Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Deserts: How Do You Define One?

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders identify what constitutes as a desert by reading a habitat checklist.  In this environment lesson, 2nd graders read a nature website to discover facts about the desert and where they are located.  Students...
Lesson Plan
National Park Service

Aspect, Treeline, and Climate

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Head to the treeline and beyond to examine how this feature of the landscape affects weather and climate, which gives scientists clues about its health. Class members' observations of photographs provide the data...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Close to Home

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine habitats for animals by creating their own in class environment.  For this environment lesson, 4th graders research the Internet for information on certain wild animals and the places in which they live....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dress Like A Frog

For Teachers K - 6th
Young scholars recognize amphibian adaptations. In this amphibian lesson students explore amphibian adaptations that provide for successful living in their environments. A volunteer dresses up with all of the adaptations using everyday...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Animal Colors and Shapes

For Teachers K - 5th
Students investigate the natural characteristics of animals by completing a coloring activity.  In this animal properties activity, students investigate the reasons different animals have specific colors, and how it is essential for...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Forests, Deserts, & Grasslands

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders complete activities to become familiar with the content and vocabulary related to biomes and ecosystems in order to mainstream into the classroom.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wildlife

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
The centerpiece of this lesson plan is a predator-prey simulation in which colored paperclips represent different species of animals camouflaged against a colored background. Relevant follow-up questions are provided. The activity is...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Deep Blue Sea

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students explore animals, plants, and their habitats.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Biome Bazaar

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students construct 3-D biomes. The ultimate goal of this activity is to allow students to be official tour guides and to teach one another about biomes, environmental responsibilities, habitats, and human roles in the various ecosystems.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who Lives Here?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the concept of philanthropy. In this environmental stewardship instructional activity, students examine water conservation efforts in desert regions as they act as members of a city council committee investigating the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rainforests: What Are They?

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders investigate rain forests by reading a habitat checklist.  In this environment lesson, 2nd graders read the book The Great Kapok Tree, and discuss what characteristics make up a rain forest.  Students explore a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Animal Adaptations

For Teachers 1st - Higher Ed
Students use items from boxes to dress up classmates as animals adapted to a given environment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Animal Life Histories Derived From Morphology

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students learn the mechanisms of natural selection by deducing information from the physical appearance of the animal.