Cornell University
Beneficial Insects
A lot of people think of insects as pests. But actually, some insects are beneficial because they get rid of pests! After learning about beneficial insects, class members research given insects to find out if they are pests or predators.
Curated OER
Food Pesticides and Their Risks to Children
Students examine an industrial disaster in India which affected the food for generations to come. In groups, they research the history of pesticides and place them into groups based on the type of pests they control. They partcipate in...
Curated OER
Natural Gardening
Students study the effect of pesticides on plants and insects. In this gardening instructional activity, students discuss the importance of insects. They define pesticides, evaluate their effectiveness and the problems they might...
Curated OER
Environment: Insects and Pesticides
Students classify bugs as pest or non-pests and identify ways to control them. They also examine the three levels of pesticides by reading the labels. Students complete charts of signal words on pesticide labels.
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Weeds on the Windowsill
Students study farming and reasons to control weeds. They examine pesticides necessary for the control of weeds and the damage to the environment. Through experimentation, students plant seeds in different soils and determine if seeds...
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Honey Bees!
Students research and complete two assignments about honeybees. Students draw and color a picture of a flower with a honeybee inside of it. Students write a letter to the executives at Ridit Pest Control persuading them to stop the...
Curated OER
Buggy Diner
Students observe different insects and the different kinds of foods they like to eat. In this insects lesson plan, the teacher collects insects and different plants and roots. Then the students learn about those insects and have to be...
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WEEDS ON THE WINDOWSILL
Discuss the suffix "cide." Have students name words having this suffix (homicide, suicide, genocide). Ask students what all these words have in common. Then ask students to define the word "pesticide." (Pesticides control organisms that...
Curated OER
Scavenger Hunt Worksheet
Exactly how environmentally friendly is your school? From the air fresheners in the bathrooms to the cleaning solvents used in the classrooms, young conservationists search the school grounds for sources of air pollution in...
Prince William Network
The Incredible Journey
Divide your school gym into breeding grounds and non-breeding grounds so that your zoologists can play a game simulating the seasonal migration of shorebirds. Players pick one of the included game cards and follow its directions, which...
National Wildlife Federation
Habitat Web
Young scientists weave together an understanding of ecosystems with this fun collaborative activity. Taking on the roles of different living and non-living elements of specific habitats, learners use a ball of yarn to create the web of...
Curated OER
What's Organic?
Young scholars discuss background information presented by the teacher and read dictionary definitions for the words "organic" and "synthetic." In this gardengin lesson, students complete a worksheet on the material. Young scholars grow...
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Creating a Pollinator Garden
Learners build a pollination garden. In this pollination lesson, students read directions and build a pollinator garden that will produce flowering plants for pollinator organisms to use in pollination of other plants.
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Environmental Health Hazards and Children
Students are introduced to the environmental hazards their community is facing. In groups, they develop a list of the ways humans have changed the Earth and how these changes have lead to environmental hazards. They record their...
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Blue birds Project
Students examine the eastern bluebird and acquire knowledge regarding their species and their struggle for survival. In this blue bird project lesson, students explore the blue birds' habitat and discover how they are excellent...
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Arthropod Data Collection
Young scholars describe the life cycle of various bugs as well as their predators and feeding habits. The class participates in a discussion of the various methods scientists use to gather data including research and experiment. After...
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Pyramid of Biomass
Learners interpret data to demonstrate biomass and number pyramids. They use information to draw conclusions and examine an example of biological magnification.
Curated OER
What's Organic?
Students define and discuss terms organic and synthetic, read article pertaining to organic agricultural practices in Oklahoma, complete worksheet, grow plants using both commercial and organic fertilizer, compare growth rates, and chart...
Curated OER
Ecology: Why Are Rice Fields Suitable Habitats for Birds?
Fifth graders discover the uses for rice by reading about the habitats of certain birds. In this agriculture lesson plan, 5th graders research birds from the Gulf Coast and California and their reasons for living in rice fields....