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The Salmon Stream and Vegetation
Students explore the ecosystem and food chain by researching Pacific Salmon. In this fish habitat lesson, students discover the life cycle for salmon, where they spawn and what they eat to survive the harsh elements. Students participate...
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Happy Habitats
Students explore different habitats. In this habitat lesson, students investigate four different habitats through participating in a WebQuest. Students create an animal web using Kidspiration or a video documentary upon completing the...
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Activity 4: Alvin Dive, A Mysterious Encounter and Change Over Time
Students receive copies of the Time Series Observations to use for note-taking. They work in small groups to discuss what they see when the outside lights of Alvin are turned on, and off, where the bacteria may have come from. They view...
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Freshwater Ecosystems Closing Lesson
High schoolers create a commercial on how to care for fresh water. In this environmental science lesson, students write a script and use materials as props in the commercial. They present it in class and share comments and feedback.
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My Biotic Creation
Eighth graders explore different ecosystems. In this ecosystem survival instructional activity conditions instructional activity students create their own fictional creature.
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Understanding Cause and Effect using A Sound of Thunder
Pupils listen to a short story, A Sound of Thunder, and retell parts of the story which is about time travel. They respond to the story by writing cause/effect outcomes about the ecosystem using a handout.
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Reading Through Rainforests
Students investigate the concept of the rainforest through the use of nonfiction texts. The teacher reads to the class to give some information. Then they read their own books to find further information and perform the follow activities...
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Predator and Prey Game
Students explore the why the balance among producers, predators and prey is necessary in order for an ecosystem to be sustained over time. Through web games and activities, they discover how each component of the food chain works to...
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Science NetLinks: Burrowing Owls
Learners investigate the example of the burrowing owl to illustrate how human activities can control the fate of species. The research is focused on the ecosystem and examining the different species within it.
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Forest Grump
Students consider the definition of an ecosystem, its parts, and how these parts can be affected when the ecosystem is endangered. They examine dangers being faced by the Canadian boreal forest by reading "For Billions of Birds, an...
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Non Native Species: English Ivy-Landscape Plant or Deadly Killer?
Students examine an area overrun by English Ivy. They explore how invasive species affect an ecosystem. They also study about the lack of biodiversity and how to measure it out in the field.
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Fish Are Animals Too
Students create posters that show how a shark is a major predator in kelp forests and coral reefs after studying the food webs for these ecosystems. They determine that fish are important animals in the ocean's web of life.
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Prairies
Students identify the basic characteristics of the prairie ecosystem, and several commonly known prairie species. They create a classroom mural of a prairie ecosystem; and create reports about what they have found out.
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Backyard Wildlife Conservation
Young scholars survey local wildlife. They distinguish between permanent and migrating or seasonal species. Students identify species and describe the ecological niche. Young scholars research the food chain and food web for the...
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Eco-Poetry
Students explore the Earth's various biomes and ecosystems using Internet research. They create a multimedia poem using the photos, sounds, and vocabulary from their research.
Michigan Sea Grant
Fish Habitat and Humans
Strict habitat requirements are needed for the survival of fish populations and fish variety in the Great Lakes. Young scientists become experts in the basic needs of fish and understand how survival necessities can vary with different...
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Beaver Ecology
Students explore the lives of bgeahvers. They identify the physical and behavioral adaptations that help beavers survive in their environment. Students compare and contrast how beavers influence the ecology of both forest and aquatic...
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Pond and Pond Organisms
Students explore pond ecosystems. In this pond organism activity, students will use pond water and a plastic bad in order to locate and identify freshwater organisms. The activity is designed for younger grades, but includes an...
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Population Patterns
Students study patterns of population growth in an ecosystem and why populations must remain in balance. They interpret basic population graphs and suggest scenarios about different population growth patterns in an ecosystem.
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Deep Sea Coral Biodiversity
Young scholars research life forms on tropical coral reefs in order to explore the biodiversity of the ecosystem. In this biodiversity lesson students work in groups and complete their coral reef activity.
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What Role Do Forest Play in Continuing or Renewing Our Planet's Resources?
High schoolers explore the interaction between the forest and wildlife. In this forestry lesson, students collect data about forest ecosystems, species of trees, photosynthesis, and interaction of organisms. They prepare a lab activity...
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Does the increased use of fertilizers effect biodiversity?
Students conduct a hands-on lab activity in which they analyze a sample of water from a local stream or pond. They introduce a fertilizer solution into the sample and analyze and describe their findings.
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Living Things Depend upon Each Other
Students research animals. They identify the animals' struggle for survival, and internalize the importance of preserving an ecosystem with animal life.They collect information and write a report on their findings. Additional cross...
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What Is In The Water?
Students investigate the biotic and abiotic factors that are found in an aquatic ecosystem. The emphasis is upon the investigation of present an projections of future water quality. Then students visit a local body of water to gather...