Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wat-er We Good For?

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders investigate the use of water as a resource that needs to be conserved. They practice the skill of water conservation by taking a home survey of water usage and modify the use in order to decrease the wasting of water.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Does Evolution Work?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students pretend they are a scientist like John Endler in this Web activity. They visit his pools, from hypotheses, and test them out. In the process, the explore about natural selection and sexual selection. They are able to explain the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creating an Experimental Design

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research the damage to the environment by certain plant species. They create an experimental design which they test how these species take over certain habitats. They share their information with the class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Design Your Own Biological Experiment

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars work together to research a topic of interest to them. They form hypothesis and complete experiments testing them. They present their findings to the class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wetland Ecosystems: Non-living and Living Components and Brine Shrimp

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students explore wetland ecosystems. In this wetland lesson, students discuss and observe salt ponds and the organisms that live there. They explain how abiotic and biotic factors of species are important to survival.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

FLY HIGH!!!

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students create their own bird study in their own schoolyard using the scientific method (see Testing a Hypothesis in Join the Project). Students do research in the library, at a local college, or on the Internet to determine the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Environmental Risk Management

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers investigate the concepts related to managing the environment. They conduct research using a variety of resources. Students cite examples of different organisms that have been targeted to become endangered. They answer...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Urban Impact on Chollas Creek (California): A Field Study

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students, in groups, take samples from a creek and keep a field journal on their samples. They also perform tests on their samples.
Lesson Plan
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The Importance of Water

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Young scholars explore the importance of water. They discuss why water is important and students design an experiment that evaluates the water quality and methods of improving water quality. Young scholars perform testing and report...
Lesson Plan
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Acid Rain

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify the causes and effects of acid rain. Using the internet, they research pollution sources in their local area and by collecting rain samples and testing the pH. In groups, they develop their own plan urging local...
Lesson Plan
Polar Trec

Animal Monitoring Introduction

For Teachers 3rd - 4th Standards
Not only do mealworms taste great, they are also great for classroom science lessons. In pairs, young scientists observe and record what they see as they check out what their mealworms are doing from minute to minute. Each minute...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sour and Bitter: Acids and Bases

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders distinguish between acids and bases. In this pH lesson, 10th graders view a PowerPoint and discuss the characteristics of an acid and a base. They investigate natural substances to determine the pH level of each.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Designer Seeds

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Learners enjoy the challenge of the seed structure design component of this activity and become very competitive as they seek to create a seed that travel farthest.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Why Do Some Birds Have Two Homes When We Have One?

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders study migratory birds in the temperate forest and the tropical rainforest. In this migratory birds lesson, 6th graders participate in different activities that explain patterns  of migration, research patterns of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Diversity of Life: Geologic Time Scale

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students investigate the history of Earth by creating a geologic time scale.  In this Earth History lesson, students practice sequencing events in their life as a way to get familiar with creating a time scale.  Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stomata: Microscopic Openings that Let Plants Breathe

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Young scholars participate in a lab experiment to observe and measure the opening and closing of stomata. They focus on photoperiod, locate and identify stomata on a leaf and explain the role of stomata in the daily functioning of a plant.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oh Deer! and English Learner Writing Extensions

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Students follow deer through Yellowstone Park and record the number of deer from year to year. In this basic needs of deer lesson, students work in small groups and chart the number of deer each year and give explanations using as...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's A Water Column Profile?

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students investigate water column data. In this earth science and seawater lesson, students determine how temperature, salinity, and density have an impact on sea water by viewing and analyzing data obtained from a number of websites....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Reef of Your Own

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research and study the life and reproductive strategies of reef building corals. They examine how coral reefs can produce high levels of biological material when they are surviving in areas of low nutrition.
Lesson Plan
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Life of a Logger

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students are introduced to the work and lives of 19th century lumberjacks through a living history slide show presentation. They compare and contrast life 150 years ago with the present. Students describe the history of logging in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simulating the Effects of Biodegradable Wastes on Dissolved Oxygen

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students evaluate the relationship between biodegradable waste and dissolved oxygen in water.  In this biodegradable wastes instructional activity students complete a lab activity in groups then analyze their results.
Lesson Plan
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Succession and Experimental Process

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students describe the roles of controlled, manipulated and responding variables in scientific research. They also identify biotic and abiotic interactions affecting the makeup of a plant community.
Lesson Plan
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Field Experiments on Succession

For Teachers Higher Ed
Student develop a hypothesis regarding the effects of either mowing or fertilizer upon the diversity of plant species in a grassland ecosystem. They set up experiment field plots and measure species richness.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Portable Niche

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders, in groups, research animals, plants, and conditions found in ecosystems.