Curated OER
Trait Variations for Survival
Young learners examine how different traits could give one organism an advantage over another. In groups, they view two different organisms in different environments. To end the lesson, they complete a Venn Diagram on the two organisms...
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Heredity And Environment
Students complete a pre-test on the relationship between heredity and the environment. As a class, they write down descriptions of themselves and identify which traits can be changed and not changed. In groups, they determine which...
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Reproduction and Heredity
Sixth graders investigate how traits are passed from parents to their offspring. They list things they have in common with family members, read key vocabulary terms, create a poster of shared physical and personality traits, and watch...
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Pets: Oh Behave
Students develop an understanding of how innate and learned behaviors and the environment determine behavior. They see how a variety of factors affects our pet's behavior-including species-specific traits, the environment, training, and...
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Nature and Nurture
Students look into the role both nature and nurture play in determining an individual's traits. They examine how genes and the environment affect personality
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Bird Buffet
Fifth graders study traits of different bird beaks. In this bird lesson, 5th graders explore the function and usefulness of different inherited traits of birds.
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Artificial Selection
The second lesson in the series begins with a starter activity discussing wild versus domesticated animals. Then, scholars play a card game, with optional variations, to emphasize artificial selection. Next, they attend a field trip to a...
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Nature And Nurture
Students develop an understanding of the role both nature and nurture play in determining an individual's traits. Using a website, students answer questions about nature and nurture in order to solve the riddle, What do you call a smart...
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Critters in Your Own Backyard
Students identify various animals and their habitats, as well as their specific traits In this animal habitat lesson, students list animals they've seen in their backyard. Students select one animal and do research. Students then answer...
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Color Variation over Time in Rock Pocket Mouse Populations
A species-specific look at natural selection, the resource herein examines how adaptations have helped the population of rock pocket mice survive in a changing landscape. To begin, middle or high schoolers watch a 10.5 minute video,...
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Exploring Learned and Innate Behavior
Students explore the differences between learned and innate behavior among humans and monkeys. They complete an assignment and read articles about two studies, which used similar test methods to show that infants and monkeys share an...
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Reptile Adaptations
Students research animal adaptations. For this adaptations lesson, students research the physical and behavioral adaptations of animals. Students create a diagram of their animal labeling it's adaptations.
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Pets: Oh Behave
They say that a dog is a man's best friend. Why is that? Discuss with your class why people like pets and the responsibilities with owning one. They read an article about pet behavior and write a short essay comparing one of their...
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Who Am I Like?
Students examine family structures. In this family structure lesson plan, students discover things about their own families and those of their classmates. They make a chart as they discuss nature versus nurture, complete a worksheet...
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Cold and Warm Blooded Animals
Students research facts about a cold or warm-blooded animal in order to designa report either as PowerPoint or word processed document. They use online resources and insert images in to the report. They include the specified criteria and...
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Sibling Relationships in the Animal World
Students research sibling relationships in the animal world. In this animal science lesson plan, students read the book, Sisters and Brothers: Sibling Relationships in the Animal World and discuss the sibling relationships. Students...
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Panther Trivia Pursuit
Sixth graders design trivia game about panthers. In this panther trivia game lesson plan, 6th graders use the Internet to research interesting information about panthers, write the facts on note cards, and create a game based on...
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Peanut Butter Broccoli
Fifth graders explore food production by viewing DNA presentations. For this genetic engineering lesson, 5th graders discuss the foods they typically eat at home and how many common foods are engineered in a way that can produce a bigger...
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The Plains Native Americans
Students read The Buffalo Woman by Paul Goble and explore several aspects of Plains Indians cultures. They view historical photos of items from Plains cultures, reference maps and complete worksheets in small groups.
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Panther Scavenger Hunt
Students research a website to learn about the Florida panther. In this animal research lesson, students use the scavenger hunt directions to search a website about Florida panthers. Students also solve word puzzles within the activity.
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Become an Expert
Students practice their researching techniques by preparing a presentation with little notice. In this information research lesson, students utilize the Internet to research one of several subtopics concerning panthers....
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Crazy Critters
Eighth graders visit a local park to collect insects. They record the habitats, identify the insect and write a report including the kingdom, phylum, class, and order.