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Bugs
Young scholars explore the wonders of bugs. In this bug lesson, students examine various types of bugs. Young scholars make crafts, sing songs, discuss nutrition, and investigate different types of insects.
American Museum of Natural History
What's This? Colorful Creatures
An online resource shows learners some species that are very good at using their camouflage as well as other ways species use their coloring for survival. Interactive and digital, the lesson is perfect as a remote learning resource.
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Build an Anchialine Pond
Students explore biology by conducting a nature experiment. In this pond examination lesson, students utilize recycled materials, play-doh and water to recreate a pond and its inhabitants. Students identify the different elements within...
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Summer: Getting the Bugs Out
Students study biodiversity while examining insects. They research insects that already exist and how they adapt to their environment.
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Activity: Bird Beak Buffet
Students study the functions of bird beaks. In this animal evolution lesson, students compare and contrast different types of bird beaks focusing on how the beaks are adapted to the foods the birds eat. Students record and graph their...
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Science: Birds in Flight
Students identify and examine adaptations in birds that enable them to fly. They conduct Internet research to relate these adaptations to the physics of flight. Students observe birds in flight and describe their behavior and flight...
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Desert Animals
Students survive within an ecosystem, an animal must be physically and behaviorally adapted to the conditions of its environment.
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Jewel of the Earth
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.
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Holy Habitats or Meet Metamorphosis
Students examine the metamorphosis of frogs and how it adapts to its environment. They research how world pollutants are effecting the amphibian population.
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Frogs: Fact or Folklore
Students discover how frogs are adapted to their environment. They view and discuss a Discovery Channel video on frogs and the myths surrounding frogs. In small, groups they compile data on frogs from the internet to create a Frog Fact...
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Ugly? Says Who?
Students explore biology by writing animal poetry in class. In this animal characteristics lesson plan, students research the Internet for facts about an "ugly" animal such as a bug or small critter. Students complete worksheets about...
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Carnivorous Plants: A Bugs Nightmare!
Students research carnivorous plants and how they trap insects. They role play as botanists to write a research field guide about a newly discovered imaginary carnivorous plant.
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Have You Ever Wondered?
Students use their personal knowledge and the Internet to discover where and how spiders live. In groups, they discuss their experiences with spiders and how their lives differ from other insects. They use new vocabulary to discuss their...
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Life-Cycle Sleuth
Students analyze an animal's life cycle and behaviors, and examine what animals need to stay alive and reproduce. They develop theories and hypotheses about the reasons for migrations, using the Journey North online project.
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Investigating Animals in Soil
Students investigate and observe small animal activity on a plot of land on their school grounds. In small groups they identify the five kingdoms of animals, stake out a small plot of ground, collect samples, record and analyze any data...
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The Key To Classifying Animals
Explorers of the environment construct a dichotomous key for a variety of organisms and design a key to classify Galapagos animals based on descriptions and images. The lesson includes a link to an animal gallery and the worksheet for...
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Predator Or Prey?
Students study the concept of predator/prey by researching specific examples of birds. They participate in a concept map/webbing activity to determine different characteristics of birds. They engage in a class discussion about...
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The Great Pollinators
Students discover the reproductive parts of a plant. In this biology lesson, students identify and categorize several different plants they dissect in class. Students record their information using a data chart.
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Our Desert Backyard
Young scholars make observations of their own backyard. In this environment lesson, students keep records of the plants and animals they see in their home or school yard. Young scholars make notes of how the weather and environment...
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Nebraska Rocks & The Rock Cycle
Students study the rock cycle and relate it to rocks that are indigenous to Nebraska. Students collect rocks and draw a diagram of the rock cycle using their collection.
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Wacky Water Critters
Students visit a local creek or stream. They collect water samples from the creek and observe and sort the "water critters" they find in the sample, observing smaller organisms under a microscope if necessary. They identify each organism...
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Blue birds Project
Students examine the eastern bluebird and acquire knowledge regarding their species and their struggle for survival. In this blue bird project lesson, students explore the blue birds' habitat and discover how they are excellent...
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Respiration
Students study the gas exchanges that occur during cellular respiration. They observe what happens as a result of a number of variables on the rate of respiration. They use microrespirometers to measure the oxygen consumption of...
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Ecosystem Damage from Household Cleaners
Third graders assess the damage done to various ecosystems by cleaning products and discover how scientists test water quality. Using stream water and common household cleaning agents, they work in groups to test for pH levels. Once...