Third graders recognize and examine ecosystems. They observe and describe habitats within ecosystems and observe and identify organisms with similar needs that compete for resources.

Students investigate the interdependencies of plants and animals, and study what a food web is. They create a food web using yarn and images.

Students explore how books are sorted in a library. In this sorting lesson, students play a game where they have to fill the shelves with books that share a common theme. Students compare this game to a real library. Students discuss how...

Young scholars examine how he world eats breakfast. In this food choices lesson, students work in groups to list breakfast foods and their ingredients and find goods and consumers on the list. The, young scholars use the Internet to...

Students wash cinnamon off of their hands in a variety of ways to learn proper ways to disinfect. In this washing hands lesson plan, students use water, soap, cooking spray, and other ingredients to wash hands and talk about the results.

Learners consider why we eat and where our food obtains its energy. They illustrate food chains that might be found on an open field, dissect owl pellets, identify the remains of animals in the pellets, watch videos and participate in...

Students examine oil reliance in Britain and around the world. In this oil crisis lesson, students discuss how oil is produced and consider the supply left in the world. Students also examine the influences of oil prices and discover the...

In this food chain worksheet, students write in the steps that show how energy flows through a food chain, from producers to consumers. This worksheet is a graphic organizer.

Learners practice reading comprehension by reading a book in class.  In this story map lesson, students read The Bee Tree by Patricia Polacco, and create a story map based on the problem and solution of the book.  Learners...

Students explore the environment by researching mining. In this ecological dangers lesson, students define cyanide and discuss why it has potential to be a great threat to our environment during mining expeditions. Students examine many...

Students discuss energy. In this energy challenges lesson, students read about greenhouse gas emissions and global climate change. Comprehension questions from the reading are provided. 

Students set up their own composting bin. They observe and record their findings during a period of time. They describe the decomposing process as well.

Students explore the elements of a forest ecosystem. They examine the elements needed to form a forest food web. Students construct and describe food webs that include nonliving elements of the ecosystem.

Students discuss as a class the need for a healthy diet. They bring in a food product and analyze the nutrition label. Using the labels, they complete a worksheet and chart the nutrients found in beef. They use a scale to see how...

Students observe a composting box. In this soil instructional activity, students create a composting bin by using a bin, newspaper, worms, and food scraps. Students create a composting food web.

Students use a software program to create a food web. Using the web, they identify the path of energy using arrows and label organisms as either producers or consumers. They show and explain their food web to the class.

Learners use the EcoKids web site to explore food chains and the associated terminology. They answer the questions about food chains and their importance. Students use the Kidspiration program to add information to an Animal Fact Web.

Third graders identify features of producers, herbivores and carnivores. They discuss the features that aid in survival for those animals. They organize animals into categories to complete the lesson plan.

Students examine the interconnectedness of living and non-living things that constitute an ecosystem. They examine fallen trees,insects, living trees, leaves, food webs, and forests. They conduct various activities and write poems about...

Third graders use research from a previous lesson plan to design their own inventions. In groups, they brainstorm a product they would like to see built and share them with the class. They must explain how each one would serve a purpose...

Students perform an activity in which they discover what happens when food chains overlap in an ecosystem and discover the three components of a food web.

Students study ponds and wetland ecosystems and examine the food chains and webs in them.  For this aquatic ecosystems lesson students answer questions about the diversity of the flora and fauna in a pond. 

Third graders research ecosystems, the work of ecologists, John Muir's contribution to the environment and an endangered species of their choice. They read books, participate in discussions, and write reports.

Students identify potato chips as a consumer product and investigate what processes are needed to make the chips. They investigate where the potatoes are grown and harvested before being made into chips at a processing plant. They make a...