Curated OER
Plant and Animal Cells
Students investigate the difference between plant and animal cells. They observe a variety o plant and animals cells by looking at a piece of cork, an onion, elodea, prepared slides of paramecium, human bone, frog blood, and human...
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
What van Leeuwenhoek Saw
When van Leeuwenhoek saw cells and single-celled organisms for the first time, he knew these small things were a big deal! Share his discoveries with young learners through a narrated video, model-building activity, and scale study....
Curated OER
Where in the Wild?
Students investigate the purpose of animals' ability to camouflage. In this animal science lesson, students read the text Where in the Wild? and identify animals that are predators and prey. Students discuss how camouflage is necessary...
Curated OER
Dibble Pond Ecosystem
Students collect specimen and analyze it. In this biology lesson plan, students analyze and evaluate the diversity found in specific environment. They use the correct terminology as they do their write up for the experiment.
Curated OER
Investigating Animals in Soil
Students investigate and observe small animal activity on a plot of land on their school grounds. In small groups they identify the five kingdoms of animals, stake out a small plot of ground, collect samples, record and analyze any data...
Curated OER
Flora and Fauna of the Hill Neighborhood
Learners compare and contrast the characteristics of plants and animals. In this ecology lesson, students observe the outdoors and describe the relationship among different living things. They relate plant diversity with animal diversity.
Curated OER
Animal Life Cycles
Students participate in numerous activities to gather information about parts of the life cycle. For this life science lesson, the teacher choose from a number of activities to create or support an interdisciplinary unit about the life...
Curated OER
Solar System
Explore the solar system in detail, from it's origins to its components. Visual data gathered by actual space missions has been used to create the images and animations on each page of this stellar electronic book about the solar...
Curated OER
Camouflage
Here is a instructional activity which incorporates ingenious hands-on activities that simulate how many animals use camouflage as a survival technique. This instructional activity clearly outlines how to implement the activities and...
Virginia Department of Education
Weather Patterns and Seasonal Changes
Get your class outside to observe their surroundings with a lesson highlighting weather patterns and seasonal changes. First, learners take a weather walk to survey how the weather affects animals, people, plants, and trees during...
Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
Schoolyard Biodiversity Investigation Educator Guide
In 1980, in the tropical rainforests of Panama, scientists discovered 1,200 species of beetles living in and around just 19 trees, with most of the species new to science—that's biodiversity! In the activity, learners work in teams to...
Curated OER
Cells, The Structural and Functional Units of Life
Young scholars observe the general structure and organelles of plant and animal cells. Students prepare microscope slides of elodea, onion, check, and cork and identify the cells by size and shape as unicellular, multicellular, plant or...
Curated OER
Mallard's Wet Olympics
Students investigate some of the different characteristics of living things. They make observations from reading and interactive media. Students observe that animals move in different ways and have adaptations to aid in that action.
Curated OER
Investigating Animals in Water
Students observe small animal activity. They identify local water animals and describe the habitats where water animals can be found. Students collect samples to observe in the classroom.
Curated OER
Blubber Gloves
Fifth graders examine animal adaptations and how they meet their needs in a variety of environments. They discuss how they might adapt to their own environment before discussing how an animal could adapt. Next, they complete an...
Curated OER
Traditional Stories about Wind
Students observe and talk about wind using no weather instruments. In this wind lesson plan, students use their senses to observe wind. They also interview an Elder about wind.
Curated OER
Classy
Students explore the classification system in this seven lessons unit. The diversity of life forms and their characteristics are examined using a microscope. Kingdoms, classes, and families are investigated.
Curated OER
Dirt Life
Students select and collect soil samples from a variety of locations (schoolyard, home, etc.). They do this lab after an interest-generating discussion about "dirt" and microbes. Students make a dilution in sterile water, plate it on a...
Curated OER
Drawing Fish
Students practice creating art by imitating the camouflage of fish. For this animal characteristic lesson, students identify certain fish and their ability to change colors in order to survive in the wild. Students utilize coloring...
Curated OER
Biodiversity
Fifth graders visit the playground to look for signs of life. They search for insects, birds, animal tracks, feathers, nests, trees, soil, etc. They then compose a class list that shows all findings in the schoolyard and post it in the...
Curated OER
Insects!
Students explore the diet of insects. In this "insects" biology lesson, students take a nature walk and collect various natural materials they think may be eaten by insects. Students sort and classify these materials into three diet...
Curated OER
Cycles of Life in an Urban Habitat: Changes in Biodiversity
Second graders compare and contrast animate and inanimate objects. In this environmental science lesson, 2nd graders create simple food webs. They observe their environment and create a collage about it.
Curated OER
Explore Your Natural Habitat
Students identify habitats and understand why they are important to our environment. For this environmental lesson students design their own habitat, observe and record data on the impact their habitat has on the environment.
Curated OER
Hatching chickens
Students recognize the need for gentle care of eggs. In this chicken hatching lesson, students observe the process of incubating eggs for hatching. Students find the materials needed to properly care for the chicks. Students complete a...