Lesson Plan
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Aliens Among Us

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students identify plants growing in the school yard and choose one for further investigation. They investigate the plant's biotic potential and environmental resistance. They predict what would happen should they introduce an exotic...
Lesson Plan
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Land Use Unit

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students identify factors in human society and the natural environment aree interdependent. They analyze interdependencies demonstrated in various situations and occurances.
Lesson Plan
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Hands on Biome-Building

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students explore Earth science by participating in an environment activity. In this biome instructional activity, students discuss the importance of a healthy ecology in order to sustain life, both animal and plant. Students utilize a...
Lesson Plan
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Hands on Biome-Building: Build a Forest

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students explore Earth science by identifying environmental factors. In this biome lesson, students discuss the importance of a functioning ecology and design a biome diorama. Students utilize images of trees and plants which represent a...
Worksheet
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Nature Squares

For Students 3rd - 8th
In this nature observation activity, students set up a grid on a small plot of land and record all biotic and abiotic items in the grid. They complete 5 short answer questions based on their observations.
Lesson Plan
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Critters in Your Own Backyard

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners 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. Learners select one animal and do research. Students then answer...
Lesson Plan
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Dirty Decomposers

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders design and conduct experiments to determine what environmental factors favor decomposition by soil microbes. They use chunks of carrot for the materials to be decomposed, and their experiments are carried out in plastic...
Lesson Plan
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Urban Safari: A Walk on the Wild Side

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students discover the urban ecosystem through a series of activities. They explore both the biotic and abiotic factors of the urban environment.
Worksheet
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Principles of Ecology

For Students 4th - 8th
In this ecology worksheet, students will fill in a graphic organizer showing the relationship organisms have with their environments and with each other. This includes biotic and abiotic factors, tropic levels, and ecological pyramids....
Lesson Plan
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Populations and Ecosystems

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders create a model of an ecosystem and label it to show structure and function. They research the food web of an aquatic animal and also trace energy flow from the primary producer up the food chain.
Lesson Plan
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Some Similarities Between the Spread of an Infectious Disease and Population Growth

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students compare and contrast the spread of infectious diseases and population growth. In this biology lesson, students identify the exponential growth pattern of spreading diseases. They relate this to HIV infection and AIDS.
Lesson Plan
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Ecology and the St. Lawrence River

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders complete a unit of lessons on ecosystems, organism interactions, and energy flow. They create a key for known species of fish, diagram the movement of energy through an ecosystem, and create and present food chains and food...
Lesson Plan
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Trophic Relationships, Cycling of Chemicals, Human Impact on Ecosystems and Conservation

For Teachers 7th - 11th
Students explore how the energy flow through a system is related to trophic levels. They investigate how organisms affect the cycling of elements and water through the biosphere. Students participate in lab activities to observe ways...
Lesson Plan
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Building an Ecosystem

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research a variety of local and world ecosystems. Students will create a collage to represent the biotic and abiotic factors and interactions important to their given ecosystem.Students will understand that an ecosystem is...
Lesson Plan
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Ecosystems Connect

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students investigate ecosystems near their school and across the world. They examine both living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) elements of each. They recognize ecosystems from various continents around the globe. The use of computers...
Lesson Plan
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Ecosystem Interactions in Refuges

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders, using national parks as models, illustrate the energy flow in ecosystems. Working in groups, they use murals, flow charts, or other visual displays to record their findings. Students represent the food chains and webs...
Lesson Plan
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Drama in the Salt Marsh

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers are introduced to the various organisms that live in a salt marsh. They recognize adaptations of organisms that live in the salt marsh. Pupils review concepts of the ecosystem and niche. Students explain the different...
Lesson Plan
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Standard 4-Ecosystems

For Teachers 9th - 12th
In this ecosystem worksheet, students answer questions about energy pyramids, food chains, consumers, producers, decomposers, biotic and abiotic factors in an environment, natural selection and the importance of biodiversity in an...
Lesson Plan
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Interactions Everywhere!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine interactions within the environment and environmental engineering careers. They discuss and view photos of natural and manmade environments, explore various websites, create a web to identify interactions between living...
Lesson Plan
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Lotic Environment

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students assemble a classroom river model as an example of a lotic system. They control and measure biotic and abiotic information for the in-class system and compare data with a lotic system in a natural environment.
Lesson Plan
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Lotic Environment Lesson Plans

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students create and conduct experiments on a "classroom river habitat." They manipulate the biotic and abiotic factors so that they are able to compare an artificially prepared river model to a naturally occurring lotic ecosystem.
Lesson Plan
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Build an Ice Cap

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students research Earth science by conducting an experiment in class. In this ice-cap lesson, students identify what an ice cap is and create a biome using a box which measures 1 ft. x 1 ft. Students participate in an animal role-playing...
Lesson Plan
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Build the Taiga: Hands on Biome-Building

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students explore environmental awareness by completing a construction project. In this biomes instructional activity, students identify the different elements for life to thrive in an ecosystem. Students utilize a cardboard or wood box...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Ecosystems

For Students 6th - 12th
With a variety of multiple choice and short answer questions, the handout found here could be used in many ways in the classroom: pretest/posttest, study guide, reading guide, or entry/exit questions. There is not a lot of space for...