Curated OER
Who's Who?
Students explore biology by identifying animals and their environments. In this animal characteristic lesson, students read assigned text about farm animals, how they are raised, and what they are used for in our society. Students view a...
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Invertebrates and Vertebrate Evolution
Students explore the major characteristics of the major animal phyla. They describe adaptive features that have contributed to the success of animals on land. Students explain how primate evolution provides a context for understanding...
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Prehistory Web Quest
Sixth graders identify how geography and climate determine the lives of early hominids, the characteristics of hunter-gatherer societies, how animals affected the lives of early hominids, and how hominids overcame their physical...
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What's the Difference?
Students analyze the similarities in different species. This lesson plan is part of a multi-segmented unit on the diversity of life. In this segment, students classify shoes to mimic the scientific categories of the classification system.
National First Ladies' Library
How Do Flowers Get Their Names?
Students study Carolus Linnaeus and his classification system of plants. They examine the origin of both both common and scientific names of flowers. They speculate how their favorite flowers came to be named and brainstorm about the...
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Water Will, Water Way
Students test tap water for hardness and mineral content. For this environmental science lesson, students identify the different stages of the water cycle. They classify plant and animals according to the rules of taxonomy.
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How Animals Prepare for Winter
Second graders study which animal hibernate and which migrate. They observe the weather conditions related to each and complete the associated worksheets and web activity.
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Animals: Dolphins
Students use the internet to discover information about dolphins. They examine their behavior, appearance and distribution of dolphins.
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Arizona Plant Booklet: An Introduction to Arizona Plants & Cacti
Students explore variety of plants & cacti in their Arizona community by collecting samples and taking photographs. Can be adapted to other areas.
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Is It Slimy? Does It Have Fur? Is It Really a Bird?
Sixth graders identify the different types of vertebrate animals based upon their major characteristics, as they create collages in groups. Collages show pictures of vertebrate animals labeled with the appropriate structural...
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The Eye; Structure and Function
Middle schoolers research the structure and function of the eye. In this anatomy instructional activity, students write a report about the eye and draw an illustration. They research a particular animal's eye then present their findings...
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Exploring the Biomes of South America
Sixth graders complete a five-week unit investigating the eight major biomes of South America. They conduct Internet research, collect short-term and long-term climate data, and create a HyperStudio slideshow stack about a selected biome...
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Changing With the Tide
Students research and they role-play the behavior of plants and animals in a salt marsh habitat as the tides change.
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An Alien Has Landed
Learners identify animals within a species by using their observation skills to record information, such as behavioral characteristics.
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Jane Goodall, Renowned Naturalist and Champion of Chimpanzees
Young scholars study the life of Jane Goodall and how she made an impact studying chimpanzees. In this endangered species lesson plan students write in their journals.
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Classifying Organisms within Kingdoms
Students examine animal kingdom classifications. They discuss how animals are placed into kingdom classifications and compare similarities and differences of animals within a kingdom.
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The Living Environment
Ninth graders compare and contrast animals according to their four systems. For this living environment lesson students complete their assignment on the animal they were given and present their findings to the class.
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Who's There
Fifth graders, in groups, make a list of at least three animals that would survive well in a particular environment. After an allotted time, they pass their list to another group, where they will add to it. They discuss adaptations each...
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Touching Traits
Students describe objects using only their sense of touch. In this lesson on describing characteristics, students use only their sense of touch to describe an unseen object in a box. This lesson can be used an an introduction to plant...
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Wildlife in Arkansas
First graders identify three species of wildlife in Arkansas. They discuss the environment in which the whitetail deer, raccoon, and beaver live in. They identify the footprints of each animal and discuss how the animals are harvested...
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In a Family Way
Young scholars research a rare species of animals that are a step away from the well known animals of our zoos. They create a mobile which displays the geography, habits, population and habitat of the animals. They draw a picture.
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Eco-Logical: A Coastal Logic Problem
Fourth graders study the characteristics of five coastal communities. They use logic cards and matching activities to identify the proper community for plant and animal species.
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Animal Kingdom: Phylum Chordata
Students use a dichotomous key to classify various vertebrate jar speciments into classes. They examine the speciments for general characteristics of each class and fill in a corresponding chart and then complete a few final assessment...
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Mussel Identification Activity
Students identify given species of animals, such as various
mussels, by sets of physical characteristics as they use a key. They also read about mussels on the Illinois River and look at mussel species in the online database. Finally,...