Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecology

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Learners explore, experience and experiment identifying the human impact on the environment of vegetative differences within the same biome. They assess what causes deserts, rain forests, savannahs, tundras and saguaros and how these...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring the Beach

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students explore the beach. In this marine habitat lesson, students inspect sand grains, design beach profiles, classify marine life, and examine natural beach habitats. Students use spreadsheets to record data from their activities at a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Forestry and Forestry Products

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
High school and college learners identify forestry career opportunities. They identify the parts of a tree cross-section and trees based on their leaves and characteristics. Pupils calculate board feet and explain safe methods of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creating a Dichotomous Key for Amphibians

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students are introduced to the purpose of dichotomous keys and create one together as a class. In groups, they use a digital atlas to examine the different types of amphibians in Idaho. Using this information, they make their own...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Invasive Mussels

For Students 6th - 10th
In this ecology worksheet, students study a fact sheet on invasive mussels. They answer 8 short answer questions about it after reading the provided information.
Lesson Plan
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Soil pH & Plants

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the pH of the soil in which different plants grow. They design and carry out an experiment to determine the factors that affect the growth of a population of plants, identifying and controlling major variables...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Establishing a Baseline Ecology of a Creek Ecosystem

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the physical, chemical and biological parameters necessary to establish an ecological baseline. Establishing an ecological baseline not only shows the ecological characteristics of a creek but makes the possible...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Discover a Pond Food Web

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students study the biodiversity of animal life in a pond. They investigate the interdependence between pond organisms by completing a pond dipping activity and completing a checklist.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Does the Introduction of Pesticides and Fertilizers Alter an Aquatic Ecosystem?

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Young scholars conduct an experiment using a small sample from a local water source. They introduce fertilizers and pesticides, separately, and carefully examine the results in their simulated aquatic ecosystem.
Lesson Plan
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Ocean Life

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the fossil remains of ancient sea creatures. They create casts of fossils and identify how sea fossils are formed and consider what type of information fossils can give to scientists.
Lesson Plan
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Jewel of the Earth

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students investigate several organisms, set sticky traps to collect them, and attempt to identify and classify them using a variety of sources. The origins of the organisms are traced and their adaptive features examined.
Lesson Plan
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A Whale Of A Study

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students get some training as a whale biologist, and study about the kinds of things these researchers do and see over the next four months in their study of humpback whales. Some excellent websites are imbedded in this plan.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Digital Wildflower Collection

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine biodiversity and classify organisms.  In this wildflower activity students go out and take pictures of plants then create a presentation to show the class. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tree Leaves: Determining the Characteristics They Share in Common

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Pupils use their basic knowledge of dendrology concepts and terms.  In this tree leaf lesson students divide into groups and determine which characteristics go with what plant. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Critter Characteristics

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Young scholars explore the adaptations of deep sea life forms.  In this science lesson, students watch a video to observe characteristics which allow for the sea creature to thrive in it's environment. Young scholars determine the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wisconsin Birds Lesson Plan

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students, during an outdoor hike, are taught about the different types of birds found in Wisconsin.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

DNA the Easy Way (and "Gram Stain" Without the Mess)

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students visualize DNA from cells and explain the basis and importance of the Gram-stain reaction and to perform the KOH test equivalent.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Nothing Goes to Waste Here: Saw Mills in Action

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students examine lumber mills operate and their efficiency.  In this saw mill lesson students view a PowerPoint presentation then feel different grades of lumber to see how rough sawn lumber is. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Quality Survey: Monitoring the Sustainability of Pigeon Creek

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research the History of Pigeon Creek (or any watershed in your area). In this environmental science lesson, students conduct field tests such as pH and nitrates. They collect data and compare what they collected with other groups.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Classification of Organisms

For Students 6th - 9th
In this classification instructional activity, students complete a crossword puzzle with 17 clues about vocabulary pertaining to the classification of organisms.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Classification of Organisms Crossword Answers

For Students 6th - 9th
In this classification activity, students are provided with the answers to a crossword puzzle which has 17 clues pertaining to classification of organisms vocabulary.
Website
Canadian Museum of Nature

Canadian Museum of Nature: Bird Identification Clues

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource will help you develop your birdwatching skills. It includes how to find birds, basic tips and how to use field marks such as patterns and colours to help distinguish species.
Website
Australian Museum

Australian Museum: Animal Species: Red Indian Fish, Pataecus Fronto

For Students 9th - 10th
A description of the Red Indian Fish, which lives only off the coasts of Australia. Description includes identification, habitat, feeding and diet, as well as other characteristics or qualities of the species.
Article
Genome British Columbia

Genome British Columbia: Dna Goes Upc: An Introduction to Dna Barcoding

For Students 9th - 10th
In recent years, Canadian scientists have been in the forefront of efforts to identify animal species by DNA barcoding. A single gene, cytochrome oxidase I (COI), that is present in all animals is being used to identify each species....