Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reptiles and Amphibians

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore biology by viewing animal videos in class. In this amphibian and reptile lesson plan, 4th graders identify the key differences between reptiles, amphibians and other animal classifications. Students view video...
Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

Adaptation and Evolution

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Um may be the atomic symbol for confusion, but it won't be needed in this lesson. Scholars rotate through seven stations completing experiments, hands-on activities, writing exercises, and analysis. Stations include material on...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Clearly Classified

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners investigate plants and insects.  In this science classification lesson, students create separate categories for insects and plants by characteristics.  Learners discover scientific names of insects.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

WHAT, IF ANYTHING, IS A ZEBRA?

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students read the essay, "What, If Anything, Is a Zebra?" following a teacher made reading guide. They investigate cladistics, shared derived characteristics, with further online research to enhance their study of evolution and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Studying Species By Examining the Evolution of the Canidae Family

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students read an article on the characteristics of wolves and dogs then complete a phylogenetic tree of the canid family. They then write an essay justifying why or why not wolves and dogs should be classified as different species.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fun with Phylogenetic Trees

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders differentiate angiosperms and gymnosperms. For this biology lesson, 10th graders construct a musical phylogenetic tree from information they gathered on resource websites. They present their project in class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Different Fresh Water Ecosystems

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Young scholars summarize the characteristics of an ecosystem. In this biology lesson, students identify five major fresh water ecosystem. They define terms and write a journal about what they learned.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Use of Biocards for Topical Review

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students create biocards to represent vocabulary from their biology course. They review and reinforce their basic knowledge of terminology, structures, or concepts. They create the cards to test themselves or classmates.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Time Machine: Evolution, Geology

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Students are taken on a simulated "voyage" backward in time, to the beginning of our planet. They "witness" that beginning, the origin of life, and a number of key events from then to the present.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sea Turtles

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate eight different species of sea turtles while being involved in classroom lecture and video presentation. The characteristics used to identify sea turtles is taught to help students identify unknown species.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecology and the St. Lawrence River

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders complete a unit of lessons on ecosystems, organism interactions, and energy flow. They create a key for known species of fish, diagram the movement of energy through an ecosystem, and create and present food chains and food...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Three Worm Phyla

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders examine the three worm phyla. In this classification lesson, 9th graders observe, compare and contrast the planarian, tapeworm, and fluke.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wildlife Around the World

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine how plants are able to adapt to their ecosystem and the role that fire plays in changes through the years.  In this ecosystem lesson plan students complete several exercises focussing on plants and their adaptations...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Birds and the Beaks

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students explore the adaptations that birds have.  In this adaptations lesson students view a video and create a concept map of birds and their adaptive traits.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Reptiles and Birds

For Students 4th - 8th
For this classification worksheet, students review 5 vocabulary terms that describe reptiles or birds. These 5 terms are placed into a crossword puzzle.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Studying Species by Examining the Evolution of the Canidae Family

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students examine the definition of species. Students complete a phylogentic tree of the Canidae family. They write an essay justifying why or why not wolves and dogs should be classified as different species.
Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

Viruses

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Germs, parasites, and viruses, oh my! Facilitate a lesson on viruses as individuals explore functions of Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya. They learn how viruses compare with other organisms in nature and how they contribute to health...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ten Important Hardwoods

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discuss ten important Pennsylvania hardwood trees, examine characteristics of each tree species, evaluate economic and ecological importance of hardwood trees, and recognize at least two characteristics of each species.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Into the Pond

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders use a pond to explore macroinvertebrates and other organisms. They use a dichotomous key to classify the organisms and maintain a journal recording their findings.
Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

A Designed Organism

For Teachers 9th - 12th
How can you encourage pupils to demonstrate creativity while still meeting the objective of applying technical knowledge? This activity is your answer! Scientists will create an imaginary creature and prepare a graphic organizer with...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Species Distribution Project

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students explore how to classify new species.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Show Some Backbone and Teach Invertebrates

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders identify two similarities and two differences between two phyla, assign fictitious invertebrate to its phylum and explain why it belongs in that grouping, and construct member of given phylum and explain why it should be...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Journey with a Scientist

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Learners work in groups as they read chapters of Charles Darwin's, Voyage of the Beagle. They take notes on the chapter and in their group make a timeline of the chapter. They tape the timelines together in order to depict the entire...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Leaf Pack Study

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Young scholars conduct an experiment using leaf packs.  For this leaf lesson students complete an activity in groups and complete a handout.