Young scientists grab their measuring tapes, rulers, and yard sticks as they see how big Arctic animals really are. To conceptualize the trait of height or length, each small group will measure out the entire length of an arctic animal....

Students learn along with Ms. Frizzle's class. In this Magic School Bus lesson plan, students explore how insulation works to keep in body heat.

Students chill out on a hot day with this outdoor activity. In this early childhood physical education lesson, students have fun experimenting through play with ice and toy animals in water.

First graders discover the effects of global warming on polar bears. In this life science lesson, 1st graders model the polar bear's habitat and observe what happens as they raise the temperature. They record their observation in the...

Students use the Internet to examine the polar bear. They discover information about their diet, behavior and habitat.

Young scholars get a first hand look at the benefit of a "blubber layer" in cold climates through a simulation using vegetable shortening and icy water. Through this simulation, students examine how adaptations help organisms survive.

Students identify, measure, and average micro-climatic temperatures in a particular region. They draw a small-scale map of an area to be sampled (classroom, playground, park, backyard) and identify potential locations for...

Students research bears and their characteristics with a specific study on North American bears and polar bears. In this bear study instructional activity, students read books about polar bears and wild bears. Students complete...

Young scholars investigate the characteristics of animals by creating a chart. For this animal life lesson, students create a KWL chart listing all the different animals a class can name. Young scholars take a field trip to a science...

Here is an exciting exploration of a fascinating topic for your emerging ecologists: bird migration! They begin by visiting the US Fish & Wildlife Service website to discover which Arctic birds come to their areas. They are assigned...

Students use ice cubes to demonstrate how the polar ice caps are melting and how it effects the polar bears. In this polar bear lesson plan, the teacher explains how polar bears live on the north pole and how they are having trouble due...

Students explore different habitats. In this habitat lesson, students investigate four different habitats through participating in a WebQuest. Students create an animal web using Kidspiration or a video documentary upon completing the...

Students create camouflage butterflies. In this camouflage lesson plan, students read about the different types of camouflage. Each student in the class chooses a spot in the classroom and creates a camouflaged butterfly. They hang up...

Students define and read an article on polar energy.  In this polar energy lesson, students answer questions about the article.  Students participate in activities related to isotopes, half-life and radiocarbon.  Students...

Students describe flowering plants and see why angiosperms are the most successful plants.  In this angiosperms lesson students identify angiosperms and explain how they reproduce. 

Fifth graders compare climates. For this weather lesson, 5th graders observe and record weather observations and discuss the impact of weather on people. Students also discuss the concept of global warming and determine how weather...

Learners investigate the growth of seeds. In this agricultural lesson, students dissect a bean and corn seed and identify the parts of the seed. Learners observe the development of a pinto bean seed and record observations on the...

Students examine extreme environments and the characteristics that make them.  For this adaptation lesson students see how animals have adapted to these environments. 

Students participate in a national survey of biological indicators of climate change by gathering and submitting data on local plants and animals.

Middle schoolers observe and compare heat loss in different objects with surface-to-volume ratios. They transfer this comparison to the physical characteristics of animals in their environment. They focus on how whales maintain their...

Students identify the sources of water on Earth. In this life science lesson, students list the different plants and animals that live in the ocean. They explore marine objects in the lab and draw them.

Students explain the difference between each of three major ecosystems. They determine the flow of water in the St. Mary's River as it flows out of the river into the bay, and finally out into the Atlantic Ocean and identify where...

Third graders review the characteristics of living and nonliving organisms. As a class, they observe a tree and describe the interactions between the living and nonliving organisms surrounding it. To end the lesson, they ask a question...

Learners investigate the properties of insulation as it relates to whales and sea ice. They research whales and examine atmospheric changes that occur with sea ice variability.