Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Heading South

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Learners look at the migration of different birds. In this migration lesson, students discuss why an animal migrates and problems that can occur during migration. They look at several downloadable maps that show the specific routes of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cathedral in the Sea

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners construct a model giant kelp and kelp forest inhabitants based on field-guide photographs. Students also place animal cutouts in appropriate positions on or near the plant.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Deforestation, Fragmentation, and the Edge Effect

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students participate in an activity to demonstrate how deforestation, fragmentation, and habitat edges may affect native animal populations. Students accomplish this by playing a game from a provided worksheet and completing a graphing...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Create An Insect

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students create a new species of insect. They create a list of insect characteristics and use this as a springboard to draw an insect of their own. Students write a brief descriptive paragraphs about their insect, giving particular...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creating a Food Web

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students investigate hunters and prey by creating a food web.  In this animal life instructional activity, students investigate a single organism in preparation for a field trip, discovering its diet and habitat.  Students each...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mammal Facts and Myths

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students write a report. In this mammals lesson, students learn about various mammals such as whales, beavers, bats and echidnas. Students make a diagram, write a report, brainstorm a list of myths and make a model animal.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Toad Adobe

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students explore the importance of toads and the need for toad habitats in the environment. In this animal habitats lesson, students create an adobe habitat for toads by using a clay pot. Students paint their pots and place them in their...
Lesson Plan
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Ecology Lessons

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Young scholars examine the relationship between animal adaptations, habitats and community interactions.  In this ecology lesson students complete a skull detective worksheet then use their knowledge to analyze a skull. 
Lesson Plan
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Manatee Endangered

For Teachers 5th - 8th
High schoolers (or middle schoolers) research the endangered manatee and the Endangered Species Act. They choose a local animal that is threatened or endangered and attempt to find out what is being done to protect it. Short, but sweet,...
Lesson Plan
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A Look At Penguin Life

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students read a story about Penguin Life and answer vocabulary and comprehension questions about it. In this penguin life lesson plan, students respond to literature by researching penguins and creating a Venn diagram to compare/contrast...
Lesson Plan
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Reptile and Amphibian Defense Strategies

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students study the stages of the Eastern newt either by collecting a live specimen or from pictures. They note the colors of the eft stage before reading the "Eastern Newt Species Account" that shows the newt's life stages, migration,...
Lesson Plan
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Biodiversity Bird Hunt

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the influence of biodiversity on human culture through the use of birds. They brainstorm words that come to mind when they think of human cultures. They describe ways that human culture and biodiversity are linked.
Lesson Plan
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"Whaz Up?"

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Learners investigate the way in which animals communicate using their body position, vocalization, chemicals, and coloring. They determine how organisms communicate within their own species and create a presentation in pairs showing what...
Lesson Plan
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Earth's Heavenly Treasures: Hummingbirds

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Young ornithologists watch an informative video and use the Internet to gather data about the life, size, habitat, and migration of hummingbirds. The interdisciplinary lesson includes activities that target art, science, math, and...
Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

Mendelian Genetics

For Teachers 9th - 12th
How did Mendel know which pea plants would demonstrate certain characteristics? Pupils explore the answer this question, among others, as they complete Punnet squares, research dominant and recessive traits, and explore hereditary...
Lesson Plan
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Chicago Botanic Garden

Leaf Litter Ecology Lab

For Students 7th - 9th Standards
Some organisms spend their entire lives in leaf litter. The third in a series of six is a great lesson exploring the community of leaf litter. Groups gather and then spread leaf litter over white paper and remove leaves/twigs while...
Lesson Plan
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Seas Of Life

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners brainstorm examples of predator and prey that are featured in a video they watch.  In this investigative lesson plan students will research an animal from the video and explain if it is a predator or prey and how it helps...
Lesson Plan
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Adaptations: Fit For Survival

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students track species using the Journey North project. They examine the meaning of physical and behavioral adaptation, migration, and identify adaptations that help the species they track survive.
Lesson Plan
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Vanished!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research how certain types of animals became extinct, and write report about their chosen species, explaining scientific theories or facts about how it became extinct, and how extinction has affected other species and the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Infusing Equity by Gender into the Classroom

For Teachers 1st - 12th
Students discover the biases between the two genders by comparing males and females in different species.  In this gender identity lesson plan, students research National Geographic Magazine and view videos demonstrating the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Population Density

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners use the scientific method to conduct an experiment and use varied methods to gather background information. They correctly use lab equipment and prepare tables and graphs that organize, conclude, and present their findings. ...
Lesson Plan
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Prairies

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students identify the basic characteristics of the prairie ecosystem, and several commonly known prairie species. They create a classroom mural of a prairie ecosystem; and create reports about what they have found out.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Why preserve biodiversity?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers view photos of endangered species on the Internet and discuss the reasons why these animals are threatened and why they should be protected. They use the words: biodiversity, ecosystem, and extinction in sentences to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wolves: DNA Pawprinting

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore and research the most widely distributed terrestrial carnivore, the wolf. They critique the true mystery of this animal and then form an opinion about this creature. The restriction-site analysis of mitochondrial DNA is...

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