Lesson Plan
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Biodiversity in Illinois-Pond Habitats

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders construct a pond habitat in the classroom using a small swimming pool partially filled with water, real cattails, a tree log adjoining, and plastic animal life appropriate to a pond setting. They examine the frog in detail...
Lesson Plan
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Daisyworld: Stella Mac or PC

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Young scholars investigate Daisyworld, a very simple planet that has only two species of life on its surface - white and black daisies, and bare ground. They construct a Stella model of Daisyworld and perform guided experiments to...
Lesson Plan
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Aerobic and Anaerobic Conditioning

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students view the A.D.A.M. computer simulation of aerobic and anaerobic exercise. They break into groups and members brainstorm and list as many aerobic and anaerobic exercises as possible in five minutes.
Worksheet
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Fungus Among Us- Non-Fiction Reading Comprehension Worksheet

For Students 5th - 6th
In this fungus non-fiction reading comprehension worksheet, students read a 3 page selection that describes the characteristics and life of fungi. They answer 10 questions based on the reading which include true or false, multiple...
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Home Sweet Home

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the change in the diversity of animals living in an area before and after development. In order to do this, students need to have access to an area near their school which is undeveloped. A good, "real life" lesson.
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Intertidal Field Trip

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students explore an intertidal zone. In this science lesson plan, students travel to an intertidal zone. Students collect data and create species accumulation curves.
Lesson Plan
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Fractions Continued

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students investigate the concept of using fractions to solve problems involving rational numbers. They order real numbers on the number line with the classification of fractions. Also students solve problems using the four operations...
Lesson Plan
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Who's Who?

For Teachers K
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...
Lesson Plan
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The Great Jellybean Hunt

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Young scholars explore natural selection and its influence on the populations to fine tune traits and characteristics. The acquisition of traits developed out of need is examined through a game played in class.
Lesson Plan
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The Loneliest Animals

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students examine the different species that are headed towards extinction.  In this animal population lesson students compare the causes of extinction, research an endangered species and present an oral report. 
Lesson Plan
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Dogs- Canine Familiaris

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers research dog species and breeds. In this dog lesson, students discuss breed of dogs, their personal experiences, and complete a Venn Diagram comparing breeds. Middle schoolers use the research to analyze television shows...
Lesson Plan
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Repopulating Michigan's Waterways

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders identify the parts of an ecosystem and how communities change over time.  In this ecology lesson students formulate a habitat restoration plan.
Lesson Plan
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What's in Our Woods?

For Teachers K - 12th
Young scholars 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...
Lesson Plan
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SuperShapes, Part 1; "Tri"ing Triangles

For Teachers 5th - 6th
An outstanding lesson on triangles awaits your math scholars. Learners focus on the triangle, which is the strongest of all polygons. They see the role that triangles play in the design of buildings, and learn about triangle...
Lesson Plan
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Birds of the Northeast

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students identify several common birds through field observations, preserved specimens and personal experience. They classify the species and choose one to research. They draw a migration map and participate in a project that benefit...
Worksheet
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Explorations Through Time

For Students 9th - 12th
For this earth history worksheet, students visit a website and complete 15 fill in the blank and 8 short answer questions based on what they read. Topics include biodiversity, animal kingdoms, evolution, fossils, and extinction.
Organizer
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The Biosphere

For Students 7th - 9th
In this biosphere worksheet, students identify the different levels of organization that ecologists study. Students complete charts, sentences, and answer short answer questions.
Lesson Plan
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Trail Adventure

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Pupils create a trail with numbered specimens. Students complete an accurate and functional interactive trail activity brochure. They complete a web page tree identification guide and interactive identification activity. Pupils answer...
Lesson Plan
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Studying the Great Depression Through Novels

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders view pictures of life in a small town during the Great Depression in Illinois to gain an understanding of living conditions during the era. They read novels based on life of this era.
Lesson Plan
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The Coral Reef

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders discuss life in a coral reef, and view photographs and a computer program about coral reefs. They design and create colorful watercolor, ink, and crayon drawings of coral reefs.
Lesson Plan
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The Different Fresh Water Ecosystems

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students summarize the characteristics of an ecosystem. In this biology lesson, students identify five major fresh water ecosystem. They define terms and write a journal about what they learned.
Worksheet
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Super Scientists Bingo

For Students 6th - 8th
In this science worksheet, middle schoolers select twenty-five scientists from the list to fill in their bingo card. Then they match each of the scientists listed to their correct description strip.
Lesson Plan
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Amazing Bird Adaptions--Why Am I A Bird?

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders identify and classify birds found in Illinois. Using the internet, they discover how birds have adapted over time and how the adaptations have increased their life span. They compare and contrast the various adaptations...
Lesson Plan
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Insects A-Z!

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Alphabet insects! Who has ever heard of such a thing? Get ready because your class is going to research insects that start with a specific letter of the alphabet. In small groups, they'll use the Internet and reference texts to locate...