Curated OER
Hide and Survive: A Natural Selection Activity
Students explore the theory of natural selection given certain scenarios. In this biology lesson, students graph data taken from the experiment. They explain the factors that contribute to the survival of the fittest.
Curated OER
Scavenger Hunt: Simulating Natural Selection
Students simulate natural selection using pinto beans. In this biology lesson, students identify the factors affecting organism evolution. They record data from the experiment and formulate a conclusion.
Curated OER
Peppered Moth Simulation Activity
Students simulate peppered moth predators using SmartNotebook. For this life science lesson, students collect survival data and analyze results. They explain the importance of changes in species over time.
Curated OER
Biology: living Things and their Environment
Students recognize that organisms depend on other organisms. In this organism lesson, students understand symbiotic relationships and competition. Students explain food chains and food webs. Students understand that change is always...
Curated OER
Role of Cerci in Escape Responses of the Cockroach
Students investigate the changes in escape behavior in Madagascar Hissing Cockroahes when their sensory apparatus is removed. They use puffs of air at differnt angles to simulate a predator's approach then collect and analyze data on...
Curated OER
Skull Science
What can your class learn from a skull? With proper facilitation, they can learn about diet, physical adaptations, special differences, and even the environment. Pupils will examine a series of mammal skulls and pelts to help them...
Curated OER
The Environment and Interactions of Living Organisms
Students study the environment and interactions of living organisms. They identify abiotic and biotic factors and create a foldable and vocabulary cards. They create a poster illustrating soil and watch a video to study symbiosis.
Virginia Department of Education
A Salt Marsh Ecosystem
What a web we weave. Pupils use yarn as the primary resource to create a web depicting the intricacies of a salt marsh ecosystem. They participate in a question and answer session, which leads to an in-depth facilitated discussion about...
Curated OER
Native Species Restoration: Is Saving One Species Hurting Another?
Students investigate the effect of human activities upon the environment. The studying experience encourages students to think about the issues involved in native species restoration.
Virginia Department of Education
A Designed Organism
How can you encourage pupils to demonstrate creativity while still meeting the objective of applying technical knowledge? This activity is your answer! Scientists will create an imaginary creature and prepare a graphic organizer with...
Curated OER
Allele Frequencies and Sickle Cell Anemia Lab
Students investigate how selective forces like food, predation and diseases affect evolution. In this genetics lesson, students use red and white beans to simulate the effect of malaria on allele frequencies. They analyze data collected...
Curated OER
Oyster Morphs: Adaptations to the Environment
Students demonstrate how organisms adapt to their environment. They examine prey and predators, natural selection, and adaptations by representing oyster morph.
Curated OER
A Tail to Tell
Students observe populations of Lumbriculus to discover some of the adaptations that allow them to live successfully along the shores of ponds and marshes. They also design and perform experiments to test proposed hypotheses for these...
Curated OER
Why Care About Amphibian Population Decline and Malformations?
Students examine the reasons for preserving wildlife. They look at reasons for amphibian malformations and write an essay about the ethical issues that this brings up. They listen to the teacher read quotes about extinction and how the...
Curated OER
Why So Many Frogs?
Young scholars explain the different stages in the growth of a frog, then analyze and collect data to make generalizations about a larger population. They determine the survival rate of a population of tadpoles under controlled conditions.
Curated OER
Cougar or Human: Which Needs Protection?
Students research the biology and natural history of the cougar. Students conduct Internet research to determine how cougars have been protected by humans and how it is affected by human decisions. Students write about reconciling...
Curated OER
Experiment on Minimal Segment Size Regeneration of Lumbriculus variegatus
The experiment allows students to observe regeneration of tailless and headless worm segments into complete individuals. Data of a completed experiment are included as well as a student activity sheet.
Curated OER
Exploring Ecology
Students explore the basics of ecology through numerous hands-on and relevant activities. They participate in an online food chain demonstration, which explores food web dynamics. They dissect owl pellets, examine the prey's bones, and...
Curated OER
Lake Pepperidge Farm
Students calculate proportions to determine the total population of Lake Pepperidge Farm. They collect a blind sample of fish and count the number of tagged and untagged fish. They collect data from all samples and record the data in a...
Curated OER
My Favorite Meal
Students investigate ecological systems and the multiple uses of the environment by studying the osprey population.
Curated OER
Camouflage and Protective Coloration: A Model of Natural Selection
Students collect data and compare whether protective coloration or camouflage provides better biological fitness in a given environment. They simulate predator prey interactions of two different species and use gene frequencies to...
Curated OER
A Model for Natural Selection- Spaghetti Worms
Does the early bird really get the worm? If so, which color of worm does it prefer? In an exciting and easy week-long field investigation, young field biologists set up a one square meter feeding area for birds. If you have a webcam,...
Curated OER
Harmful Algal Blooms in Full Bloom
Students calculate the total percentage of samples from the data on the graphs. In this marine science lesson, students analyze the concentration levels over a period of time. They suggest ways to lessen the effect of these blooms.
Curated OER
Natural Selection
Students research examples of Natural Selection on a website provided by the teacher. They experiment in groups, different processes of Natural Selection and list them on a chart provided in this lesson plan