Second graders explore biology. In this life cycle instructional activity, 2nd graders act out the stages a caterpillar goes through to become a butterfly. They spend days prior to this instructional activity observing caterpillars they...

Learners identify numerous insects and their body parts.  In this insect life lesson, students practice using scientific vocabulary while comparing the different parts of spiders and insects.  Learners view several videos...

Students study the characteristics and basic needs of insects. They compare and describe similarities among insects. They examine the body structure, covering, and movement of insects and also, examine insect life cycles in this unit of...

Young scholars role-play how organisms adapt to their environment. They play 20 questions with plant and animal habitats. They create a web of life to demonstrate how each plant and animal relies on the other for survival.

Students reflect on challenges that face farmers in cultivating crops, including insects. They then simulate how crops are affected by native and non-native insect populations and the options farmers have to protect their crops. Finally,...

Sixth graders investigate insect anatomy by analyzing a live cricket.  In this insect science lesson, 6th graders discuss their knowledge of insects and describe their characteristics from memory.  Students observe live...

Divide your school gym into breeding grounds and non-breeding grounds so that your zoologists can play a game simulating the seasonal migration of shorebirds. Players pick one of the included game cards and follow its directions, which...

Young scholars read about spider body parts, abilities, tendencies, and life cycles. In this Under the Spell of Spiders! lesson, students create mystery creatures that turn out to be spiders. Young scholars catch and observe spiders and...

Young scholars investigate organisms by searching soil on their school ground.  In this insect life lesson, students utilize field guides to help identify the organisms found in a rotting log on their campus.  Young scholars...

Students explore the environment by researching insects. In this earthworm lesson plan, students utilize soil and plexiglass to build a see through wormery in which students can observe the worms at work. Students identify the benefits...

Students investigate the fragility of insects and organisms and their survival needs.  In this habitat instructional activity, students discuss what elements they need to survive day to day, then hypothesize what they would need to...

Students investigate the cycle of life by observing tadpoles.  For this biology lesson, students utilize the Internet to read stories, observe pictures, and listen to sounds of frogs.  Students create a poster board collage...

Young scholars research environmental change and why forests cannot stay the same for long.  In this environmental growth lesson, students discuss the life cycle of a tree and examine tree cookies to discover the age of these...

Students are introduced to macroinvertebrates (primarily insects), the major segments of aquatic insects (the head, thorax and abdomen) and also differentiate between larval, nymph and adult stages. They investigate the head, thorax and...

Students observe their local forest and document the change that occurs over the school year.  For this forestry lesson, students utilize a GPS to mark a certain area of the woods as their study area for the remainder of the year....

Students investigate defensive mechanisms of insects and organisms.  In this biology lesson, students draw imaginary caterpillars as well as imaginary parasites that will harm the caterpillar.  Students utilize the Internet to...

Students study classic paintings by masters like Monet. In this art history lesson, students listen to the story Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert and sing flower songs with the rest of their class. Students examine the painting The...

Students design and execute a lab through which they study the distinctions between density, buoyancy, and volume.

Young scholars investigate the decomposition process. In this ecology lesson, students participate in a play, "Up the Treehouse" where the main idea focuses on a decomposing tree and how food chains are effected by decomposition. After...

Students explore the environment by researching plant reproduction. In this pollination lesson, students define botany related vocabulary terms such as disc flower, petal and fertilization. Students dissect a flower with their classmates...

Students investigate the environment by participating in a class field trip. In this botany lesson, students attend a field trip through their local park or forest while listening to a nature guide. Students practice using their 5 senses...

Third graders role-play various organisms from a food chain to illustrate how a food chain works. In relay style, 3rd graders fill their cups (stomachs) and, in turn, fill a larger organism's cup (stomach) to visualize the importance of...

Students study creatures that drink blood. In this blood suckers lessons, students watch videos to learn about creatures that drink blood. Students divide into groups and make posters about the organisms. Students then participate in a...

Pupils research certain crops and how farmers protect them, while other students research certain insects and how they attack the crop. Each group then documents a ten season plan and then insect and farmers give an attack and response...