Biology Junction
Energy Flow in an Ecosystem
Every living thing requires a food source, thus the interconnections in ecosystems become complex. Scholars learn about these interconnections in a presentation on energy flow. It starts with the sun and moves through many different...
Curated OER
The Principles of Ecology
In this ecology worksheet, students complete a word search by finding 21 terms associated with habitat, ecology, biosphere, and niche.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Lesson 1: WildCam Gorongosa
Take a walk on the wild side! Episode one of an eight-part series of interactive lessons regarding Gorongosa National Park invites learners to become a part of the citizen science community. Scholars read a brief overview of the trail...
Curated OER
Backyard Wildlife Conservation
Students survey local wildlife. They distinguish between permanent and migrating or seasonal species. Students identify species and describe the ecological niche. Students research the food chain and food web for the backyard...
Curated OER
Teaching Kids about the Environment
Fifth graders identify the species of plants and animals found in an environment. They compare these findings to plant and animal species found in an unlike environment. Students acquire and compare soil samples from the two sites chosen.
Curated OER
Insect Condominiums
Fourth graders design an insect home using recyclable materials making sure that the organism's needs are met. They study the concepts of niche, habitat and survival requirements.
Curated OER
Life in Extreme Environments
Learners compare and contrast local environments with the extreme environment of the Dry Valleys, Antarctica. Students explore and gain knowledge of the adaptations organisms use to survive extreme conditions and the diverse conditions...
Curated OER
A Coastal Arctic Food Web
High schoolers create a food web of the arctic ecosystem. In this biology lesson, students explain how global warming affects this ecosystem. They explain how losing a species affects the entire community.
Curated OER
Bluebirds Ecology Vocabulary Exercise
In this bluebirds worksheet, students categorize bluebird species found in their state and define vocabulary related to it. Students complete 6 vocabulary words.
Curated OER
Studying Fossils
Students hypothesize dinosaur size and speed by looking at dinosaur track way or by measuring a dinosaur models water displacement. In addition, techniques to help students become familiar with the ways paleontologists study fossils can...
Curated OER
Mountain Pine Beetles
Students research and develop power point presentations that answer the question, "What is changing our forests?" In this ecology lesson, students research the niche of Pine Beetles and their increased effect on the forests in...
Curated OER
Introduction to Biomes
Eighth graders identify the different kinds of biomes. In this life science instructional activity, 8th graders explain their importance in an ecosystem. They take a BrainPop quiz at the end of the instructional activity..
Curated OER
Ecology: Adaptations
Eighth graders identify different types of adaptation in organisms. In this biology lesson, 8th graders explain how adaptation help organisms survive. They complete a worksheet at the end of the lesson.
Curated OER
The Portable Niche
Third graders, in groups, research animals, plants, and conditions found in ecosystems.
Curated OER
Insect Biology and Ecology: A Primer
Students explore insects and closely related organisms. They examine the growth and development of a lady beetle. Students classify insects and organize them. They investigate pest management.
Curated OER
Amoeba This!!! Amoeba That!!!
Students investigate protozoa. In this protozoa instructional activity, students identify and classify different types of protozoa using different ecological samples and protozoa charts.
Curated OER
The Physiological Tolerance of Two Species of Protozoans
Students examine the differences in pH tolerance between the two species and relate these differences to their respective niches.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Using DNA to Explore Lizard Phylogeny
In a fun and interactive two-day lesson, learners sort anole lizard pictures by appearance. Next, they watch a video about the anoles and re-sort based on the information in the video. In addition to physical characteristics, budding...
Curated OER
Reading Comprehension 5: Level 9
The piranha is the subject of a reading passage that is sure to engage your learners in a reading comprehension exercise. Pupils must employ multiple strategies to answer the questions based on the passage. Of particular value is the...
Curated OER
Little Auk Survival Challenge
A bird's life is one of danger and intrigue as it struggles for survival in sometimes harsh environments. To understand how difficult surviving in the wild can be, children play a simulation game where they act as little auks, birds from...
Berkeley Engineering and Mentors
Darwin's Finches
Try a twist on the old finch beak and chopsticks activity by using M&Ms on a Twister mat. Spoons, knives, forks, and chopsticks represent beaks and are randomly assigned to your little birds, who must collect as much food as possible...
Consortium for Ocean Science Exploration and Engagement (COSEE)
Arctic Smorgasbord
Though the walrus spends roughly one third of its time on land, it eats organisms that live on the bottom of the ocean. The first in a series of five, the lesson uses a variety of plant and animal cards to have scholars build an arctic...
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
The Day the Mesozoic Died
While this is not the traditional, step-by-step lesson plan, it is chock-full of material that you can easily incorporate into your earth history unit. Its main purpose is to serve as a guide to using a three-part film, The Day the...
Curated OER
Invertebrate Research Project
Young scholars keep a scientific research notebook on an invertebrate detailing its behavior and responses.