groups set up an experiment to observe what happens over time in collected pond water when fertilizer, representing pollution, is added. This website does not include student lab sheets, but background information, materials, and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Peek at the Chesapeake!

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Students research organisms that live in the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. In this science lesson, students choose an organism and research how it is affected by humans. Students create a presentation of their findings.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Inquiry-based Investigations into Pond Water Microorganisms

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students become familiar with common microorganisms and experience exploring the microbial world.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Nature and Fintess Trail

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers investigate how humans impact the environment and compile an organism database into an e-book field guide. They name muscle groups and develop specific exercises to strengthen these groups. Students utilize technology for...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Effects of Agricultural Fertilizer Runoff Upon Aquatic Ecosystems

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students measure the toxic levels of runoff and discuss the effects it would have on the aquatic system. In this runoff lesson plan, students answer questions to how runoff would affect the animals in an aquatic system.
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Lesson Plan
UAF Geophysical Institute

System Interactions: The Lorax and the Truffula Tree

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
If the Lorax were to write a letter, what would he write? Introduce your class to systems and feedback loops through the whimsical stylings of Dr. Seuss. Learners take on the Lorax's point of view to write a letter, among other activities.
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Website
American Museum of Natural History

Ask a Scientist About Our Environment

For Students 6th - 12th
Scientists respond to 26 question posed by learners. These experts answer in easy to understand language, include photos to illustrate the issue, offer suggestions for how young people can make a difference, and supply links to resources...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Precious Water: Is it a Need, a Right, or a Commodity?

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars determine whether water is a need, a right, or a commodity. In this water lesson, students investigate land and water ecosystems through activities. Young scholars also discover water as a resource and energy source as...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Determination of Overall Water Quality Using a Quantitative Macroinvertebrate Survey

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine water samples from a local stream. They identify various types of macroinvertebrates found in that water ecosystem and perform a quantitative macroinvertebrate survey to determine the stream's water quality.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Do Populations Grow?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine how populations grow and how invasive species can affect the balance of ecosystems. They simulate the growth of lily pads, analyze and record the data, and simulate the results of an invasive species on an ecosystem.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fishing

For Teachers K - Higher Ed
Students explore the techniques and basic needs of the fisherman.  For this fishing lesson, students view a demonstration of the use of fishing equipment. Students research Iowa farm ponds and design a class mural from their...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Animals Finding Rice Paddies

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine the animals who live in rice paddies and create a chart.  In this rice lesson, 4th graders link the types of animals living in each ecosystem with a bar graph. Students use colored bars to show animals that live in...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bat Ecology

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students, through hands on games and activities, discover how bats live and how bats benefit ecosystems. They play a game designed to show them how echolocation works and another to show how mother bats locate their young through their...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mini-Ecosystems

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students use plastic bottles to create terrariums and plant Venus Flytraps. They observe the plants and the terrariums for illustrations of the water cycle and species' adaptations to a specific environment.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Aquatic Investigations

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders investigate pond organisms, plant life, water temperatures, and changes that occur during the four seasons. They design scavenger hunts with the information collected about pond life. They read about the geology of the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Tale of Two Wetlands

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students observe 2 separate wetlands (following downloadable worksheets) and record 10 similarities and 10 differences between them. Then they present their recommendations to the class who roleplay the government's wetland conservation...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Effects of Water Pollution on Aquatic Organisms

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students investigate water pollution. They develop an understanding of the behavior of organisms, of the structure and properties of matter, and of natural and human induced hazards by conducting lab tests. They present their data...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Habitats"

For Teachers K - 5th
Young scholars complete a unit of lessons on animals and animal conservation. They observe a square meter of ground outside the school, set up a model environment, analyze an owl pellet, grow bread mold, and explore various websites.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Does a change in pH affect the growth and survival rate of aquatic plants?

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students determine if changes in pH affect the growth and survival rates of aquatic plants. They evaluate the optimal pH levels for the growth of aquatic plants.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Beaver Ecology

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Students explore the lives of bgeahvers. They identify the physical and behavioral adaptations that help beavers survive in their environment. Students compare and contrast how beavers influence the ecology of both forest and aquatic...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Does the increased use of fertilizers effect biodiversity?

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students conduct a hands-on lab activity in which they analyze a sample of water from a local stream or pond. They introduce a fertilizer solution into the sample and analyze and describe their findings.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

My Biotic Creation

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explore different ecosystems.  In this ecosystem survival lesson conditions lesson students create their own fictional creature.

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