ARKive
Darwin and Natural Selection
A presentation on Darwin's theory of evolution and natural selection could be a good addition to your biology class. It provides general information about how animals adapt to their surroundings, as well as how organisms create more...
Virginia Department of Education
Mendelian Genetics
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...
NASA
Earth, Can You Hear Me Now?
How long did you say? Class groups plot the distances between Earth and Mars and determine the trigonometric function that models the data. Using a calculator, they graph the function to determine when the distance and communication...
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Stickleback Evolution Virtual Lab
How quickly do animals evolve? Can comparing different samples of the same fossil answer timeline questions? Scholars use virtual labs to examine fossils and learn about stickleback evolution. They compare pelvic morphology in lakes...
Curated OER
Learning About Mammals
Students study the mammal classification and forms of them living in the United States. In this mammal study lesson plan, students read through orders of mammals that exist in the United States. Students also study the taxonomy of an...
Curated OER
Discovering the Wetlands!
Students name wetland plant and animal life. In this ecosystem instructional activity students go birdwatching and interpret native plants through art.
Curated OER
Animal Kingdom: Phylum Chordata
Students use a dichotomous key to classify various vertebrate jar speciments into classes. They examine the speciments for general characteristics of each class and fill in a corresponding chart and then complete a few final assessment...
Curated OER
Rain Reasons
Students explore how climatic factors influence the growth of plants. They create an experiment to find how variations in water, light, and temperature affect plant growth and describe how precipitation and geography can affect the...
Curated OER
Wolves: DNA Pawprinting
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...
Curated OER
Evolution of Sea Creatures
Students identify and describe the mechanisms of natural selection. They study Cambrian Period animals and discuss adaptations for their specific environment.Students compare and contrast a modern sea animal with the Cambrian era animal...
Curated OER
Understanding Science Vocabulary And Categorization
Young scholars explore and examine scientific language and categorization as related to commonly known plants and animals. They hypothesize about a specific plant or animal, how it was scientifically named, what concepts and vocabulary...
Curated OER
Using Lines, Dots, And Shapes To Create the Illusion O
Students create the illusion of texture using lines, dots, and shapes in a rendering of an animal.
Curated OER
Half Life Lab
Seventh graders model radioactive decay using pennies, collect data from their model, apply scientific visualization techniques to their data and create animated models explaining the concept of radioactive half-life.
Curated OER
Sex & Reproduction
Students examine animal reproduction by interpreting data and making arguments and then create their own graphs to explore relationships of organ systems. This lesson includes an individual worksheet and a reflective review question for...
Curated OER
It's not just pretty - it's a survival method!
First graders write explanations for why certain animals can only live in certain environments. In this animal survival lesson plan, 1st graders take pictures of animals and place them into the right environment after a lesson plan on...
Curated OER
Genes Count
Students view a video that reviews Mendelian genetics. They discuss the Hardy-Weinberg Law and use Popsicle sticks to simulate genetic variations and ratios in offspring.
Curated OER
Birds and Migration
Students actively simulate bird migration. In this animal migration lesson, students participate in an activity that simulates the migration of birds. The teacher discusses with the class the hazards and difficulties birds face during...
Curated OER
Habitats
Students investigate the habitats of living things and the cycle of the food chain. In this scientific inquiry online lesson, students examine the habitats of plants and animals as well as the food chain as they sort pictures of living...
Curated OER
Turtles, Dogs, and Elephants
Students explore personal space at low, medium, and high levels. In this physical education lesson, students participate in imaginary play imitating animals and their movement.
Curated OER
Panther Scavenger Hunt
Students examine the Florida Panthers through a Web-quest. In this web-based lesson plan, students find clues that will help them to identify the habitat of the Florida Panther and the history of human activity which threatens these wild...
Curated OER
Eyes on the Estuaries
Young scholars study estuaries and compare several ones in the U.S. In this estuary lesson plan students interpret data and compare the distribution of different species.
Curated OER
The Planet Wakyabi
Fifth graders explain how organisms' specialized structures and variations work with the environment to help them survive.
Curated OER
Whale Echolocation
Students demonstrate how a whale uses echolocation to track food and identify one other animal that also uses echolocation. In this echolocation lesson, students play a game where one child (the whale) is blindfolded and gives a signal...
Curated OER
"If You Hopped Like a Frog" by David M. Schwartz
Young scholars brainstorm several animal/personal scenarios, select one, and write out an explanation of the comparison. They apply the measurements/characteristics to themselves and use algebraic equations to demonstrate the comparison.