Take your biology class' understanding of biodiversity to a whole new level! Ecology scholars use data to calculate three different diversity indices based on the organisms in the Gorongosa National Park. The four-part activity uses an...

Do you have young scientists wanting to make new discoveries rather than just completing the same experiments? Young scientists use their observational skills to identify animals and patterns in animal behavior. Through tracking...

Bring up the Deepwater Horizon (BP) oil spill that occurred in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. Display the colorful diagram of the coastal and marine organisms living in the area. Show a video about relocating the eggs of the Gulf's sea...

In the ecological game of who eats who, one small change can have a big impact! Individuals create food chains in an array of ecosystems, then determine what happens to organisms in the chain when one organism changes its feeding...

Packed with visual aids and multiple learning opportunities, an engaging exercise challenges individuals as they explore the role of producers, consumers, and decomposers. After discussing differences between food chains, food...

Get caught in a web of learning. Classmates play a game to build a web to model the interaction of species that live in a specific ecosystem. They each assume the role of one species and work together, passing a ball of twine to indicate...

Explore the amazing temperate rainforest of the Pacific Northwest. Your class starts by investigating the animals and plants of the Northwest, specifically Washington, and then research an animal population common to the area. In small...

Winogradsky columns are ideal for observing the role of bacteria and other microorganisms in an ecosystem. This student activity guide is complete with data tables for observations and analysis questions for processing what was observed....

What kinds of birds are common in the area? Young scientists use household supplies to create bird feeders. They then document the birds that come to their feeders by keeping journals. 

What did Earth look like 4.5 billion years ago, and what was the climate like then? Scholars explore a view of Earth throughout history. They observe continents moving, temperatures fluctuating, and huge changes in ecosystems. A...

There is nothing in the world quite like a bee. Here is a video that explains the importance of bees to pollination. Scholars consider possible solutions to the declining population of bees in the ninth and final installment in the series.

An activity for students to document biodiversity and observe ecological interactions in their own backyard.

A project for students to research an ecosystem. During their research, students will learn about the services that the ecosystems provides humans. In the second part of the project, students will argue whether a wetland should be...

Students will conduct a field investigation to learn about the environment. They will observe biotic and abiotic factors of an ecosystem. Students can use the CBL 2 and a temperature probe to collect data and a graphing calculator to...

A great site with something for all grades. Do research on rainforests, follow field research on animals in Latin America, and show what you know through interactive assessments. Lots to see on this site which is a collaboration of...

In this activity, students will use their observation skills to find the physical variation in several individuals from one species.

By looking at the bottom dwelling macroinvertebrates, students will investigate water quality and habitat quality in this field lab. Students will record the number of creatures found at the bottom of a pond, lake, ditch, stream or river...

[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about changes in biodiversity and the chain reaction of problems they can cause. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.

In this lesson, students learn about the biodiversity of a wetlands ecosystem, then focus on the Barataria Preserve near New Orleans. They then research five species that live there, and follow up by trying to identify the land type in...

After learning about the diversity of wildlife in the Gulf of Mexico, students focus on birds and their patterns of behavior. They then how an oil spill might affect migrating birds, and possible ways to help them in the event of an oil...

An activity for students to explore biodiversity distribution in some extreme ecosystems and in their backyard.

Try this experiment around your yard or school and see how biodiversity at the plant level affects biodiversity at the insect level.

Find the answers to the ecosystem activity about function.

Find out why vegetation such as trees and shrubs play important roles in ecosystems.