Channel Islands Film
Natural Resources, and Human Uses of Plants and Animals
As part of their study of the restoration projects on Santa Cruz Island, class members demonstrate their understanding of the connections among plant life, animals, and the actions of humans by crafting a model that reveals these...
Curated OER
Frog Metamorphosis
Students play 20 Questions with animal characteristics and then view an animation of how a tadpole changes into a frog. They consider the importance of camouflage to frogs and write out the story of a frog from tadpole to adult.
Curated OER
VERTEBRATES
Seventh graders describe the main characteristics of warm-blooded vertebrate animals. They compare and contrast the two different groups of warm-blooded vertebrate animals by looking at external, reproductive, and growth characteristics.
Curated OER
Cell Structures and Functions
Fifth graders search into animal and cell characteristics and their functions in this seven lesson unit. Replicas of the cell are constructed out of Jell-O as students probe the internet for details of the concepts.
Curated OER
Animals in the Wild
Pupils compare/contrast paintings with similar subjects and themes. They discuss how a painting may relate to life experiences. Students draw animal families and compose a story about a painting by Gerome. They discuss zoos and...
Curated OER
Not Just a Fish Tank
Students learn about a specific species of fish, study the effects of outside substances on the reproductive development of a fish, and explore the process of a wastewater treatment facility.
Curated OER
Bearden Art-Making Workshop
Students are able to create their own collages using some of the same kinds of images and materials Bearden used. They put to use some of the Bearden techniques they observed in the reproduction/slide lecture and explore to...
Curated OER
Meiosiss Revisited
Seventh graders are engaged in a lesson that covers the concept of meiosis with the intention of covered sexual reproduction. They cover the concept of genetic traits and how they are transmitted over generations with or without...
Curated OER
What Bees Eat
Students study plant and animal interdependence by studying bees and pollination. In this interdependence lesson, students discuss flower parts and dissect it to show its reproductive parts. Students then use tissue and pipe cleaners to...
Curated OER
Fertile Minds
Students explore the cultural phenomenon of older mothers. In this current events activity, students visit selected websites to learn about reproduction, IVF, and cultural changes that have prompted some women to give birth later in life.
Curated OER
The Perfect Cow?
Students examine how cattle have evolved through natural selection and selective breeding. In this natural selection instructional activity students compare and contrast natural and artificial selection.
Curated OER
The Moon Made Me Do It!
Students research lunar cycles and how it effects living organisms. In this investigative lesson students prepare written reports on the lunar cycles and the relationship between animal behavior and reproductivity then give an oral...
Curated OER
The Chesapeake Bay in Captain John Smith's Time
When Captain John Smith visited the Chesapeake Bay in the summer of 1608, what types of animals and habitats did he encounter? Your young historians will analyze primary source documents to answer this question, as well as compare the...
Virginia Department of Education
The Cell Cycle and Mitosis
What a packed lesson plan! Provide your class with the opportunity to learn about the cell cycle in several exciting ways. Biologists first learn about the theory behind mitosis, then proceed to view onion tips under the microscope and...
Virginia Department of Education
Meiosis
Intrigue the class by completing a lesson on meiosis, filled with challenging and insightful activities to spark the interest of every person in the room. Each member of the class learns about genetic disorders due to faulty meiosis, and...
Curated OER
Water's Edge Café
Learners observe water birds feeding at a local wetland, record what they see, and construct an appropriate menu for a "Waterfowl Cafe." They also play a "flocking" game.
Virginia Department of Education
Cell Division
Searching for simple ways to teach mitosis to high schoolers? Using colored chalk and onion root tips, pupils visually demonstrate what they view when looking through the lens of a microscope. There are also various ways to expand the...
Science 4 Inquiry
The Ups and Downs of Populations
As the reality of population decline across many species becomes real, pupils learn about the variables related to changes in populations. They complete a simulation of population changes and graph the results, then discuss limiting...
Curated OER
Separate Vacations
Students plot the migration paths of birds using latitude and longitude data from a table.
Curated OER
LP 6--8: Xenopus laevis (frog) Development for a 7th Grade Audience
Seventh graders view lab stations with Xenopus at different stages of development. They identify the life stage of the sample, as well as the previous and next stages. Students must explain their reason for selecting the specific stage.
Curated OER
Mutations and Cancer
Young scholars study how cancer cells mutate and affect cell division. In this investigative lesson students view a PowerPoint presentation learn the seven warning signs of cancer.
ARKive
Turtle Life Cycle
Explore the wonders of the life cycle by first focusing on the growth and development of the green turtle. The class will discuss the life cycle of different plants and animals, then turn their attention to the green turtle. They view a...
Curated OER
Spider Safari
Today we are talking about one of the stealthiest, sneakiest, and most intriguing insects of all times, the spider. Learners will examine the predatory nature of these super bugs as they conduct a spider safari survey. Each child will...