Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Environmental Security and Ecological Intervention

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine environmental changes .  In this investigative lesson students view a film then complete and activity that includes a debate. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Impact of Exotic Species on Lake Ecology

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the effect of foreign species on various habitats. In groups, they identify the population dynamics of the zebra mussel. They calculate averages and graph data from Seneca Lake in New York. They develop hypothesis...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecology: Symbiosis

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders identify various types of symbiotic relationships. For this ecology lesson, 8th graders predict whether certain organisms can form symbiosis with other organisms. They discuss and defend their reasoning.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to Ecology

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders identify the living and nonliving components of an ecosystem. In this ecology lesson, 8th graders explain the role each organism plays. They participate in class discussion and answer a quiz at the end of the lesson.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecology: Effects of Land Use on Natural Streams

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders examine how humans affect various ecosystems. In this ecology lesson, 8th graders discuss different ways that contaminants enter the stream. They explain the consequences of eutrophication in lakes.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Organisms

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students investigate various organisms in an attempt to understand the process of evolution and related ecological issues. This elementary lesson uses small plastic animals and includes a worksheet for student assessment and reflection.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to Organisms of the St. Mary's River

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify how the tank functions, what organisms are in the tank, and why each component of the tank is important. They are introduced to the organism eelgrass. Students explore the organism Fundulus.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Spiders: An Organism for Teaching Biology

For Teachers All
In this unit, the students explore basic ecology concepts and scientific processes using spiders as model organisms. They capture spiders, observe and care for them, and use them to answer their own questions about spider behavior....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Desert Plant Detectives

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Learners examine and categorize plants in their own schoolyard desert garden and then observe other plant areas of their schoolyard.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stabilization Wedges Game

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Teamwork and critical thinking combine to for a creative lesson on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Ebullient environmental studies learners play a game in which they strategize how to place colorful energy wedges together to create a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Math of Renewable Energy

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research additional information about questions on their worksheet. In this energy activity, students develop visual aids of their proposed solution to the problem. They present their work in class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Matter of Accountability

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Pupils conduct a mock trial focusing on environmental accountability of industrialized nations. As an example, they evaluate evidence provided on carbon dioxide emissions. They participate in a mock trial of industrialized nations by the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wetland vs. Stream Macroinvertebrates

For Teachers 9th - 12th
A link to a comprehensive macroinvertebrate guide gives you the information needed to prepare for this field study activity. Sample macroinvertebrates are collected from areas representing different environmental conditions. Junior...
Lesson Plan
Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Section Two: Why is Biodiversity Important?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Explore soil, genetic traits, natural resources, and pollution in a series of lessons that focus on biodiversity. Kids complete experiments to learn more about the importance of varied genes and organisms in an ecosystem.
Lesson Plan
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Education Outside

Animal Homes in the Garden

For Teachers 1st Standards
First graders journey to the school garden to examine the habitats of garden animals. Using the provided graphic organizer, kids locate and sketch a critter and its habitat before returning it to its home.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Biosphere

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students examine the basic biosphere and its components.  In this ecology lesson students complete several experiments including designing a system that is balanced to sustain life.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecology and the Conservation of Natural Resources

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Pupils examine the habits of various organism and evaluate the need for conserving natural resources. They role-play as migrating birds traveling between habitats encountering hazards along the way. They observe animals in a terrarium...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecological Relationships

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify ecological elements and their factors on species, populations and food webs. They analyze ecosystems for these elements and research how these factors influence species survival rate. Predictions on conditions over time...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecology - Biodiversity Lab

For Teachers 9th
Studnents examine the degree of biodiversity that exists in one's everyday environment, in order to develop an understanding of how scientists classify organisms and to explain why biodiversity is important for living things.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tortoise Tales

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students read journal entry from a Gal??pagos field researcher, find examples of five ecological relationships (competition, predation, parasitism, mutualism, and commensalism) and take notes on the details they find in the entry using a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pond Life Identification Kit

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars explore ecology and biodiversty. They use the wet-mount procedure to make several slides to view using the microscope and draw what they see.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Interactions Among Living Things

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students role play predators and prey, classify organisms as predator or prey, and describe factors that affect population growth and size.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cypress/Tupelo Swamps

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students study the geologic history of terrain, soils, and drainage patterns. They recognize ecological processes that determine the dynamic nature of habitats. They investigate the influence of human activity on the landscape.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecosystems - Plants and Animals Together

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students study the biotic and abiotic factors of an environment.  In this exploratory lesson plan students examine the different trophic levels and how organisms are connected.