Curated OER
What is a Tree?
Young scholars identify and define types of trees. In this tree identification lesson, students complete a KWL chart on trees and read the book ABCedar: An Alphabet of Trees. Young scholars complete a tree word scramble.
Curated OER
Look At Those Leaves!
Students explore botany by researching plants in class. In this tree identification lesson, students examine a group of leaves and list the different characteristics before guessing what types of trees they came from. Students read about...
Curated OER
Charting the Changes in Our School Forest
Fourth graders investigate the ecosystem and how forests are disappearing. For this environmental protection lesson, 4th graders analyze the changes in their school for 2 weeks. Students practice identifying trees, birds, and...
Curated OER
Our School - Our Trees
Sixth graders observe school ground trees planted nearly 3 decades ago. For this ecology activity, 6th graders examine a group of trees planted near their campus and measure the diameter, circumference and growth of the tree...
Curated OER
Examine the Trees in Your Community Forest
Twelfth graders examine selected tree species. In this tree lesson, 12th graders examine twenty selected tree species, identify them, and correctly map out the trees in the area.
Curated OER
Guidebook
Learners create a guidebook page about a plant on the school grounds. In this life and plant science lesson, students identify plants around the school, then research the plant and write a narrative about it. Learners publish the book...
Curated OER
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.
Chicago Botanic Garden
Impacts of Climate on Forest Succession
Part two in a series of four explores the effects of climate on succession or the changing of plant species in a forest. Groups review how to identify trees and then spend a day in the field collecting extensive data on trees to...
Curated OER
Wetland Plant Detectives
Sixth graders identify plants in the wetlands. In this plant detectives instructional activity, 6th graders complete a scavenger hunt on a local reserve, record observations, and respond in their journals.
Curated OER
Logs of Straw: Dendocronology
Students investigate the age of trees by analyzing tree rings. In this dendocronology lesson plan, students examine sample images of tree rings and identify their age by the amount of rings. Students complete a chart...
Chicago Botanic Garden
Preparing for Project BudBurst
Male deer growing antlers to begin the breeding season is an example of a phenological event. First in a four-part series is an activity requiring individuals to collect phenological data on their campus. Classes discuss phenology, the...
Curated OER
Most Troublesome Exotic Invasive Plant Species Web Quest
Students participate in a Web Quest activity in which they identify common exotic invasive plant species of the Southern Appalachian Region. After identifying the top 10 exotic invasive species, they choose one to research in depth.
Curated OER
In the Wild
Third graders examine the concept of ecology and how animals are suited to their habitats. In this animal adaptation instructional activity, 3rd graders identify a variety of plants and animal species that live in a Beech forest.Students...
Curated OER
Start a Herbarium
Students explore importance of a herbarium and start one of their own.
Curated OER
Have Fun With Technical Report Writing
Students use Clarisworks Word Processing and Spreadsheet, Quick-Take Camera and Software, and produce a publishable technical paper.