Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Arthropods at Home: Spider, Isopod, or any Arthropod

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders observe, discuss, and record the requirements of a healthy environment for both arthropods and people by designing and maintaining an artificial habitat for an arthropod, and considering the requirements for a healthy body...
Lesson Plan
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What is Cacao?

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students use the Internet to learn about the cacao plant.  For this plants lesson, students complete a KWL chart on chocolate, learn about cocoa plants and discuss the parts of a plant.  Students use the Internet to learn how...
Lesson Plan
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For The Birds

For Teachers K - 3rd
Student make bird feeders and describe feeding behaviors. In this bird feeder lesson plan, students construct simple bird feeders. They then put them outside and observe the feeding behaviors of birds. Then they graph the number of birds...
Lesson Plan
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Designing an Underwater Habitat for Humans

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students consider the limitations of deep water oceanography and design an underwater habitat to support scientists while they complete long term studies under the ocean. In this engineering lesson plan, students are introduced to the...
Lesson Plan
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What does 'Endangered' mean?

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students discuss a variety of teacher led discussion questions about what makes an animal endangered. They take a short field trip to an open area and set a boundary for each child for them to either write or draw about how the location...
Lesson Plan
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Marine & Aquatic Habitats -- Journey of a Drop of Water Through a Watershed

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students discuss pollution and the steps in the hydrologic cycle. They follow a drop of water through a watershed simulation. They discover the components of a water cleaning system as well.
Lesson Plan
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Animal Invasion

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research and illustrate the natural habitats and evolution of giraffes and other animals imported into ancient Rome. They draw a map of Europe, North Africa, and West Asia and draw the animals from each region in their proper...
Lesson Plan
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"Julie of the Wolves"

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders research life in Alaska and compare life there to their lives in this lesson plan. They read "Julie of the Wolves." They research through the novel and other reference books facts about the Alaskan climate and geography. ...
Lesson Plan
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Creature Features

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students investigate animals and how they adapt to their environment. They design a multimedia presentation that includes information about an animal of their choice. They include a title card, habitats, adaptations, and a predator/ prey...
Lesson Plan
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Extreme Environments

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students examine extreme environments and the characteristics that make them.  In this adaptation instructional activity students see how animals have adapted to these environments. 
Lesson Plan
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Louisiana Cinquains

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students enhance their understanding of parts of speech by writing a cinquain poem about Louisiana. In this cinquain poem lesson, students read example cinquain poems and study the format for a cinquain poem. Students create a class poem...
Worksheet
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Biological Diversity and Conservation

For Students 7th - 12th
In this conservation biology worksheet, students will complete 9 short answer questions on the different strategies of conservation biology, including the Endangered Species Act and establishing protected areas for animals.
Lesson Plan
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Social Studies: Classroom Culture

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders compose a list of classroom cultural values. They begin with a list of unacceptable behaviors. Each student presents two ideas they think should be part of the class culture. Students try to persuade classmates to accept...
Lesson Plan
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Endangered Species of PA

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers research and publish information about an endangered species on the school's web site. In this endangered species lesson, students choose an at-risk species to research. They publish their research information on the...
Lesson Plan
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Waddle You Know About Penguins

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders study the similarities and differences of the seventeen species of penguins. They investigate habitats and how these habitats are suited to each species characteristics. They see how animals adapt to their environments.
Lesson Plan
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Wildlife Needs

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students identify the wildlife needs in a specific setting. In this wildlife needs lesson, students identify and illustrate the four stages of forest succession. Students list the natural habitat and food for a given species. Students...
Lesson Plan
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Rx Rainforest:

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify plant diversity in the rainforest and the role that animals and habitats play in scientific research. They differentiate between natural habitat and laboratory research and work collaboratively to produce a video news...
Lesson Plan
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Learning From Leaves: From Observation to Inference

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students examine the adaptation of plants to their environments. They analyze and observe the structure, shape, and internal structure of various leaves, and make inferences about the structures.
Lesson Plan
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Discovering New Species

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students identify animals observed by Lewis and Clark while evaluating the animal's habitat and describing the animal's behavior. Students construct a food web mobile to illustrate the animal's position in the food web in the 19th...
Lesson Plan
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Too Many Otters

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders investigate the habitat of otters. In this animal science instructional activity, 2nd graders role play the job of wildlife biologists and try to manage the otter population. Students use a map to track their specific...
Lesson Plan
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Understanding Life System: Growth and Changes in Plants

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders research ways in which plants are essential to humans. In this Global Peace lesson, 3rd graders participate in tasks, such as creating a propaganda poster. Students may watch the film, The Lorax, as a closing activity.
Lesson Plan
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Can You Swim in Chocolate Water?

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders discss water pollution and its affects on animals. They watch a demonstration using a plastic fish in a fish bowl in which various types of water pollution are illustrated.
Lesson Plan
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She Sells Sea Shells in Illinois??

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders sorted shells first by methods they thought appropriate and then were instructed on the scientific method of classification by univalve and bivalve. Students then sorted paper shells as a method of assessing knowledge. It...
Lesson Plan
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Elephants

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Learners research an elephant habit and present their findings to the class. In this elephant lesson plan, students also answer short answer questions about elephant characteristics and features.