Students investigate living organisms and define the properties of a living species.  In this life characteristic lesson plan, students examine plants in their class and discuss whether or not they are alive.  Students create a...

An ecosystem is really just the flow of energy through many different living organisms. A study of Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book leads to an environmental science activity in which learners study how various factors can affect...

Written to examine seeds that grow in Kansas, you can adapt this lesson plan to anywhere you live. Learners sort a mixture of five different seeds to by any characteristic of their choice. When your budding scientists are exploring the...

Such a great resource and perfect for learners in Kindergarten through third grade. The class will discuss cloud types and formation, and then they'll get outside and draw as they observe the clouds they see. They'll need to take note of...

Seventh graders compare/contrast the life cycles of free-living organisms to that of parasites. They conduct Internet research, illustrate the stages of a specific organisms's life cycle, and direct and produce a mini-video production.

Learners create classification system for Arctic-dwelling animals, the Arctic hare in particular.

Third graders practice using classification techniques to identify local trees.  In this plant life instructional activity, 3rd graders discuss how trees differ from other plants and what characteristics are unique to trees alone....

Young scholars review the classification system for living organisms and apply it the classification of insects and flowers in the still life by Ambrosius Bosschaert. They create a chart classifying the animals and plants in the painting...

Students explore animal characteristics by participating in a SMART board activity. In this animal classification lesson, students utilize a sorting chart to divide different animal names by their observable characteristics. Students...

Students classify organisms according to the rules of taxonomy. In this biology lesson, students name organisms using binomial nomenclature. They create a new organism and explain which specific group it belongs to and why.

Seventh graders work together to develop a leaf classification system. In groups, they are given a set of leaves and sort them based on their characteristics. They share their new classification system with the class and answer any...

Fourth graders classify animals. In this animal kingdom lesson, 4th graders research animal habitats and behaviors. Students connect to a zoologist via SKYPE and learn about animal classification. Students blog about preserving animal...

Students explore science of taxonomy and the Five Kingdoms of life, categorize organisms into Kingdoms, and create multi-media presentations illustrating knowledge of a Kingdom. They collect data and related pictures on the Internet,...

Learners examine lichens in an outside field trip. Students explore the diversity of this organism and ask questions about them.

Third graders examine the capacity of animals able to live in one habitat. In this habitat lesson, 3rd graders play a game that shows the food chain and the interactions between animals in an area. Students discover that food is a major...

Reebops are cute, marshmallow-based creatures that can be used to teach inheritance. Beginning biologists draw strips of paper that represent chromosomes from two envelopes, one for the father, and one for the mother. Each parent...

Fifth graders, after viewing a PowerPoint on different mammals, analyze what a biome is. Then they choose a mammal to research and go outside to feel the grass and leaves and hypothesize about which biome they live in as well as its...

Students study the lives of dinosaurs. In this dinosaur lesson, students create dinosaur dioramas that depict how and where the creatures lived. Students also discuss extinction with their teacher.

Students share with the class what they are thankful for. In this Thanksgiving instructional activity, students create place-mats for Thanksgiving. Students discuss ways we honor and celebrate Thanksgiving. They then make a list of...

Seventh graders create their own dichotomous key. In this biology lesson plan, 7th graders classify animals based on their observable features. They explain how to use their dichotomous key.

Students develop a classification scheme based on the structural features of organisms.  In this organism lesson students divide into teams and complete a fun activity. 

Eleventh graders identify the parts of an ecosystem and how communities change over time.  In this ecology instructional activity students formulate a habitat restoration plan.

Students compare/contrast paintings with similar subjects and themes. They discuss how a painting may relate to life experiences. Students draw animal families and compose a story about a painting by Gerome. They discuss zoos and...

Learners create a trail with numbered specimens. Students complete an accurate and functional interactive trail activity brochure. They complete a web page tree identification guide and interactive identification activity. Learners...