University of Georgia
Land Biomes Project
Challenge scholars to research a biome and create a presentation for the producers of Survivor to choose their ecosystem for the next season's show. The materials include outlines, worksheets, and grading rubrics for individuals as well...
Curated OER
Ecosystems
A critical look into the structure and function of ecosystems is here for young learners as a series of lessons and worksheet activities. Topics covered include land-based and marine ecosystems, connections to the water cycle, food...
Teach Engineering
Working Together to Live Together
Whose home is it anyway? Design teams plan a housing development in which they must also protect a native species. The teams consist of a project manager, civil engineer, environmental engineer, and graphic designer. Teams present their...
California Academy of Science
Tropical Belt
Where in the world is the equator? Explore a world map with your class, coloring in oceans, continents, and rainforests while locating the three major lines of latitude: the equator, Tropic of Cancer, and Tropic of Capricorn. Discuss how...
Alabama Wildlife Federation
Mesh Bag Collector
Who knew bugs could be so informative? A hands-on activity has pupils assess the sustainability of a water ecosystem based on the presence of invertebrates. The class places a homemade trap in a local pond, and after several weeks,...
Science Matters
Plot Study
Small groups investigate plots of land to discover how abiotic and biotic factors interact. After recording their findings, scholars share observations with peers and self-reflect on the learning process.
Teach Engineering
Computer Simulation of the Sonoran Desert Community
See how changes in initial populations and parameters affect a biological community. Individuals use a special software program to simulate a desert community with five species. They adjust initial populations to see how the community...
Science Matters
Seed Adaptations for Dispersal
After a grand conversation about seeds, adaptation, and dispersal, scholars work collaboratively to examine seeds and record their findings on a four-column chart. Small groups share their observations and further discuss seed...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Home Sweet Biome: How Do Plants Grow in Different Environments?
In this science fair project you will learn about biomes and how different climatic conditions affect plant growth. This can explain why some plants and animals are similar in different areas of the country, and in other parts they are not.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Endangered Ecosystems: Build a Food Web
Investigate some animals and see where they are in the food web. Build your own food web and relate it to the endangered species biomes.
Scholastic
Scholastic Explorers: Endangered Ecosystems
A great site with something for all grades. Do research on rainforests, follow field research on animals in Latin America, and show what you know through interactive assessments. Lots to see on this site which is a collaboration of...
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Glencoe Middle School Science: Biodiversity and Ecosystems
Students will conduct a field investigation to learn about the environment. They will observe biotic and abiotic factors of an ecosystem. Students can use the CBL 2 and a temperature probe to collect data and a graphing calculator to...
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Activities: Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
A project for students to research an ecosystem. During their research, students will learn about the services that the ecosystems provides humans. In the second part of the project, students will argue whether a wetland should be...
abcteach
Abcteach: Habitats and Biomes
[Free Registration/Login Required] Find a variety of activities for children to do as they learn to identify varying habitats and biomes. Included are links to an even more extensive list of resources under coral reef, desert, grassland,...
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Answers to the Exploration Questions: Ecosystem Function
Find the answers to the ecosystem activity about function.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Harcourt: School Publishers: Exploring Ecosystems
Compare and contrast three very different ecosystems - the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, the Florida Everglades, and the Arctic Coastal Plain in Alaska. Learn what makes each of them unique, and about the adaptations plants and animals had...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Computer Simulation of the Sonoran Desert Community
The computer program's simulation of a Sonoran desert community should ultimately strengthen the student's comprehension of what is required for a natural ecosystem to sustain itself (remain in balance). This computer simulation program...
Songs for Teaching
Songs for Teaching: Biomes
Use this site to see how many of the animals and plants that your students can remember from each biome after listening to this song.
Songs for Teaching
Songs for Teaching: Types of Biomes
Doug Eldon performs this great song which tells about the different biomes and their characteristics. Great way to begin your unit on the biomes.
Missouri Botanical Garden
Missouri Botanical Garden: Freshwater Ecosystems
At this site from the Missouri Botanical Garden, you can learn about the wide variety of plant and animal life in or around fresh water ecosystems. Click on the links to "wetlands," "Ponds and Lakes," or "Rivers and Streams" to view...
Tramline
Virtual Field Trip: Temperate Forest Biome
Travel with your students on a Virtual Field Trip to learn about Temperate Forest Biomes. You will also discover many informative and interactive websites.
US Geological Survey
Usgs: Desert Ecosystems
What elements are present in a desert ecosystem? What impact might humans have upon it? Learn more about the processes that affect desert ecosystems by visiting this site. Contains only one large illustration.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Our Big Backyard: How Does Our Local Ecosystem Change During the Year?
Get students observing the environment around their school with this activity. In this lab experiment, students keep a journal containing written observations and digital pictures of how local flora and fauna change during the school year.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Dirtmeister's Science Lab: Acid Rain
Step into Dirtmeister's Science Lab as he sets out to answer the challenge question: "How does acid rain affect an ecosystem?" Learn about ecosystems, make your predictions and then do the experiment.