Students take on the role of an Ocean Adventures expedition volunteer member and are charged with protecting three species of sharks from danger in order to defend the balance of nature in the ecosystem. They play an online game which...

Students explore reasons for varied salinity in bodies of water. In this geographical inquiry instructional activity, students use a variety of visual and written information including maps, data tables, and graphs, to form a hypothesis...

Students examine their connection to local watersheds. They describe the water cycle and list species living in their local watershed. They also draw a map of their community.

Young scholars investigate a variety of animal behaviors, examine various modes of animal communication, and develop a catalog analyzing, interpreting, and reporting their results.

Students consider the limitations of deep water oceanography and design an underwater habitat to support scientists while they complete long term studies under the ocean. In this engineering lesson, students are introduced to the...

Students explore channelization, riparian habitats and soil erosion to find out about  the aquatic habitats in Iowa. For this aquatic habitats lesson, students define important terms and read an article about pollution. ...

Students participate in a lab experiment to observe and measure the opening and closing of stomata. They focus on photoperiod, locate and identify stomata on a leaf and explain the role of stomata in the daily functioning of a plant.

Students view animals that camouflage at the Shedd aquarium website. In this camouflage instructional activity, students recognize that there are different types of camouflage, cryptic coloring, counter-shading, warning coloration and...

Students investigate materials that emit light. In this deep ocean lesson, students compare and contrast materials that emit light under certain conditions and infer the light-producing process. They explain three ways this evidence is...

Students engage in a variety of activities that address the ethical issues surrounding the Love Canal case study.

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...

Young scholars research various types of owls.  In this owls instructional activity, students observe owls and discuss their characteristics.  Young scholars go to an owl habitat and listen for the call of an owl. Students read...

Students perform an experiment with different types of bird eggs to determine what factors make them strong and able to stay on a cliff without rolling off.

Youngsters create a list of grocery store items and then work together to categorize them as if they were setting up the shelves of the market. Then they are given a box of miscellaneous objects to practice categorizing. With these two...

students study bird migratory patterns and the methods that researchers use to study them. Students are introduced to the concepts of the study of bird movements.The skill of scientific questioning is used to find results.

Young geographers discover not only how to read and recognize coordinates on a map, but also gain a deeper understanding of latitude and longitude and how climate changes can vary significantly across latitudes.

As an introduction to the hypothesis and testing method of investigation, young history detectives engage in a special investigation of a family artifact. After watching a short video that demonstrates the method, they develop a...

In this early primate worksheet, students will read information about the fossil evidence of the earliest primates. Students will complete 3 short answer questions based on their reading.

Students identify animals within a species by using their observation skills to record information, such as behavioral characteristics.

Students study deep sea exploration and underwater geology, specifically hydrothermal sea vents. They create digital video projects of their own to demonstrate their knowledge, illustrating the discoveries of the explorers of the ocean's...

Students complete a worksheet while watching a film about whales. They examine the human impact on whale migration and identify adaptations the whale has acquired in able to survive. They discover how global warming has effected the...

The young scholars recall events from Dr. Seuss' story The Lorax and make connections to environmental issues affecting their lives. They are expected to reflect on the facts of the story and respond verbally stating the inferences they...

Students complete a worksheet while viewing a film about sharks. They examine the reasons for overfishing of the oceans. They identify predator-prey relationships as well.