Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: How Biodiverse Is Lake Superior? An Exercise in Proportions

For Teachers 9th - 10th
An exercise in critical thinking, as well as practice in percents, proportions, and probabilities. Students research to gather information, then use their math skills to perform calculations on the data.
Lesson Plan
PBS

Newton's Apple: Spotted Owls and Old Growth Forests

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This site from Newton's Apple, which is a production of KTCA Twin Cities Public Television, provides insights, vocabulary, resources and a main activity on the subject of why owls are threatened.
Article
American Institute of Biological Sciences

Action Bioscience: Lesson Directory

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Peer-edited, educator written science lessons on current bioscience issues. Each lesson correlates to a peer-reviewed article on that topic, and contains questions about the article and a variety of engaging activities for students.
Article
American Institute of Biological Sciences

Action Bioscience: Speciation and Biodiversity

For Students 9th - 10th
As many species are going extinct due to healthy habitats being destroyed humans are depleting the world of its natural resources. Understand the repercussions of environmental destruction on species and biodiversity through this interview.
Article
American Institute of Biological Sciences

Action Bioscience: The Threat to Biodiversity & What Can Be Done

For Students 9th - 10th
Invasive species such as zebra mussels are threatening the ecosystems they are overrunning. Meet some of the unwelcome intruders and find out what they're doing and how their actions can be curbed.
Article
American Institute of Biological Sciences

Action Bioscience: Evolutionary Biologists Protect Madagascar's Wildlife

For Students 9th - 10th
Madagascar is a haven for biodiversity and therefore admired and heavily researched by scientists. Check out how researchers are working to protect the environment of this African island.
Article
American Institute of Biological Sciences

Action Bioscience: The Future of Marine Fish Resources

For Students 9th - 10th
An article and supporting resources address the potential of fish populations significantly decreasing with overfishing, careless fishing, and pollution from nautical vessels and runoffs.
Article
American Institute of Biological Sciences

Action Bioscience: The Decline of North American Freshwater Fishes

For Students 9th - 10th
An article addressing the need of immediate action to repair damages of declining life in the ecosystems of North American inland bodies of water.
Article
American Institute of Biological Sciences

Action Bioscience: The Foja Mountains of Indonesia: Exploring the Lost World

For Students 9th - 10th
Explorers have been investigating an area of New Guinea, home of the Foja Mountains, for their unique biodiversity. The research took nearly 25 years and produced intriguing results. Take a look at the information learned and check out...
Article
American Institute of Biological Sciences

Action Bioscience: Biopiracy: The Legal Perspective

For Students 9th - 10th
Many nations are home to unique materials that scientists use for research towards medicine, food, other types of sustainability. Historically, researchers used to be able to freely pull biologic material from other nations and bring...
Article
American Institute of Biological Sciences

Action Bioscience: Searching for Nature's Medicines

For Students 9th - 10th
With awareness we can protect biodiversity so as to allow nature to provide us with medicines, medical research, and knowledge that living things depend upon other living things.
eBook
Estrella Mountain Community College

Online Biology Book: Biological Diversity: Seed Plants

For Students 9th - 10th
An in-depth reference explaining the role of seed plants in biological diversity. Photographs and labeled diagrams help learners with understanding.
Handout
Estrella Mountain Community College

Online Biology Book: Biological Diversity: Fungi

For Students 9th - 10th
Find out about the kingdom of fungi. See full-color diagrams and microscopic photographs as you learn about the classification of this group of organisms.
eBook
Estrella Mountain Community College

Online Biology Book: Biological Diversity: Classification

For Students 9th - 10th
Explore the classification of living things in this online, college-level textbook. Learn about taxonomy and its history through diagrams and descriptive information.
Activity
Cynthia J. O'Hora

Mrs. O's House: Biodiversity Exploration Investigation

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
A scientific task sending students into the great outdoors to discover a plant they do not know and record observations of that new plant.
Website
Other

Bio Ethics Education Project (Beep): Environmental Ethics

For Students 9th - 10th
The tutorial examines environmental ethics. Topics investigated are biodiversity, pollution, climate change, and conservation. The resource consists of articles, a video, and activities.
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: Why Are There So Many Types of Apples?

For Students 9th - 10th
Have you ever walked into a grocery store and wondered where all the varieties of apples came from? Theresa Doud describes the ins and outs of breeding apples. [4:28]
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: The Otherworldly Creatures in the Ocean's Deepest Depths

For Students 9th - 10th
Although the deep ocean zone seems like an inhospitable and remote corner of the planet, it is actually one of the greatest habitats on Earth. Lidia Lins explores how so many species thrive in this mysterious underwater world. [5:02]
Interactive
PBS

Pbs Kids: Plum Landing: Rocky Mountain Roundup

For Students 1st - 4th
Players head out to the Canadian Rockies to explore a mountain ecosystem. In this photo safari, players earn points by taking pictures of specific plants and animals.
Interactive
PBS

Pbs Kids: Plum Landing: Outdoor Adventures

For Students Pre-K - 1st
This collection of activities encourages kids to get outdoors and connect with nature. After completing the activities, kids draw, write, and answer questions about what they discovered and share that information with Plum.
Interactive
PBS

Pbs Kids: Nature Sketchpad: Nature Sketchpad

For Students 1st - 5th
This digital drawing activity lets students follow a variety of missions to create their own artwork.
Interactive
PBS

Pbs Kids: Plum Landing: Jungle Rangers

For Students K - 1st
Players head out to Borneo to explore the rainforest in this photo safari. Earn points by following clues to take pictures of specific plants and animals.
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs: The Living Edens Madagascar

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Informative site that includes information about the land of Madagascar as well as the animals that inhabit it. Accompanies a PBS video, but you do not necessarily need the video to check out the site. Includes lesson plans as well as a...
Website
National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, University of California Santa Barbara

Kids Do Ecology: Endangered Species and Conservation Biology

For Students 3rd - 8th
Find out about conservation biology as it relates to endangered and threatened species. Learn about the factors contributing to the loss of species and what efforts have helped bring some animals back form the brink of extinction.