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Cloning a Living Organism

For Teachers 6th - 12th
It's the attack of the clones! Not to worry; these are just plant clones. Teen horticulturalists will enjoy growing their own clone into a plant in an activity designed to be revisited after a few weeks. It is one experiment that kids...
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It's the Law

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Learners explain various scientific laws used in SCUBA diving. In this theory based instructional activity, students examine and explain how temperature, density, and salinity relate to SCUBA diving using various scientific laws to...
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Coral Reefs

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Learners research coral reefs and identify their benefits to humans, threats to the reef, how to reduce and eliminate threats, and more. In this coral reef lesson plan, students research the reefs, and take a field trip to an aquarium.
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Toward a Sustainable Agriculture

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Learners analyze organic production systems. In this organic agriculture lesson, students examine key organic practices for both crop and livestock. This lesson includes 5 different activities, 4 critical thinking questions and...
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A Frog's Life Story

For Teachers K - 8th
Students investigate the lives of frogs by completing several worksheets.  In this biology lesson, students discover the life cycle of a frog from tadpole to death.  Students complete frog life cycle puzzle as well as create a...
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Alien Invasions!

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students use video and Internet components, to gain an understanding of non-native invasive plants and animals and the ecological and monetary problems they cause.
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The Gaia Hypothesis: An Approach to Problem Solving in the Environment

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students are introduced to the Gaia hypothesis by examining a conceptual sketch. In groups, they analyze the way they can use Dewey's method for problem solving to solve problems within the environment. They are given a problem facing...
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Paper Makers

For Teachers K - 5th
Students make recycled paper out of scrap paper, water, and leaves. In this natural resources lesson plan, students learn about conservation of the forest and how we can use recycled paper to fuel our paper supply.
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Prairie Restoration and Prairie Ecology

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students collect data as they identify and classify native prairie plants and insects. They create their own population study using a variety of sampling techniques to determine the population density of various species. Students...
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Where are all the Animals?

For Teachers K - 9th
Students view animals that camouflage at the Shedd aquarium website. In this camouflage lesson, students recognize that there are different types of camouflage, cryptic coloring, counter-shading, warning coloration and mimicry. Students...
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Habitat Art: Florida Panthers

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Students discover the lifestyles of a Florida Panther by investigating its habitat.  For this wild animal lesson, students utilize the Internet to research the habits of a Panther and what their habitat is.  Students create an...
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The Good, The Bad and The Arctic

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students examine the impact of a major climate change in the Arctic Ocean on the rest of the world. They use the Internet to research the Arctic region and the wildlife that lives there.
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The Good, The Bad, and the Arctic

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the social, economic and environmental consequences that might result from Arctic climate change. Students identify and discuss at least three consequences.
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Salmon and the Non-Native Species

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students investigate the affect of non-native species on Pacific Salmon. In this non-native species and Pacific Salmon lesson, students participate in a competition and habitat loss game. They play the game in groups, while answering...
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Great Blobs of Jelly!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners explain how zoo-plankton have an impact on the global process.  In this ocean zoo-plankton lesson plan students calculate carbon flux and plankton densities. 
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Do You Have the Key?

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students practice using a dichotomous key. In this classification lesson, students read an article about scientific exploration and identification of new species. They use a dichotomous key to identify objects and create their own key.
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Outta Gas

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners explore practical problems that are related to scuba diving.  In this oxygen lesson students complete a lab activity. 
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Ocean Drifters

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students define terms, and identify three ways in which plankton are adapted for life in the open ocean.  In this ocean drift lesson students design a planktonic organism. 
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Pond Life Identification Kit

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars explore ecology and biodiversty. They use the wet-mount procedure to make several slides to view using the microscope and draw what they see.
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Charting Diversity

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Pupils organize different species of plans and animals according to various characteristics. Students then determine what characteristics enable them to survive in their habitat. Game ideas and activities are included.
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Invasive Aquatic Plant Identification

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students observe aquatic plants and animals and identify their systems. In this plants and animals lesson plan, students compare systems of organisms and orally express how plants and animals rely on each other.
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Natural Selection

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students use discussion questions, handout information and research topics to explore several issues related to natural selection and evolution. They examine Darwin's research on the finch and antibiotic resistance.
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Climate Watch

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students participate in a national survey of biological indicators of climate change by gathering and submitting data on local plants and animals.
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Species Diversity and Phylogeny

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the classification system of organisms: taxonomy. They examine prepared slides of Protozoans and record information on a Taxonomy Recording Sheet. Two additional classifying activities are also included in this lesson.