Purdue University
Invasive Plants: Impact on Environment and People
It's the attack of the invasive species! Young scientists simulate the behavior of an invasive species with a game-like activity. They assume the roles of native plants, invasive plants, and resources and watch the invasive plant takes...
CK-12 Foundation
CK-12 Earth Science Concepts for Middle School
Explore a variety of science concepts in an interactive textbook created for middle school scholars. A lengthy table of contents takes readers to pages comprised of a subject overview, outline, and summary. Follow links further to find...
Curated OER
Teeter Totter
Students explore the two types of spotted sandpipers. They create a puppet show using the spotted sandpiper from Puerto Rico and the spotted sandpiper from Alaska. Students research the habitats of the two sandpipers.
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My Life as a Loggerhead
Students discuss the current flow of the Gulf Stream and the characteristics of the Sargasso Sea. They visit websites to gather information on loggerhead sea turtles. Students imagine that they are newly hatched loggerhead turtles.
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Environmental Risk Management
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...
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Mussel Movements
Students consider the impact of invasive species on local environments. In this ecology lesson plan, watch the video, Arizona Wildlife Views, which focuses on invasive species. Students develop vocabulary, relate to meaningful...
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Living Environment
In this environment worksheet students complete a series of multiple choice questions and short answers on plant and animal species and populations in an ecosystem.
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Plankton / Phytoplankton
Students discuss the importance of plankton in the ocean ecosystem. For this biology lesson, students identify the different types plankton by observing them under the microscope. They explain how plankton population affect global climate.
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Terrestrial Ecozones, Population Density and Species at Risk
Tenth graders navigate and use the online Atlas of Canada. They explain the cause and effect relationship between human settlement and the natural environment and wildlife species. They utilize a worksheet imbedded in this plan.
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The Changing Coral Reef Community Game
Students examine organisms that inhabit the coral reefs and their living requirements. In this coral reef lesson students chart population changes and play a game.
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Wildlife Sampling-Capture-Recapture
Seventh graders simulate the capture-recapture method of population sampling using beans. In this biology instructional activity, 7th graders calculate the total population of beans in the bowl. They assess whether this method is...
Curated OER
Can You Find a Solution?
Students explore the topic of public conservation. In this Florida panthers lesson, students read a scenario about the endangered panther and collaborate to plan a way to protect the panther population. Students also participate in a...
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Wild Animal Science
Learners discover how environmental factors impact the survival of a population. In this landscape design lesson, students create a new animal and discuss the relationship between the animal and its environment before creating a habitat...
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Genetic Disorders with Cultural Roots: International Insects
Students recognize that certain populations have specific genetic disorders that could benefit or harm them in their environment, work out punnett square problems and infer offspring probabilities from results, and provide advantages and...
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Science NetLinks: Burrowing Owls
Students 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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Our Forest is Changing
Young scholars read a story and solve a problem about an unhealthy population of trees. In this forest instructional activity students study tree disease and then research it online and present what they found.
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Quadrat Sampling 101
Students explore the population of grass plants in a given area. They plan and conduct a sampling activity to estimate the population of dandelions or the number of grass blades on the school grounds.
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Why So Many Frogs?
Students explain the different stages in the growth of a frog, then analyze and collect data to make generalizations about a larger population. They determine the survival rate of a population of tadpoles under controlled conditions.
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Ecology and the Conservation of Natural Resources Lesson 2
Students compare and contrast abiotic and biotic factors. They discuss how these factors effect ecosystems. They answer questions to complete the lesson.
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What If We Run Out?
Students explore the consequences of shrinking habitats and the human impact on wildlife populations. They participate in a game to study the consequences and describe the preservation of animal habitats.
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Sustainability: Our Environment
Pupils explore the sustainability of our environment, the trend in rising temperatures and the emission of greenhouse cases. Using given data, students test and construct a confidence interval and the difference between two population...
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Community Distribution
In this community distribution instructional activity, students will review 5 terms associated with biomes, ecosystems, and communities. Students will then match 11 terms as either relating to marine biomes or land biomes. This...
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Ecuadorian Rainforest: If the Forests Could Talk
Third graders explore the delicate balance the must be maintained in a rainforest ecosystem. In this ecosystems instructional activity, 3rd graders learn about the importance of "little things" such as bugs or a certain plant in the...
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Puerto Rican Parrot Paradise
Young scholars investigate the environment of the Puerto Rican Parrot. They visualize the ecosystem with and without information. They conduct research to find information and participate in classroom discussion to demonstrate...