National Park Service
Living & Non-Living Interactions
What better way to learn about ecosystems than by getting outside and observing them first hand? Accompanying a field trip to a local park or outdoor space, this series of collaborative activities engages children in learning about the...
ReadWriteThink
Webcams in the Classroom: Animal Inquiry and Observation
Boost observational skills with an inquiry-based lesson that takes scholars on a virtual field trip. With help from webcams, learners observe animals in a zoo or aquarium. Observations go into a journal and a discussion is held to review...
Curated OER
Get to Know a Fish
Students discover the anatomy of a fish by identifying its body parts. For this oceanography lesson, students view a live fish in their classroom and draw a poster of the fish one body part at a time while identifying it. Students...
Curated OER
Where are all the Animals?
Students view animals that camouflage at the Shedd aquarium website. In this camouflage lesson, students recognize that there are different types of camouflage, cryptic coloring, counter-shading, warning coloration and mimicry. Students...
Curated OER
Let's Learn about Fish
Students explore fish. In this aquatic life science lesson plan, students complete a KWL chart about fish, listen to What's it Like to be a Fish?, and observe a classroom aquarium or take a trip to a local aquarium. Students complete an...
Curated OER
Water Properties of the Great Salt Lake
Fourth graders examine the ecosystem of the Great Salt Lake in this two-part instructional activity, completing a KWL chart before and after the field trip to the site. While there, they draw and write about their observations. To test...
Curated OER
Water Wonders
Students explore hydrology concepts. In this environment and biology instructional activity, students identify and describe macroinvertebrates using a variety of pictures and resources. Students observe and write about a classroom...
Curated OER
A Rainbow Under the Sea: How do Animals Survive in the Ocean?
Second graders read books, watch videos, complete worksheets and participate in class discussions about ocean animals. They, in groups, design PowerPoint presentations on selected marine animals.