Lesson Plan
Curated OER

In Search of a Land Ethic

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research the theory that everything is connected to everything else. Students explore the concept of how do we put normative values on our nonhuman environment. Students investigate an ecologist and write an informational...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mystery Creek

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders are introduced to the Riparian Ecosystem. They define the following terms: riparian and riparian ecosystem. Students take a trip to the creek, where they make observations about the environment around them. They are...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Food Chain Game - A Lesson in Ecosystems

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students are divided into three groups, herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores which receive a certain number of lives. Once in their ecosystem (outside or the gym), the carnivores chase and eat either the herbivores or omnivores, the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring the Temperate Forest: Biodiversity and Interdependence

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the consequences of cutting down large amounts of forests throughout the world. In groups, they use the internet to complete a module taking them on a tour through different temperate forests. To end the lesson, they...
Interactive
Curated OER

Alternative Energy and Energy Saving Game

For Students 6th - 8th
For this alternative energy and energy saving game worksheet, students create a multimedia game to present facts and influence people's behaviors about alternative energy sources, with links to helpful web resources.
Interactive
Curated OER

Wetlands A - Z Book

For Students 4th - 8th
In this wetlands worksheet, learners follow directions on how to make an online a - z book about the wetlands. Students follow 5 sets of directions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigating Animals in Soil

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars investigate and observe small animal activity on a plot of land on their school grounds. In small groups they identify the five kingdoms of animals, stake out a small plot of ground, collect samples, record and analyze...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Year (a Day or a Week) In My Life as a Shorebird

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students describe the basic life history of one shorebird common to their area. They use the writing process which includes brainstorming, rough draft writing, peer editing, and re-writing to create a factually and grammatically...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fisheries in the Open Ocean

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students explore fisheries in the open ocean. In this ocean environment lesson, students study the impact fisheries have on the ocean habitat. Students complete a WebQuest and summary project regarding fisheries.
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Learning About the Food Chain

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Learning about the food chain opens a Pandora's Box of opportunities to learn about endangered animals and the environment.
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Teaching the Tragedy of the Commons: Natural Resource Depletion

For Teachers 4th - 8th
You can help your students understand resource depletion with simple activities that highlight the idea of the tragedy of the commons.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Vocabulary: Kansas Prairies

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore the ecosystem by reviewing scientific vocabulary terms. In this environmental awareness lesson, students identify the differences between abiotic and biotic factors and their relationship to the Earth. Students define...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ride the Wild Leaf Cycle

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders complete a worksheet. In this life cycle lesson, 4th graders learn about the leaf cycle and complete a worksheet where they put the leaf cycle steps in the correct order.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Populations- The Survival of the Fittest

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Young scholars examine the ways that populations become diverse and how mutation changes the diversity of a population.  In this exploratory lesson students study natural selection by completing a lab activity and discussing what...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Extensions - Biology Review Unit

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students engage in a variety of activities in order to review a Biology unit. For example, they research the Bird Flu, it's history, how it is spread, what has been done about it, what better options exist for controlling or removing it....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Charting Diversity

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students 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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

THE FARMER CARES FOR THE LAND

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students will identify cause and effect relationships in issues relating to Agriculture and the environment.Ask students to describe what farmers do. Then ask students to define the word "environmentalist." Ask students if they have...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Nutrition and Energy Flow

For Students 4th - 8th
In this energy flow worksheet, learners will complete 10 short answer questions based on a food web diagram. Then students will review different cycles in nature including the water cycle, carbon cycle, and energy cycle. This worksheet...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Habitat Dynamics

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Young scholars develop an interactive diary to record bird seed consumption. In this habitat lesson, students predict and record the amount of birdseed eaten each week by birds.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Big is Your Footprint?

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students create awareness for ways in which the "Western" lifestyle negatively impacts the Earth. They create awareness for alternatives to our current ways of living, eating and traveling. Students are challenged to talk with their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introducing Biodiversity

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students are introduced to the life around them. As a class, they discuss their prior knowledge about the habitats in their local area. Using the internet, they identify the basic components needed for biodiversity and the major...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Microbes and Climate

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students examine how microbes play a role in the climate system.  In this climate lesson students complete an activity, create a PowerPoint presentation and present it to the class. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Estuaries, Estuarine Habitats, and Adaptations

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers conduct research on estuaries. They design and construct an estuary, describe the physical characteristics of an estuary, and create a diagram illustrating an estuarine food web.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Living in Extreme Environments

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the characteristics of the ocean floor and the importance of of extreme environments.  In this investigative lesson plan students use four methods to sample populations, gather, record and analyze data from a...