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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Insect Camouflage

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students investigate insect camouflage and mimicry. In this animal science lesson, students discuss how camouflage helps an insect survive. Additionally, students use the included template to color and cut illustrations of insects....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Predicting the Future

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students examine how scientists predict the effects of global climate change. In this environmental science lesson, students participate in a discussion about using computer generated data to create climate predictions. Students examine...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Campfire Conversation

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students examine point of view as it relates to public issues.  In this point of view instructional activity, students become familiar with the point of view of John Muir and Theodore Roosevelt about the wilderness. Students debate if...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Images of the Parks

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students explore U.S. geography by completing a research project about the National Parks. In this scenery image analysis lesson, students identify the different national parks in our country and observe paintings and images by famous...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Animal Adaptations

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students focus on the pelts of fur-bearing animals native to Iowa to discover their different adaptations.  In this animal adaptation lesson, students work in groups and examine various pelts to find information about the animals habitat...
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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 plan, students view a demonstration of the use of fishing equipment. Students research Iowa farm ponds and design a class mural from their...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Habitat Sunprints

For Teachers K - 8th
Students recognize various habitats and where they are found.  In this habitat sunprints lesson, students observe the contents of habitats and record what the sunprint might represent.  Students use blueprint paper and small natural...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stream Table

For Teachers 3rd - Higher Ed
Young scholars 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.  Young...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wetland in a Pan

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders build a watershed from various materials. In this life science lesson plan, the students will be able to change the design of their watershed to see the changes in the way the water will drain. Each group will be able to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Game of Life

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Young scholars explore the game of life which refers to what happens to a species when most of the population is gone.  In this endangered species activity, students describe what it means for a marine animal to be endangered. Young...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

SPLASH – Monitoring Humpback Whales

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students view a video about the humpback whale and why it is endangered. In this endangered species instructional activity, students recognize the importance of observing and following an endangered species in an ecosystem. Students...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Climate Change & Coral Activities

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students study how the ocean stabilizes our planet's climates and how global warming is becoming a threat to this fine balance.  In this climate change lesson, students identify that fossil fuel emissions are responsible for global...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Terrestrial Hi-Lo Hunt

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Students assess environmental factors. In this environmental factors lesson, students explore their surroundings identifying warm and cool spots, dry and wet areas, and determining the warmest and coolest areas. Students analyze their...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hold It

For Teachers 1st - 8th
Students explore animal characteristics by examining water currents in person. In this animal strength lesson, students discuss tides and currents and attend a field trip in which they are in contact with flowing water. Students create a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wolves At Our Door

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate the wolf. In this animal adaptation instructional activity, students examine the social characteristics of the wolf. They discuss the role of human intervention in reestablishing the wolf population.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creatures of the Skies

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students create a bird identification game. In this classification lesson, students work in pairs to collect information about a specific bird. They use a bird field guide to aid in the research. They challenge other students in their...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Antarctica: Effects of Salinity on Icebergs

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate the effects of salinity on icebergs. In this hands on lesson, students design and conduct an investigation into how the amount of salt in ice affects its buoyancy.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Blue Planet: Tidal Seas

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate how tides affect sea life. In this video based lesson, students view a video on how tides affect sea life. They do web-based research to find the answers to a series of questions and then play Tidal Trivia to test...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Natural Forces

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students assess the damage natural forces have caused Maryland's geographic features. In this state geography and ecology lesson, students work in a group to research ways in which weathering, erosion, and deposition have affected the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dinosaur Detectives

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers write a report about a paleontologist. For this paleontology lesson, students research and write a report about a noted paleontologist. They discuss the importance of technology to paleontologists and how paleontologist...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mesozoic Murals

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students create a mural of one of the Mesozoic Periods. In this geologic timeline activity, students will research the plants and animals that lived in the Mesozoic Era in order to create a mural to scale that represents one of the three...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hazardous Chemicals? Not in my Water!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students reflect on the effects of their actions on the environment. In this community service activity, students investigate the hazardous quality of products within their homes. Student educate their families and communities about the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Saving the Sandhill Cranes

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore environmental awareness by participating in movie making. In this endangered species lesson, students discuss the problems dealing with sandhill cranes at a nearby beach and the impact our environment is having on them....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Managing Ecosystems

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students take a closer look at managing ecosystems in Britain. In this geography skills lesson, students determine how applying climax vegetation theories to the Salisbury Plain have helped or hindered the area.