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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Marine Objects

For Teachers 1st - 7th
Students identify the sources of water on Earth. In this life science lesson, students list the different plants and animals that live in the ocean. They explore marine objects in the lab and draw them.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Look At Penguin Life

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Young scholars read a story about Penguin Life and answer vocabulary and comprehension questions about it. In this penguin life lesson plan, students respond to literature by researching penguins and creating a Venn diagram to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pond Exploration

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students take a hands-on approach to explore the world beneath the water in this activity. They examine the creatures they catch to study about the adaptations these animals have that allow them to survive in this harsh environment. They...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life in a Cup

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders make and maintain a mini terrarium. They keep a daily journal of what happens in their terrarium and record daily observations and measurements.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making Predictions

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders develop predictions in preparation for a "Bucket Buddies" pond water project. They listen to the book "The Pond" and discuss the different life forms in the pond from the book. Students then read online poems, and draw a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Martian Earth Tours

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students study a variety of global wetland habitats, their similarities and differences. They examine the variety of life that such wetlands support and determine that many animals and plants are adapted to life in wetlands, that...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The City From the Ooze

For Teachers K - 9th
Students investigate the life in the mud found around ponds. They create Ooze City using pond mud. Students investigate the various layers that form and what type of organisms are in the mud.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Terrariums: A Look at the Living and Nonliving World

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders examine life in a terrarium and relate it to life in a larger environment. In this terrarium lesson, 3rd graders examine how living and non-living things work together by examining the changes in a terrarium. They make...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pond 1: Pond Life

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners work together to investigate familiar and unfamiliar ecosystems. Using the internet, they discover how different organisms use their environment to satisfy their needs. They also examine the relationshiops between organisms...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Local Habitats

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students create dioramas that depict a habitat. In this habitat lesson, students use a variety of art items to develop either a marine, freshwater/pond, or forest habitat in a box. They write an expository essay about their habitat, and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cell Study

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Learners (females) are introduced to the cell. They discuss what a cell is, and students define what a cell is. Learners comprehend that all living things are made up of cells. They comprehend that life is defined as something that...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Froggy Page

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students investigate the cycle of life by observing tadpoles.  In this biology lesson, students utilize the Internet to read stories, observe pictures, and listen to sounds of frogs.  Students create a poster board collage using frog...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Homer T. Cat, Poem

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students read a poem about a cat. Students discuss how cats behave and examine Homer's life in his environment.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stream Scanners

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students investigate quality of water in a stream, lake, or pond by examining chemical, physical, and biological characteristics.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecosystems

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders identify and define an Ecosystem and the basic needs of all animals. They collect pond water in a pickle jar. They observe the organisms that are in the jar to keep an ongoing record of the creatures and their population.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigating Animals in Water

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Students observe small animal activity. They identify local water animals and describe the habitats where water animals can be found. Students collect samples to observe in the classroom.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Aquatic Ecosystems

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students study ponds and wetland ecosystems and examine the food chains and webs in them.  In this aquatic ecosystems lesson students answer questions about the diversity of the flora and fauna in a pond. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Food Chain

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders role-play various organisms from a food chain to illustrate how a food chain works. In relay style, 3rd graders fill their cups (stomachs) and, in turn, fill a larger organism's cup (stomach) to visualize the importance of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Burnaby Lake Field Trip

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students identify different organisms found in the lake ecosystem. In this life science instructional activity, students discover the predator-prey relationship through a game. They explain how beavers adapt to the environment over time.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fishing

For Teachers K - Higher Ed
Students explore the techniques and basic needs of the fisherman.  In 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 information. ...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stream Table

For Teachers 3rd - Higher Ed
Students explore channelization, riparian habitats and soil erosion to find out about  the aquatic habitats in Iowa. In this aquatic habitats lesson, students define important terms and read an article about pollution.  Students complete...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cell Structure and Function

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students discuss scientific advances brought about by the Mars Surveyor Space Program which impact on daily life, identify laboratory apparatus like microscopes, slides and coverslips, and use the microscopes to view cells and organisms.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Food Chain

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore why food chains are important. In this food chain lesson plan, 3rd graders break into small groups to represent parts of the food chain. Different amounts of food are given to each group and any spilled food will be...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Wonders

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students explore hydrology concepts. For this environment and biology lesson, students identify and describe macroinvertebrates using a variety of pictures and resources. Students observe and write about a classroom aquarium in which...