Curated OER
Encoded Meanings
Students explore symbols in art and complete related activities. In this art symbols lesson, students compare symbols they recognize to those of an African culture. Students create a collaborative work of art with symbols that have an...
Curated OER
Short Poems Are Scary!
What do all those chairs and pencils do in the classroom once everyone leaves? Allow imaginations to run wild with frighteningly short poems!
August House
Go to Sleep, Gecko!
A cute folktale from Bali tells the story of Gecko, Elephant, and Buffalo, and Gecko's struggle to sleep. After reading Go to Sleep, Gecko, learners focus on comprehension questions, singing and learning about geckos, building a house...
Curated OER
A Day in the life of...
Students read about and study insects--their distinguishing characteristics, habitats, camouflage methods, defense mechanisms, etc. They draw pictures and write a story from the viewpoint of an insect and share their pictures and stories...
Curated OER
Biodiversity in Illinois-Pond Habitats
Second graders construct a pond habitat in the classroom using a small swimming pool partially filled with water, real cattails, a tree log adjoining, and plastic animal life appropriate to a pond setting. They examine the frog in detail...
Curated OER
Coqui Frog Camouflage
Students investigate the concept of the coqui frog of Puerto Rico. They conduct research using a variety of resources. Students explain in oral or written form some of the characteristics to that identify the frog. The lesson includes...
Curated OER
Choose Your Defense: Spines, Vomit and Camouflage
Students investigate defensive mechanisms of insects and organisms. For this biology lesson, students draw imaginary caterpillars as well as imaginary parasites that will harm the caterpillar. Students utilize the Internet to discover...
Curated OER
Underwater Hide and Seek
Learners explain why color patterns that are easy to see above water may be difficult to detect under water and experience the problems predators face when searching for camouflaged prey.
Curated OER
Color Your World with Changes --- the Camouflage Game
Seventh graders, after predicting dominant colors foud in their habitat or garden, visit heir area on a monthly basis. They search for colored toothpicks, then graph the results, determining the dominant color for the month.
Curated OER
Animals In Winter
Students read story Animals in Winter, and explore similarities and differences in how humans and other animals prepare for survival in winter. Students create class book that compares and illustrates different ways humans and animals...
Curated OER
Introduce Vocabulary: I See Animals Hiding
Students are introduced to the story " I See Animals Hiding" and define key vocabulary words from the story. In this instructional activity aimed at reinforcing vocabulary, students listen to the usage of vocabulary words in the story....
Curated OER
Shh...It's a Secret!
Students explore codes, decode secret messages, and create codes of their own to use with their friends. They examine the use of gestures, letters, symbols and numbers in codes.
Curated OER
Constitutional Issues: The Separation of Powers
Students research and stage a debate on the question: RESOLVED that the Constitution should be amended to provide for a parliamentary system of government. They debate if a parliamentary system of government might be better.
Curated OER
Lord of the Flies: Chapter 4 Reading and Study Guide
In this reading and study guide worksheet, learners define 8 vocabulary words, define 1 literary term, and respond to 24 short answer questions pertaining to chapter 4 of William Golding's Lord of the Flies.
Curated OER
Magic Tree House - Afternoon on the Amazon (Ch. 4)
In this comprehension worksheet, students read the book Afternoon on the Amazon chapter 4 from Magic Tree House, and answer short answer questions and define vocabulary words. Students complete 10 problems.
Curated OER
Trout Cookies
Students explore the external anatomy of a fish. In this anatomy and adaptations lesson, students look at an image of a trout and identify its various external features including fins, eyes, spots, parr marks and lateral line. Students...
National Science Teachers Association
Hop into Action
Young scientists find out what makes amphibians such unique and interesting animals in this simple life science lesson. After looking at pictures and discussing the characteristics of amphibians, learners complete a series of three Venn...
Curated OER
Now You See Me, Now You Don't
Bioluminescence fascinates most upper elementary scientists. Display images of different glowing deep-sea organisms and discuss their environment. Young biologists then experiment with images and different colors of filtered light. In...
Curated OER
Pika Chew
Students work in collaborative teams with specific roles, use the Internet to research the behavior and ecology of pikas, make predictions about survival rates of pikas in different habitats and organize their data in graphs.
Curated OER
The Great Barracuda
Students explore oceanography by researching the great barracuda. In this animal life lesson, students read several vocabulary terms dealing with ocean life and examine a drawing of a barracuda. Students examine the many...
Curated OER
Structural and Behavioral Adaptations
Students participate in a role playing lab that allows students to experience how different beak adaptations play a role in the type of food the animal can eat, therefore playing a role in the survival of the species.
Curated OER
Body Language? The Language of Contemporary Fashion
Students examine the messages given to others based on their clothing. In groups, they compare and contrast the clothes of today with those from the 1980s. While being shown a picture of a piece of clothing, they practice object...
Curated OER
Side by Side: Butterfly Wings and Symmetry
Students observe butterfly images and then draw and paint their own design. They use this activity to explain symmetry.
Curated OER
Life Cycles
Using computers, Students work in small groups and progress through the roles of Explorer, Researcher, Designer, and Evaluator as they study the life cycle of plants, insects, butterflies and frogs.