Lesson Plan
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Survival Strategies and Adaptation in Insects

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders investigate insects and their adaptations that help them survive. For this survival strategies lesson, 3rd graders view photographs of insects and discuss the adaptations that each one uses to survive, including camouflage...
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Cicada Invasion

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students consider how some animals, periodical cicadas, survive well in a particular environment due to the species' life cycle. They have a discussion about life cycles and how a particular species' life cycle helps it to survive....
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Prairie Plant Investigation

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students carefully observe prairie plants and record their observations in a science journal. They examine the root systems of grasses and flowers and surmise how these plants can grow together on the prairie.
Lesson Plan
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Endangered Animals: Hawaii

For Teachers K - 5th
Students locate regions in Hawaii where specific endangered animals live. They describe habitats, identify reasons why the species has become endangered, consider how a healthy environment for wildlife contributes to a healthy...
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Threatened, Endangered & Extinct Lesson Plan

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students examine the basic needs of living organisms. In this science lesson, students study ecosystems and discover that organisms have basic needs that must be met.
Lesson Plan
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I Wear My Genes Inside Out: The Genetic Characteristics of Animals

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students create mixed breed dogs using paper illustrations of various breeds. They label dogs created by students using the Genetics Center and discuss the aspects of genetics that affect the outcome of the various projects.
Lesson Plan
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Polar Bears in Houston

For Teachers 1st
First graders read a book about animal babies from the Arctic and discuss what a polar bear needs to survive. They design a suitable zoo habitat for a polar bear using crayons and paper.
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The Right Path for Pets

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
In this animal care worksheet, students learn the important steps to take before adopting a dog from an animal shelter. Students follow a maze of letters which eventually tell them about spay/neutering for pets.
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Reclamation and Recycling

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars learn the importance of plants and animals, ecosystems and habitats... and see how these factors guide mining reclamation projects. They then discover the importance of recycling, and the difference between manufacturing...
Lesson Plan
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Exploring Native Americans

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Students use the MapMaker¿¿¿s Toolkit program to accurately label animals, crops, and habitats associated with their particular tribe of Native Americans. They print out a copy of their map and add it to their book on Native Americans.
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"For the Birds" [part I]

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students identify birds that appear in Chinese and Japanese art, learning about their physical characteristics, classifying them according to scientific principles, and exploring their habitats and migration patterns. This is part one...
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See You Later, Alligator

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the historical and social significance of animals as cultural symbols in various countries around the world, as well as the impact that humans have made on the population and natural habitats of these animals.
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Animal Adaptations

For Teachers 1st - Higher Ed
Students use items from boxes to dress up classmates as animals adapted to a given environment.
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Cranimals in 3D

For Teachers K - 5th
Students design their own mix and match animals, using lesson framework that emphasizes transformation, explore differences between clay and model magic, experiment with clay, and shape their animals into 3D sculptures.
Lesson Plan
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Brown Bear Phonics

For Teachers K
Students listen to Brown Bear, Brown Bear and imitate the style of Eric Carle in writing a sentence.  In this writing lesson, students use the beginning and ending sounds of words to write an Eric Carle type sentence. ...
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Sibling Relationships in the Animal World

For Teachers K - 2nd
Learners research sibling relationships in the animal world. In this animal science lesson, students read the book, Sisters and Brothers: Sibling Relationships in the Animal World and discuss the sibling relationships. Learners choose an...
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The Spider's Life Cycle

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students see that spiders have a life cycle, and reproduce by laying many eggs. We can count by ones, twos, fives, or as many as we want. They make two lists of animals on a chart.
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Mammals, Mammals--Everywhere!

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore the habitats of mammals and their physical characteristics. They research examples of mammals that must deal with daily changes in their habitat and how they cope with them. In small groups, students create a table...
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Endangered Species

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research the issue of species endangerment by exploring threatened animals, their habitats, and the environmental challenges associated with them. They explore the relationships between living things and their environment....
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Pawing Around

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify common wildlife by investigating their footprints. They examine where and how to look for signs of animal activity. They create casts of animal tracks and gather information about the animal from the location it was found.
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The Queen's Empire

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders study insects and make observations about their habitat.  in this insect research lesson students research the Internet to compile information on ants. 
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Sharks

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders identify and analyze the many types of sharks that can be found in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. They also identify what the sharks eat for food, their habitats, and their constuction to the environment and the food...
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Blue Planet: Open Ocean

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students research facts about animal species.  In this ocean lesson  students view a video, prepare illustrated cards and create a food-web display.  
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Animals: Gila Monsters

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Students research sites about Gila monsters. They explore the physical characteristics and defense mechanisms that help Gila monsters survive in the desert. Includes photographs and a diagram.